Note: This week’s column contains graphic descriptions of a killing.
Trans U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Delaware) said she will not “take a lecture on decorum from a party that incited an insurrection” a day after Republican colleague Rep. Keith Self of Texas referred to her as “Mister,” leading to an exchange that shut down a committee meeting, according to CBS Philly. After Self introduced her, McBride responded, “Thank you, Madam Chair.” Self referred to McBride as “Mr. McBride” again and said the hearing would continue, but Rep. William Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said, “You will not continue it with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative the right way.” Self then ended the meeting. Weeks after McBride was elected, GOP U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced legislation to change House rules to limit use of single-sex bathrooms in the Capitol complex to those corresponding to users’ “biological sex.”
Evan Low—who has been a member of the California Assembly, mayor and City Council member as well as a congressional candidate—os the new president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, which help get LGBTQ+ candidates into office, The Advocate reported. In part, Low told the outlet, “My goal is simple but urgent: to ensure LGBTQ+ people are not just present in politics but leading at every level—federal, state, and local. We’re facing a wave of legislation aimed at silencing our voices, and the best way to fight back is to lead, to be visible, and to make sure our voices are impossible to ignore.”
The drug lenacapavir—an annual shot to protect against HIV infection—successfully passed an early safety trial, according to LGBTQ Nation, citing The Lancet. The lenacapavir trial consisted of 40 HIV-negative people receiving a muscle-directed shot of the drug; no major side effects or safety concerns were recorded and, after 56 weeks, the medicine was still detectable in their bodies. In a statement to the BBC, Richard Angell of the HIV organization Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “PrEP as a daily pill has been a game-changer in our HIV response. The prospect of ‘safe’ annual injectable PrEP is as exciting as it is transformational. It’s great to see these early results that suggest injectable PrEP might be effective for up to 12 months.”
Transgender people who have served the United States in uniform in the military will no longer be treated with dignity at Veterans Affairs facilities, per an Advocate exclusive. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rescinded Directive 1341—a policy that for years ensured transgender, nonbinary and intersex veterans received respectful, clinically appropriate healthcare. Directive 1341, officially titled Providing Health Care for Transgender and Intersex Veterans, was first issued in 2018 to affirm the VA’s commitment to equitable health care for transgender and intersex veterans. A VA doctor, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, described the decision as deeply troubling, and The Modern Military Association of America, Minority Veterans of America, SPARTA, and Out in National Security condemned the move in a joint statement.
And in a related matter, the U.S. Department of the Navy issued formal procedures for the removal of transgender personnel, filing the directive in federal court as part of an ongoing legal battle, The Advocate reported. The new guidance orders the Navy and Marine Corps to begin involuntary separations of service members with a history of gender dysphoria after March 28—two days after a previous March 26 deadline for voluntary separations. This is all part of the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to purge transgender service members from the military. The procedures were disclosed in a court-mandated filing in Talbott v. Trump, where plaintiffs argue that the administration’s policies violate Equal Protection and Due Process rights under the U.S. Constitution. “They’re being very mysterious still about how they’re going to identify people,” Shannon Minter—one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs—told The Advocate. “They have not specified how they intend to identify all transgender people.”
North Dakota’s Senate rejected a Republican-led resolution that would have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its historic ruling on same-sex marriage, according to PinkNews. The resolution moved to the Senate after it was passed by 52-40 in the North Dakota House of Representatives in February. Following approximately 10 minutes of debate by lawmakers, it was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 31-16, with members of the public watching the proceedings in the gallery cheering when it failed. In a video posted on his Instagram, Democrat Josh Boschee apologized to queer North Dakotans who “had been put through the ringer on this one.”
In Pennsylvania, two public school districts and several parents have sued the state as they try to undo anti-discrimination protections for state LGBTQ+ residents, saying that the two-year-old regulation is illegal because it goes beyond what lawmakers intended or allowed, per The Indiana Gazette. The lawsuit, filed in the statewide Commonwealth Court, comes amid a debate in Pennsylvania (and nationally) over the rights of transgender high school athletes to compete in women’s sports. If the suit is successful, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission would no longer be able to investigate complaints about discrimination involving sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The plaintiffs’ lawyers also say a favorable ruling in court would bar transgender student athletes from competing in women’s high school sports in Pennsylvania.
Mickey Harmon and Jordan Celotto, a gay couple known for art and activism, were killed in their Buffalo, New York—and a suspect has been charged, The Advocate noted. Harmon, 40, and Celotto, 37, were found dead in their home in the city’s Allentown neighborhood; the cause of death was blunt force trauma, specifically blows to the head. Police found them after receiving a call about a man with a knife outside their home. The man, 34-year-old Bryan Monge Chiclana, was taken to a hospital after cutting himself, and was later charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, the Buffalo News reported.
At Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, an LGBTQ+ group marched for the first time under its own banner in what organizers called a “huge day for the queer community,” per The New York Post. The parade—the last major local St. Patrick’s march to ban such groups—decided in November to allow the community-based Pride Center of Staten Island to take part in the annual event, now in its 61st year, SILive noted. “This is just a real win for this community … out here,” said NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who marched with the group. “Just saying they’re prideful to be Irish, they’re prideful to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community—[it’s] something we always stood for.”
In Montana, a bill in the state legislature is creating uncertainty as it could potentially open the city to lawsuits for events like Missoula’s Pride Parade, KPAX noted. House Bill 675, sponsored by state Rep. Caleb Hinkle, R-Belgrade, would provide “a private right of action against drag king or drag queen performances or a person who promotes or conducts drag performance.”
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he will not run for either Michigan governor or U.S. Senate in 2026, leaving the door open for a possible presidential bid in 2028, The Advocate noted. In a Substack post, Buttigieg explained that his decision came after significant deliberation with family, friends, neighbors and political advisers. He emphasized personal priorities—particularly spending more time with husband Chasten and their two preschool-aged children, at their home in Traverse City.
More than 300 guests and VIPs—including “CEO of Everything Gay” Tristan Schukraft, celebrated swimmer Diana Nyad, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, feminist icon Eleanor Pam and New York City socialite/raconteur David Hochberg—attended the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library’s (SNMAL’s) Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes Gala on March 1, per a press release. Although Stonewall Executive Director Robert Kesten said the gala was not Stonewall’s most financially successful, the sense of goodwill and support made it exceedingly meaningful, and signaled that there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Nyad, Schukraft and Edie Windsor (posthumous) received honors, and author/feminist Rita Mae Brown virtually announced the expansion of SNMAL’s Women’s Fund to the National Women’s Fund, for which she will be the honorary chair.
GLAAD responded to news of Target’s dropping stock price, diminished sales, decreased web traffic and visitors to stores, and outlook for stunted growth in the weeks after Target announced the rollback of its DEI programs. President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said, in part, “The Trump Administration’s new and proposed policies aim to forcefully revoke private companies’ freedom to include and market to the largest growth consumer bases. … Capitulating to baseless attacks like Target did does nothing to help companies, consumers, or the U.S. economy. Target may blame cold weather for declining profits, but at the end of the day, they need to look inward. Now is the time for corporate leaders to lead.” Target has been receiving backlash from LGBTQ people and allies for years, most notably in 2023, when the company pulled its Pride merchandise.
At The Ohio State University (OSU), several alumni groups have rescinded donations in light of the school cutting diversity offices, per WCMH. “We don’t want students being indoctrinated. We don’t want professors to be silenced,” said Sam Shim, past president of OSU’s Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Society. “We like the university the way it is, and we don’t want it to change. And if the university wants our donations as alumni, they need to maintain the programs that they had in place.” Shim said many alumni are calling for a full boycott of the university, halting donations, purchases and any other financial support until the DEI efforts are restored. Almost 1,000 OSU students and professors recently marched against the university’s decision to dissolve some DEI programs and offices.
In a critical move to better support queer youth and their families, Equality Florida announced the launch of Trauma-Informed Care for LGBTQ Youth—an innovative virtual course designed to equip mental health professionals in Florida with the skills needed to provide affirming, culturally competent care, per a press release. This free, self-paced course offers six continuing education (CE) credits and is tailored for licensed mental health professionals in schools, healthcare and community settings across Florida. LGBTQ youth are at much higher risk than their peers for a range of negative outcomes, including being bullied, skipping school, family rejection, homelessness, and suicide due to stigma, discrimination, and harassment. According to a recent report by the Trevor Project, less than half of young LGBTQ+ Floridians feel accepted in their communities. Interested persons can contact Dr. Noelle DeLaCruz at noelle@equalityflorida.org for enrollment details.
DaShawn Watkins—the 30-year-old Sharon man charged in the death of a 14-year-old transgender teen Paul A. “Pauly” Likens Jr., is scheduled to stand trial starting July 8 in Mercer County, New York, according to GoErie.com. According to Mercer County Coroner John Libonati, Likens died of sharp force trauma to the head and neck. Watkins is expected to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence; he also has been charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and a general count of murder, which could allow a jury to convict him on a lesser murder charge.
Sir Elton John reacted to the news that the Trump administration is slashing funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), per Queerty. On Instagram, he expressed concern “about the decision by the U.S. Administration to cut more than 90% of contracts held by USAID, many of which they had already deemed ‘lifesaving’. This abrupt action could have devastating effects on the HIV response and put years of progress in jeopardy. Millions of people are alive today thanks to the generosity of the American people and because of effective programs like PEPFAR [the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which President George W. Bush started in 2003]. Today they are unsure of when, or even if they will get the medicine they need to stay alive.”
Garrett Bruno—a controversial conservative travel influencer from West Hollywood who was charged with murder related to a car crash in October 2024—was found dead at age 33, according to Out, citing The Daily Mail. A few after the crash that killed 83-year-old Esther Abouab and severely injured her husband, Bruno (known on social media as Garrett Travels) was in a scooter accident that left him in a coma. Bruno was eventually transferred to an L.A. jail, where he remained until he was let out on bail in January 2025. In 2024, Bruno also caused some controversy in the LGBTQ+ community as he publicly supported Donald Trump and JD Vance’s presidential campaign against Kamala Harris.
San Diego resident George Wellinger II could be in prison for up to five years for sending a threatening email to an LGBTQ+ person, per The Sacramento Bee. On March 11, Wellinger pled guilty to sexual orientation-based interstate threatening communication. The communication was sent after the victim appeared in a news story about Laura Ann Carleton, a California business owner who was fatally shot in 2023 “for hanging a Pride flag outside her store,” according to prosecutors. Wellinger’s attorney said his client “has accepted full responsibility for his conduct and is sincerely remorseful for the harm his words have caused.”
In D.C., Spark Social House—the first LGBTQ+ alcohol-free bar in the district—has opened, per The Washington Blade. “I had been bartending at some of these other [gay] bars when I decided, ‘Oh, maybe I could open one too and this could be my whole life,’” owner Nick Tsusaki said. “I didn’t want to compete against my friends. I tried to think about it, and I noticed alcohol isn’t really me.” Patron David Draper said that this will be a space for members of the queer community who had been left to the side of an alcohol-centered culture.
In Colorado, more than 150 people took part in the Walk for Justice held in Glenwood Springs, the Post Independent noted. The event, organized by four churches—Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Churches of Garfield County and Roaring Fork Methodist Church—began at Bluebird Café and ended at Sayre Park, where participants stood united in support of pro-immigrant and pro-LGBTQ+ community members. Glenwood Springs Mayor Ingrid Wussow joined the march, saying the event was a reminder that taking action matters.
This Is It!—Wisconsin’s oldest gay bar, having opened in 1968—has closed in Milwaukee, WPR noted. “The COVID crisis and the years following 2020, coupled with the eight-month closure of our street and sidewalk last year, put the business in a position that we could not ultimately overcome,” noted a post on the bar’s Facebook page. A statement from the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project said the bar was the location of celebrations for several “historic victories,” including, “the nondiscrimination ordinance of 1980, the Gay Rights Law of 1982, the 1st Annual Pride March and Rally of 1989, Tammy Baldwin’s election in 1998, local marriage equality in 2014 and national marriage equality in 2015.”
In Ohio, Maryville’s LGBTQ+-friendly brewery—targeted on social media by a local conservative group—has permanently closed, WCMH reported. Walking Distance Brewing Co, 222 E. Eighth St., welcomed patrons for the last time on Feb. 28; it first opened in October 2021. Owner Teddy Valinski announced the closure on social media, saying the decision to close the bar “didn’t come lightly.” While the brewery’s Pride events were meant to further inclusion for Marysville’s LGBTQ+ community, Valinski said on social media last June that Walking Distance faced a “year of slander and harassment” from Union County Faith Family Coalition.
Virginia’s LGBT Life Center responded to Armed Forces Brewing Company moving from Norfolk to another state because of perceived continued pushback from the community, per WTKR. In a letter to News 3 (WTKR), the brewing company’s CEO said, in part, “Unfortunately, our ability to profitably operate in Norfolk was severely affected by the local woke mob—a few individuals in the area who have no love for the traditional American values we hold as a company.” LGBT Life Center CEO Stacie Walls responded, “The fact that they didn’t make it in Norfolk says more about them than it does about Norfolk. I think this is a good sign that Norfolk can come together and support local businesses that support Norfolk.” In December 2023, News 3 reported that a member of the brewery’s leadership criticized the Navy on social media for employing a drag queen as a recruiter.