Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Lawyer Who Argued Marriage Equality in SCOTUS Has Dire Warning About Trump's Threat to LGBTQ Rights

Lawyer Who Argued Marriage Equality in SCOTUS Has Dire Warning About Trump's Threat to LGBTQ Rights
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

After a 2016 campaign marred by violence, racism, and bigotry, former President Donald Trump's unexpected ascent to the White House sent a foreboding message to marginalized Americans across the country.

LGBTQ people worried that Trump would roll back the protections gained by the movement over the preceding decade—such as LGBTQ anti-discrimination causes in the Affordable Care Act, the nationwide recognition of same-sex marriage, and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.


Trump frequently claimed to be the most pro-LGBTQ Republican presidential nominee, expressing apathy toward marriage equality rather than blunt opposition and holding a rainbow flag (upside down) on a rally stage.

Dan Canon, one of the lawyers who argued for marriage equality in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court case published an op-ed just days after Trump was declared the winner of the 2016 election. Canon assured LGBTQ people that wouldn't their "worst nightmares" were "unlikely to come true," and especially emphasized that Trump couldn't unilaterally ban same-sex marriage.

But marriage equality is but one issue effecting the lives of LGBTQ people. Soon, the Trump administration announced a ban on transgender people serving in the Military, against the findings of Pentagon officials. Trump also worked to further enshrine so-called "religious freedom" to bolster protections for public businesses and even medical professionals to refuse service to LGBTQ people. Trump's allies continue to pain trans people as mentally ill predators in their pursuit of bathroom bans and other asinine crusades against them.

And because then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell successfully blocked swathes of Obama's judicial appointments, Trump was able to somewhat transform the country's courtships, appointing three Supreme Court Justices and more than 200 judges to federal courts across the nation—many of whom will all but certainly rule against LGBT rights.

Already, Texas—which already openly violated the Constitution with its recent anti-abortion law—has taken steps to ban same sex marriage in the state. Texas Representative James White sent a letter to far-right Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking Paxton's opinion on the legality of marriage equality. White emphasized that Texas' constitution defines marriage as one man and one woman, and that Texas did not change these laws in response to Obergefell v. Hodges.

This has prompted Canon to reverse the sentiments in his 2016 op-ed and warn conservative courts will work to strip away LGBTQ rights.






Canon even suggested that LGBTQ people in deep red states should move, for their own protection.

The bleak picture generated a wealth of reactions on Twitter.





Numerous LGBTQ people expressed fear for what's to come.


Paxton has yet to release his opinion on White's claims about the state of same sex marriage in Texas.

More from News/lgbtq

Ted Cruz; Kelvin Sampson
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images; Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Houston Fans Livid After Ted Cruz 'Curse' Strikes Again At NCAA Basketball Championship

In 2013, 2016 and 2021, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz was labeled the most hated man in Congress—by members of his own party. In 2023, Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz replaced him as the "most hated."

In a 2016 CNN interview, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said:

Keep ReadingShow less
Harriet Tubman
Library of Congress/Getty Images

National Parks Website Restores Harriet Tubman Photo To 'Underground Railroad' Page After Backlash

Following significant backlash, the National Park Service restored a previously-erased photo of Harriet Tubman from a webpage dedicated to the history of the Underground Railroad, in which she led 13 missions to rescue enslaved people.

A spokesperson said the changes were not authorized by the agency's leadership.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot from Fox News of Jackie DeAngelis and Tommy Tuberville
Fox News

Tuberville Now Claims 'Entire Men's Teams' Are 'Turning Trans' To Play Against Women

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy "Coach" Tuberville appeared on Fox News Sunday to again spread unhinged misinformation about transgender athletes.

Speaking with guest host Jackie DeAngelis, Tuberville stated:

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver/YouTube

John Oliver Epically Calls Out Awkward Truth Behind Former NCAA Swimmer's Anti-Trans Tirades

On Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, the outspoken host devoted the entire program to the attack on trans girls and women who play sports by the GOP.

Oliver began the program saying:

Keep ReadingShow less
man in front of computer code
Chris Yang on Unsplash

Conspiracy Theories That Seem Believable The More You Look Into Them

We tend to think of conspiracy theories as a phenomenon of the digital age. But the internet and mobile devices only allow them to be created and spread faster.

Conspiracy theories have likely been around as long as human civilization has. They are, at their root, just another form of rumors and gossip.

Keep ReadingShow less