Latest news with #LGBTQAmericans
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why centuries-old astrology and tarot cards still appeal to us
More than 30 per cent of Americans believe in some sort of esoteric knowledge and regularly consult astrology, tarot readers or fortune tellers, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Centre. Even though the survey says these Americans are doing so 'just for fun' and claim they rely on the information gained by divination 'only a little,' the persistence — and apparent rise — of these practices suggests something deeper is at play. People have always turned to divinatory methods to search for unanswered questions and to gain additional knowledge that could help them to prepare for the future, especially in times of uncertainty. For example, searches for 'tarot cards' increased by more than 30 per cent during the pandemic. I study ancient divination, but to better understand how diviners work, I have observed contemporary diviners at work and talked with them about their practices. They say their clients request tarot consultations more frequently than they did in the past. Anthropologists define 'divination' methods as 'practice(s) that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omen or by the aid of supernatural powers.' Divination methods, including tarot and astrology, offer a way to ask questions when other systems fail to provide answers. These questions can be highly personal and difficult to address in a formal religious setting. The divinatory answers allow people to feel they've gained insight, which in turn gives a perception of control over an uncertain future. Apart from astrology and tarot, some of the best known divination methods include: the interpreting of dreams, reading coffee cups or tea leaves, observing animals and nature, reading palms and other body features such as nose shape and eye placement. When a diviner uses things, such as cards, tea leaves, dice or shells, the connecting thread to many of these methods is that people cannot control the signs they produce. For example, divination consultants typically mix the tarot card deck to make sure the result are randomized. People should not manipulate the results. Pew Centre data reveals that young people, women and LGBTQ Americans are among the most likely to consult divinatory methods. Religious studies professor Marcelitte Failla has also written about contemporary Black women who have reclaimed the tarot deck to creatively address their spiritual needs. Many people turn to religion when they face the unknown in their lives. They address their insecurities in worship, asking for divine help. But there have always been people who did not have access to organized religion. Divinatory practices can be especially appealing to those who have been excluded from traditional religion and had to come up with alternative ways to address uncertainties. They perhaps lived in remote areas and could not attend worship sites such as temples. Or possibly, they were excluded from organized religion for identity reasons. For example, women regularly stayed home to care for children and sick. Sometimes, they were denied access because of their bodily 'impurities,' menstruation or recent childbirth. LGBTQ+ individuals were also denied access. In the U.S., discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals remains one of the leading reasons for leaving traditional religious institutions. In Canada, the churches' discriminatory treatment of different sexual minorities has been one of the top reasons people dissolve membership. In an age marked by ongoing anxiety, political instability and waning trust in institutions, centuries-old divination rituals offer alternative ways for folks to seek entertainment but also to gain a sense of insight, agency and connection. What may seem like harmless fun can also serve as a serious response to a chaotic world. Divinatory practices can provide both spiritual exploration and emotional validation. It's understandable that a new situation, like the COVID-19 pandemic, triggered anxiety and uncertainty for people. People continue to experience more anxiety than they did before the pandemic. Some of the main concerns include world politics, job security and personal finances. As we try to make sense of the new, confusing and constantly changing situations, many create different theories, some questionable. Some people turn to alternative approaches like divination to make sense of the world. People are checking out tarot readings on online platforms. And many social media accounts feature tarot. Besides increasing political insecurity, another reason for the increased interest in tarot may be the visual aspect. Increased interest in the decorated cards may be a reflection of our highly visual culture. Interest in the cards with images may reflect interest in other images we watch. They are like photos with messages. The fascination with tarot may also speak about a need to control the consultation as a diviner and their client see exactly the same thing. The images in the cards are also symbolic, and they can be interpreted in different ways. That means rather than providing a straightforward answer to a question, the cards are tools that can help think through one's emotions and feelings. Tarot is not a religion. The object that is consulted is paper is not an image of the divine or a symbol of transcendence. This lack of alignment with any particular religion allows different people to consult tarot as a spiritual practice. In principle, the cards can be consulted anywhere without particular preparations. The only material one needs is a deck of cards. The accessible materiality may be adding to their popularity. Many divinatory methods include a playful aspect. For instance, the objects used for the lot oracle — pebbles, stones, four-sided knucklebones or dice — are the same ones people used for playing board games. Ancient images show people consulting the objects or playing, suggesting the boundaries of some of the divinatory methods were always fluid. As randomizing is an important element of divinatory consultation, the new insights various methods produce can be both surprising and entertaining. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organisation bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Hanna Tervanotko, McMaster University Read more: Tarot resurgence is less about occult than fun and self-help – just like throughout history Hello magic and witchcraft, goodbye Enlightenment How the ancient Israelites dealt with epidemics — the Bible tells of prophecy and rituals Hanna Tervanotko receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chuck Schumer & Hakeem Jeffries commit to defending trans rights at star-studded Pride gala
With more than 70 members of Congress in attendance to hear music legend Dionne Warwick, 84, sing her 1985 hit 'That's What Friends Are For,' Wednesday's Equality PAC National Pride Gala, hosted by drag queen Bianca Del Rio, served as a powerful rebuke to the Trump administration's ongoing assault on LGBTQ+ rights — especially the reinstated ban on transgender military service. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Featuring speeches from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and first-year Delaware U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride — the first out transgender member of Congress — the evening unfolded as a celebration of queer political power and an urgent recommitment to legislative and legal resistance. 'Donald Trump and the MAGA radicals have targeted LGBTQ Americans more than just about any other group,' Schumer, who has a lesbian daughter, said. 'Banning trans Americans from serving in the military, prohibiting Pride flags in public institutions in red states — and now, some states are even bringing back conversion therapy.' Chuck Schumer speaks onstage at the Equality PAC Galajon fleming photography for Equality PAC Related: Schumer also condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to strip Harvey Milk's name from a ship during Pride Month, calling it 'a shameful, vindictive erasure of leaders who fought to break down barriers for all Americans.' He urged the audience to stay engaged: 'We will not let America backslide on our watch. We will pass the Equality Act. We'll stop LGBTQ Americans [from being discriminated against] and make sure that every American has a seat at the table.' Related: The gala took place just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a nationwide injunction on the trans military ban, allowing the Trump administration to immediately enforce Executive Order 14183, which bars enlistment and mandates expulsion of transgender service members regardless of performance. Related: Plaintiffs in the lead case, Shilling v. United States, include Commander Emily Shilling, a decorated Navy pilot and aerospace engineer who became the first out transgender aviator cleared for tactical jet operations. The lawsuit, initially titled Shilling v. Trump, was renamed following the administration's motion to substitute the United States as the official defendant. Shilling addressed the renaming in her remarks: 'The case was originally Shilling v. Trump, and now it's Shilling v. United States. I want to make it very clear: I am not against the United States. I serve because I love this country — even when the courts get it wrong.' U.S. Naval Aviator Commander Emily Schilling speaks onstage at the Equality PAC Gala, Washington, D.C., June 2025Christopher Wiggins for The Advocate Shilling, who received a rousing standing ovation, delivered a forceful indictment of the policy and its political motivations. 'For the last six years — this is the surprise part — I have served openly as a transgender [person],' she said. 'I lead SPARTA, an organization representing over 2,400 transgender service members and veterans. They serve under the sea, in the air, and on the front lines. Some can't even speak their truth aloud without risking their careers — and still, they show up.' 'When the new ban was announced in January, I took it personally — not because I doubt who I am, but because it cast doubt on every trans soldier, every trans leader who's just trying to serve with honor,' she continued. 'This ban does not make us stronger. It tells service members that their identity matters more than their performance, their sacrifice, or even their oath.' Related: Meet the transgender Army lieutenant who is challenging Donald Trump's military ban Shilling likened the current climate to past moments of targeted persecution: 'Whether it's immigrants, Black Americans, Jews, women, Muslims, gay, lesbians, and now transgender people — each time, we're framed as a threat to children and to society. Not because it's true, but because fear is easier than telling the truth.' From the House side, Jeffries reaffirmed his caucus's support. 'Let me be clear: House Democrats will always stand with the LGBTQ community — including our transgender fellow Americans,' he said. 'We all want to move the country forward. But there are extremists who want to turn back the clock and erase our progress, erase our history.' He called out the Navy's decision to remove Harvey Milk's name as emblematic of that erasure. 'Keep your hands off the USNS Harvey Milk,' he said. 'We will stand up for equality and freedom for the LGBTQ+ community. And when we take back the House, we will pass the Equality Act and make it the law of the land.' Sarah McBride speaks at Equality PAC gala jon fleming photography for Equality PAC For McBride, the night marked a full-circle moment. 'Tonight, I am proud to stand before you as an out, proud transgender woman and as a member of the United States House of Representatives,' she said. Related: This trans Air Force recruit wants to jump out of planes to save others. He's suing Trump to serve McBride noted that she had attended the gala in years past — first as a candidate, then as the Democratic nominee. Now she returned as a lawmaker. 'Right now, people like me are being used as political pawns by Donald Trump and the MAGA movement,' she said. 'Some of my colleagues are trying to use me as a political pawn. But I refuse.' She said that it takes two to tango and that she refuses to give detractors the attention they seek when they attack her publicly. With characteristic wit, she added, 'The good news is, trans people can't dance — but we can fucking legislate.' The room erupted in laughter and applause. She closed with an affirmation of trans visibility and competence: 'We get shit done. We know how to meet people where they are. We understand the art of change-making. And we belong — we belong in the military, we belong in schools, in C suites, onstage, in state legislatures, and yes, we even belong in the halls of Congress.' Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi speaks onstage at the Equality PAC galajon fleming photography for Equality PAC Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, presenting the Nancy Pelosi Equality PAC Ally Award to Eugene Levy, also addressed the attacks on LGBTQ+ icons like Milk. 'This shameful, vindictive erasure of someone like Harvey Milk will never erase his achievement,' Pelosi said. 'Don't talk to me about tolerance. That's a condescending word. In San Francisco, it's about respect. It's about love. It's about pride.' Related: Transgender Army officer Erica Vandal was born into military service. Now, she's suing Trump to stay in She praised McBride, saying, 'Sarah doesn't just take their bait — she shows them the way, with dignity and brilliance.' Gay New York U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, co-chair of Equality PAC, speaking to The Advocate earlier in the evening, framed the moment as historic and perilous. 'We're holding the Equality PAC Gala in the age of vicious and relentless scapegoating and demagoguery against the LGBTQ community,' he said. 'Donald Trump is intent on creating a reign of terror that inhibits LGBTQ people from expressing their true selves. And our message to Donald Trump is: We refuse to be terrorized.' Drag performers onstage at the Equality PAC galajon fleming photography for Equality PAC With more than 70 members of Congress in the room, including out Reps. Becca Balint, Emily Randall, Julie Johnson, Mark Takano (who's also a cofounder and cochair of Equality PAC), Chris Pappas, and Angie Craig, the gala was one of the most potent visual affirmations yet of Equality PAC's growing political clout — and of the Democratic Party's commitment to defending trans rights in the 2026 midterms and beyond. 'History does not bend on its own,' Shilling reminded the crowd. 'It bends when we pull with everything we've got — together.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Does Trump's Transgender Military Ban Conflict with 2A Values?
DALLAS, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supreme Court recently allowed the Trump-era ban on transgender service members to go into effect, reigniting debates about personal freedoms, trust in public institutions, and the role of gun rights advocates in social issues. This ruling permits the discharge or barring of individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria from military service, prompting discussions about what this means for LGBTQ Americans and those who defend constitutional freedoms. Wes Siler, an outdoorsman, prominent 2A advocate, and Montana Senate candidate known for bridging communities, weighed in on the controversy in an exclusive correspondence with GunsAmerica: "If a person is dedicated to protecting the freedoms promised to all Americans, and can pass the requirements necessary, why shouldn't they be allowed to serve their country?" Siler asked pointedly. Siler's experiences with marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ youth, have shaped his understanding. Working directly with homeless youth—many of whom were transgender—he emphasized a truth: "Trans people are people, just like everyone else. If there's anything that makes them different, it's the challenges they face." Many believe those challenges are substantial. Trans individuals face a suicide risk 19 times greater than the general population, and government-targeted discrimination can exacerbate this risk dramatically—by as much as 72 percent, according to Siler. Addressing whether Trump's transgender military ban erodes trust between LGBTQ Americans and public institutions, Siler remarked: "It's a remarkable testament to strength of character that people from a community targeted for hatred and discrimination would dedicate themselves to serve the very people who discriminate against them. That's exactly the kind of person who has the capacity to lead." But should gun-rights organizations speak out more forcefully about such issues, or would that be outside their scope? According to Siler, it aligns squarely with their mission: "The purpose of the Second Amendment is to give Americans the ability to defend their other rights. Any organization claiming to stand for 2A must also acknowledge the importance of the rights it was written to protect." For Siler, there's no contradiction between robust 2A advocacy and pushing back against policies that marginalize LGBTQ individuals. In fact, he views self-defense as fundamental for those facing the highest risks: "Trans people are four times more likely to be victims of violent crime, with risks compounded for women and people of color. A Black trans woman faces a greater threat of violence than virtually any other American. If anyone embodies the necessity of the Second Amendment for self-defense, it's the trans community." Reflecting broadly on the issue, Siler highlights a historical pattern that should be considered: "History's villains have always risen to power by dividing cultures against themselves, persecuting those least able to defend themselves. The persecutions faced by Christians in ancient Rome or Jews in 1930s Germany are reminders playing out today with trans people and immigrants. History's lessons are clear; it is our responsibility to learn from them." This intersection between LGBTQ rights and Second Amendment advocacy isn't new, but maybe now, in light of recent developments, it demands renewed focus. See the original article on GunsAmerica Digest. Media Contact:Seth Larneymedia@ About GunsAmerica Founded in 1997, is one of the oldest and most trusted online firearms marketplaces in the United States. Connecting millions of gun buyers and sellers, GunsAmerica is committed to promoting responsible gun ownership and protecting Second Amendment rights. With a robust editorial platform, secure listing infrastructure, and partnerships with leading firearm brands and organizations, GunsAmerica remains at the forefront of the digital gun community. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GunsAmerica Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sam Nordquist's Death Highlights Violence Against Black Trans Men
Sam Nordquist craved romance. So, last September, he traveled to New York from his home in Oakdale, Minnesota, to meet his online girlfriend. A few months later, he was dead. On Feb. 13, human remains believed to be those of the 24-year-old Black transgender man (some outlets say that Nordquist identified as biracial) were found in a field around 50 miles outside of Rochester. He had been subjected to abuse and torture — punching, kicking, striking — for weeks before his death, according to law enforcement. Police caution against speculating about the motives of the five people who have been charged with second-degree murder with depraved indifference, noting that they've yet to find evidence that the killing was a hate crime. LGBTQ advocacy and support groups argue that, regardless of whether the police file hate crime charges, what happened was 'a hateful act.' Nordquist's brutal death, which one police officer described as 'one of the most horrific crimes' she's investigated over the course of her 20 years in law enforcement, has led to a flood of grief and anger among LGBTQ Americans. Black activists say that it's hard to hear about the tragedy and not be reminded of the violence that LGBTQ Americans have long been confronted with — violence that too often gets overlooked when it's aimed at Black transgender men. 'Sam should be alive today,' Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group, told Capital B in a statement. 'Our transgender siblings, and particularly the BIPOC trans community, are facing threats from every direction, and the discriminatory policies and hateful rhetoric we see from leaders at the highest levels lead to real-world violence.' Robinson was commenting on the anti-transgender actions that the White House has been leaning into ever since Donald Trump returned to power in January. After taking office, Trump signed executive orders seeking to erase the very idea of gender identity, ban transgender troops from openly serving in the military, and restrict gender-affirming care for youth. In response to that first order, the National Parks Service removed all transgender references from its web pages on the 1969 Stonewall rebellion, a turning point in LGBTQ rights history in which Black transgender activists including Marsha P. Johnson played a major role. 'Trans people are our family, our friends, our neighbors. They deserve to live their lives with dignity and joy, without fear of violence and hate. We will never stop fighting for our trans siblings,' Robinson said. At least 32 transgender people were killed in the U.S. in 2024, with Black transgender people being particularly vulnerable to this violence, per the Human Rights Campaign. And while only 0.5% of U.S. adults and 1.4% of U.S. youth identify as transgender, the FBI found that, in 2023, 4.1% of hate crimes were motivated by gender identity. David Johns, the executive director of the National Black Justice Collective, a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBTQ Americans, echoed some of Robinson's sentiments, underscoring that Nordquist's killing calls to mind the rigid hierarchies afflicting LGBTQ communities. 'Trans men — especially trans men of color, especially Black trans men — often don't get equitable treatment from law enforcement or the media,' he told Capital B, referring to the bias that certain groups face when it comes to receiving attention. 'Sam's name will now be on a long scroll of folks remembered during vigils for Trans Day of Remembrance. What I'm also thinking about at this moment is that there are others in our community who are missing or have been murdered whose names we don't know — and might never know, because of how reporting these crimes works.' Tee Arnold, Banko Brown, and Tony McDade are just three other Black transgender men who have been killed in recent years. Johns is heartened by the fact that Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has directed state police to lend all possible support to the investigation, including into whether Nordquist's death was a hate crime. Activists have long been frustrated by prosecutors not bringing hate crime charges in cases involving the deaths of LGBTQ Americans. Under New York's state penal code, hate crimes are offenses done 'in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation of a person regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct.' The tragedy, Johns added, draws his thoughts to the 1998 murders of Matthew Shepard, who was gay, and James Byrd Jr., who was Black, that eventually led to the signing of a landmark anti-hate crime law in 2009 by President Barack Obama. 'Their lives also were stolen,' he said. As the search for justice continues, Nordquist's family and friends have been gathering to honor his memory, saying that he was a big fan of cooking, Puma sweatsuits, and TikTok — and that he simply desired affection. 'That's all Sam ever wanted,' his mother, Linda Nordquist, told on Monday, 'was to be loved and to be in a relationship.' The post Sam Nordquist's Death Highlights Violence Against Black Trans Men appeared first on Capital B News.
The Hill
31-01-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Department of Education undoes Biden's Title IX rules on gender
The Department of Education announced Friday it is scrapping former President Biden's 2024 Title IX changes, getting rid of discrimination protection based on gender identity and sexual orientation and changing how sexual assault cases are handled on campus. In a 'Dear Colleague' note to K-12 and higher education institutions, the department made clear the changes to Title IX the Biden administration finalized last year would no longer be used, reverting back to the 2020 Title IX rules under President Trump's first administration. 'The Biden Administration's failed attempt to rewrite Title IX was an unlawful abuse of regulatory power and an egregious slight to women and girls. Under the Trump Administration, the Education Department will champion equal opportunity for all Americans, including women and girls, by protecting their right to safe and separate facilities and activities in schools, colleges, and universities,' said acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. The reverted rules will define ''sex' to mean the objective, immutable characteristic of being born male or female,' whereas Biden's Title IX regulations said discrimination would extend to students' gender identity or sexual orientation. The changes will also affect how sexual assaults are investigated on campuses, with supporters saying the 2020 Title IX rules provided stronger due process protections for those involved in allegations, while opponents argue those standards make it more difficult for perpetrators to face punishment. Biden's rules were set to take effect last August, but numerous lawsuits were filed against the new Title IX definition, which has been held up in court in more than 25 states. At the beginning of this year, a federal judge in Kentucky struck down Biden's regulations, saying they violated the Constitution. The change is not unexpected as Republicans have decried the new Title IX regulations since the Biden administration announced them. Trump in his first weeks in office has made multiple moves against LGBTQ Americans, including signing an order cracking down on gender-affirming care. The Friday announcement comes on the heels of the Department of Education launching an investigation against Denver Public Schools for alleged discrimination over an all-gender bathroom.
