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Time Magazine
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The History Behind the Trips to Newport on The Gilded Age
Throughout HBO's The Gilded Age, currently airing its third season, there are frequent references to Newport, Rhode Island. For the rich socialites of New York, Newport was a popular summer holiday, and in the show, we see several characters get together for tennis matches, card games, and lavish parties at their vacation homes. The latest episode of The Gilded Age, titled 'Love Is Never Easy,' visits Newport again when Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), an ambitious writer and socialite Agnes van Rhijn's secretary, goes to Newport with her parents to stay with a cousin as she recovers after a long illness. Peggy ends up being courted by the doctor who treats her, and learns that his family is prominent in Newport's Black community. Here's what to know about the history of this popular seaside city and its residents. How Newport became a summer destination for the rich As early as the 18th century, wealthy southerners headed north to Newport to escape the malaria and yellow fever outbreaks on plantations. The third season of The Gilded Age takes place in 1884, which is when Newport 'begins to become the ultimate summer destination for the rich of New York,' according to Nicole Jeri Williams, Curator of Collections at The Preservation Society of Newport County. The show portrays a singular period in time. Back then, 'really rapid industrial growth created the immense fortunes of the robber barons,' Williams explains. 'There was also a lack of government oversight and regulation–a really laissez faire economic environment. And there was no federal income tax, so all of that produced the massive industrial fortunes of the Gilded Age. A lot of these folks wind up summering in Newport.' During the Gilded Age, elite New Yorkers who made their fortunes in railroads, mining, steamships, and finance were drawn to Newport's ample properties overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Ward McAllister (played by Nathan Lane in the show) was one of the social arbiters who helped start the trend of vacationing in Newport. He charmed the socialites with his Georgia accent, tales of travels in Europe, and overall 'just lived as a professional snob,' as Williams puts it. He was a 'sidekick' to Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, who decided who's 'in' and who's 'out' in society, and spent a lot of time at her Newport mansion Beechwood. But he started falling out with the socialites when started to leak stories about them to the press, and fully lost their trust after he published his 1890 tell-all Society as I Have Found It. Mamie Fish (Ashlie Atkinson) is another socialite who hosted some of Newport's most legendary events. She was known for throwing themed parties, like one where attendees dressed up as characters from nursery rhymes. Sometimes attendees were required to talk in 'baby talk.' And she even hosted a dogs dinner, treating socialities' pampered pooches to a meal cooked up just for them. There was so much food that one dachshund passed out from eating too much, and the party became ridiculed in the press as an example of Gilded Age excess and extravagance. Then and now, the Cliff Walk, a rocky path that runs alongside the luxurious mansions, provided an opportunity to glimpse the houses and was also a 'social world' of its own, according to Williams. Servants would go down to the Cliff Walk for swimming, drinking, and dancing. Even if they didn't have houses in Newport, elite New Yorkers made a point to visit the seaport city in the summer. For example, JP Morgan did not have a summer house in Newport, but he would take his yacht there and do some fishing. Newport's thriving community of Black Americans People of African heritage have been living in Newport since the 17th century. Newport is also home to America's oldest burial ground for enslaved and free Africans. By 1884, schools in Rhode Island had been desegregated for nearly two decades. 'We tried to show, through our characters this season, that there is a long history of free black life in New England and specifically in Rhode Island,' says Erica Dunbar, historian and co-Executive Producer of The Gilded Age. 'Remember, slavery was gradually dismantled across New England, the middle states in New England, in the early 19th century, so that by the time we hit the 1880s, we have generations of people who have been free—up to 40 years of free black life in a place like Newport.' Keith Stokes, Rhode Island's historian laureate, is a descendent of the real person who inspired the pastor in The Gilded Age, whose doctor son is pursuing Peggy Scott. Reverend Mahlon Van Horne—who inspired Frederick Kirkland in the show and played by Brian Stokes Mitchell—was a pastor of Newport's Union Colored Congregational Church. He boasted many firsts, as the first person of color elected to the Newport school board, and the first Black member of Rhode Island's General Assembly, where he participated in passing early civil rights legislation. During the Spanish-American War, President McKinley appointed Van Horne as Special Counsel to the Danish West Indies. Dunbar says that Van Horne's political career reflects a broader trend of Black elected officials serving during Reconstruction after the Civil War. 'He's the forerunner of Martin Luther King and the 20th century black ministers who are blending religion and social justice together in advancing equal rights,' Stokes explains. 'He's one of the most significant African-American leaders in America here at that time.' As the summer vacationers grew in size, so did the business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. Bellevue Avenue boasted transportation companies, dress-making, hair styling and barbering, catering services, and lady-in-waiting support services. Mary Dickerson, who appears in the last episode of the season, established a dress-making establishment on Bellevue Avenue, which catered to the summer residents. In the show, she helps Peggy Scott's mother, Dorothy Scott ( Audra McDonald), try on a dress for a ball. The real Mary Dickerson was also active in women's rights causes. In 1895, she helped found the Women's Newport League, which set up a daycare in the city. In 1896, she was a founding member of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, and in 1903 she established the first federation of African American Women's Clubs in Rhode Island. There were also three African heritage medical professionals in Newport during the Gilded Age. While Dr. Kirkland is not technically based on a real historical figure, Stokes sees him as a composite of notable Black healthcare providers in Newport. Alonzo Van Horne, Stokes' great-great-uncle, was the first dentist of African heritage in Rhode Island. And Marcus Wheatland, known as the doctor of the swells, was a medical practitioner and a pioneer of X-rays as a diagnostic tool. Through the Black characters of Newport in season 3 of The Gilded Age, Dunbar hopes viewers will get a better sense of 'the generations of free black people living and thriving.' The diversity of characters provides 'a rich and textured understanding of black America at that moment.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill banning trans athletes in girls sports fails in Minnesota House
In a party-line vote Monday, the Minnesota House of Representatives narrowly rejected a proposed bill that would have banned transgender athletes from participating in girls and women's sports. All 67 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, which was authored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), and all 66 Democratic lawmakers voted against. The Preserving Girls' Sports Act reached the House floor Monday afternoon after passing the GOP-controlled House Education Policy Committee last week. Legislation needs 68 votes to pass on the House floor. During Monday's debate, supporters of the bill claimed the legislation would preserve girls sports by ensuring fairness and safety. "It ensures that the protections and opportunities created by Title IX remain in place for the next generation of female athletes in Minnesota," said Rep. Harry Niska (R-Ramsey). At a press conference Monday, Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake) claimed the measure would allow for discrimination and bullying of trans children who want to play sports. "Republican politicians in Minnesota are falling directly in line with Trump's extreme and cruel agenda by prioritizing political theater and burning valuable legislative hours on targeting our youth and vulnerable Minnesotans rather than addressing the real and imminent issues facing our state," Curran, who leads the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus, said. Opponents of the proposal raised concerns about athletes being required to undergo examinations to prove eligibility in sports, increasing scrutiny for girls who participate and overall lowering participation. Because the proposal was not expected to become law in Minnesota due, Democrats have criticized Republican lawmakers for advancing the bill to the House floor. Even if the bill had passed in the House, the DFL-led Senate was not expected to take up the issue. Through a policy in place since 2015, the Minnesota State High School League has allowed athletes to choose which team best aligns with their gender identity. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights opened a Title IX investigation into the league after the league said it would continue allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports. President Donald Trump issued a Feb. 5 executive order banning transgender athletes in women's sports nationwide.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota's bill to ban transgender athletes fails
The Brief Debate on a bill to ban transgender athletes from Minnesota school sports started late Monday afternoon, and has now failed after not getting 68 votes to pass the bill. GOP authors believe allowing it opens girls up to losing their spot on a team or even dangerous physical interactions, and it's just unfair. DFL opponents say it's an unnecessary and cruel distraction that ignores established law and demonizes the small population of transgender people. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota House spent Monday in the longest debate of the year over a GOP bill to block transgender athletes in girls' sports, which failed Monday evening. What they're saying The bill to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports in Minnesota failed in the Minnesota House. The House voted 67-66 in favor of the bill, but a 68-vote majority is needed to pass a bill in the House. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman released the following statement: "People of all ages deserve to be loved, accepted, and valued for who they are. At its core, this bill is about how we treat children, and it would allow children to be bullied by adults and other children for not meeting a particular definition of femininity. While Republicans push cruel, divisive bills like this, they ignore the real challenges Minnesotans are facing — like the rising costs of childcare, health care, and housing. Instead of solving problems, they're fueling division." Author of the bill, Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) released the following statement: "There are fairness issues and there are safety issues involving girls' sports teams. When it comes to boys' and girls' athletics, how you identify shouldn't matter; how you were born should." The celebrity case It's a hot-button issue across the country and the vote drew a celebrity spokesperson to support the bill. Riley Gaines took center stage in the debate before the debate. A crowd at the Capitol heard from the former Kentucky swimmer who rose to fame after she tied for fifth place with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. A crowd also heard support for trans athletes from another 2022 college swimmer from here in Minnesota. "I believe in preserving female sports teams," said Rep. Dawn Gillman, (R-Meeker). For at least ten years, transgender kids in Minnesota have been allowed to participate in sports based on their gender identity. Republicans want that to end, and they brought Gaines to the Capitol for a rally to boost their bill. "Minnesotans and Americans alike reject this absurdity," said the former swimmer. "We embrace the America First agenda, and we reject this absurdity." Challenging gender The bill debated Monday on the House floor would have banned transgender girls from school sports. If challenged, a female athlete would have to prove their gender. The House bill no longer describes how that would happen, leaving it up to the schools, but it originally matched a corresponding Senate bill requiring a doctor's note after an examination of the athlete's anatomy, hormone levels and chromosomes. Authors told FOX 9 they're not aware of any transgender athletes competing now in Minnesota. But they believe allowing it opens girls up to losing their spot on a team or even dangerous physical interactions, and it's just unfair. Allowing access Not all female athletes see it the same way. "Athletics offers so many benefits, from physical to mental health," said Kara Cowell, another former NCAA championship swimmer. "To educational success and self-confidence. Trans women and girls deserve the same access to these benefits." Transgender advocates point out that not even 10 of the 520,000 college athletes last year were transgender and none of them was a superstar. They point to research showing hormone therapy seems to remove any physical advantages. And they accuse Republicans of creating a distraction by making a boogeyman out of transgender athletes. "This bill is not about protecting fairness in sports or upholding integrity," said transgender teacher and coach Maggie Dayvis. "Instead, it is a calculated effort to sow division, to amplify fear, and to distract from the larger issue of defunding education." A similar Senate will was also rejected by the DFL majority on Monday.
Fox News
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Minnesota House fails to pass bill banning trans athletes from participating in women's sports
The Minnesota House failed to pass the "Preserving Girls' Sports Act" weeks after President Donald Trump's executive order to ban biological males from competing in women's and girls sports. HF12 needed 68 House votes for passage, but the bill fell one vote short with 67 affirmative votes to 66 negative votes. The act stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls." "Female means a female as biologically determined by genetics and defined with respect to an individual's reproductive system," the bill mentions. A rally of supporters and opponents was seen at the Capitol, as they awaited the final vote. The Minnesota House had some "emotional discussion" before the bill was eventually voted on, and Republican state Rep. Peggy Scott, who sponsored the act, was among those who spoke. "We cannot allow our girls to be vulnerable to losing their spot on the team, being on the podium, or to injury by a male teammate or male competitor," she said. "That is not safe and that is not fair to our girls." "We have women and girls around the world that are so afraid of competing with biological men that they are dropping out of sports," Republican state Rep. Marion Rarick added in support of the bill, referencing a 2024 United Nations report on violence against women and girls. However, opponents of the bill pointed to trans discrimination in their arguments. "All children deserve to play," Democratic state Rep. Brion Curran, the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus chair, said. "We will not be complacent with this hateful and dangerous anti-trans rhetoric." Democratic state Rep. Liish Kozlowski added that the act was "a bill to bully trans girls and non-binary kids." While this heated debate was going on, the Senate voted on Monday on a bill banning trans athletes from competing in women's sports. The bill didn't get the 60 votes needed to go through, which means at least seven Democrats didn't vote yes. Trump's executive order last month directed the Education Department to inform school systems, as well as colleges, that forcing girls and women to compete with transgender females is a violation of Title IX. After the order was signed, the NCAA revised its own policy on trans athletes in women's sports, though the revision has been seen as controversial by some. Despite the executive order, the Minnesota State High School League announced it would continue letting trans athletes participate in girls' sports, arguing that the Minnesota Human Rights Act and their state constitution deem them eligible. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, though, wrote a letter late last month warning of the consequences of not passing the "Preserving Girls' Sports Act." "The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has begun a Title IX investigation into the Minnesota State High School League," the letter from Bondi read. "If the Department of Education's investigation shows that relevant Minnesota entities are indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law." State Democratic Rep. Leigh Finke said a trans athlete issue in the United States doesn't exist. "Minnesota has been inclusive for 10 years. We've had zero problems," Finke said. "But we are doing this for political reasons. And when you lie about a community for long enough, people will believe it." Republican state Rep. Peggy Bennett saw it entirely differently. "This bill is about fairness, safety and preserving girls sports in Minnesota." If the bill were to have passed in the House on Monday, it still wouldn't have been signed by Gov. Tim Walz, a strong advocate for transgender rights who was expected to veto it. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota House Republicans rally support for 68 votes needed to pass trans athlete bill
Republicans on Monday rallied at the Capitol in support of a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing on girls' sports teams. House Republicans say they are proposing the bill, HF 12, to ensure sports for elementary, middle and high school female athletes are fair. Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, is authoring the bill because she said she wants to revert amateur sports back to how they were when she played as a girl, when her teams included no openly trans athletes. More: Happy Thyme Asian Market opens in St. Cloud 'It's called common sense. The girls in my school never had to consider the injustice of a male taking our place on the team, or the prospect of serious injury that could come while competing against a stronger, bigger male,' Scott said at the rally. 'My generation benefitted from the common sense that girls and boys should have their own teams, and I'm so thankful for that.' House Republicans currently have a majority, 67-66, but they cannot pass bills on their own — a bill needs 68 votes to pass. Democrats say they will not vote for the proposal, so it won't pass Monday. More: Help nominate 5 Under 40 professionals in St. Cloud area House Republicans, emboldened by the 2024 election and the anti-trans rhetoric and executive actions coming out of the Trump administration, have moved to pare back the rights of trans Minnesotans. They've also proposed a bill to ban transgender inmates from the state's only women's prison and another making the 'castration or sterilization of minors' a felony. Democrats, in a Capitol press conference after the Republican rally, said the bill is political theater and an effort to eliminate trans people from public life. 'Transgender students participate in sports for the same reasons as everyone else — to challenge ourselves, to improve our fitness, to be a part of a team and most of all to have fun,' said Chris Mosier, an advocate who was the first openly trans athlete to represent the U.S. in an international competition. 'Excluding trans students from participation deprives us of the opportunities available to our peers, and it sends the message that we are not worthy of full and social lives, and we will not allow that to happen here in Minnesota.' The Republican rally, organized by the America First Policy Institute, featured conservative activist Riley Gaines, who has advocated against trans athletes since she tied for fifth place with a trans swimmer in 2022. Gaines criticized Gov. Tim Walz and Democratic lawmakers for supporting trans athletes. '(They) are willing to send the message and do everything in their power to say, 'Look, we will put all Minnesotans at risk because we believe boys deserve to trample on girls,'' Gains said at the rally. 'Minnesota, for too long, has turned its back on women and girls … You cannot protect the rights of girls to play fair and safe sports and also protect the boy who wants to take their place on the team.' Gaines arrived at the rally with a security entourage of Minnesota sheriff's deputies and former Minneapolis Police Chief Bob Kroll. Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent Minnesota a letter last month alerting officials that the state could be sued after Democratic officials said they would not comply with Trump's executive order. Since their election loss, Democrats have been grappling with how to support trans Americans playing sports when the majority of Americans side with Republicans on the issue. A January New York Times poll found that 94% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats believed transgender women should not compete in women's sports. Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul and the state's first openly transgender lawmaker, said Monday that states that have passed trans sports bans have failed to provide examples of trans girls participating in youth sports, and the issue hasn't been a problem in Minnesota. 'This problem simply does not exist. It is manufactured,' Finke said. 'We've had zero problems, but we are doing this for political reasons, and when you lie about a community for long enough, people will believe it.' Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesota Republicans propose bill to ban transgender athletes
