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Miami Herald
22-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Chicago trans and LGBTQ+ community take to streets to protest gender-affirming care ban
CHICAGO - Jey McCreight underwent hormone replacement therapy and top surgery in their mid-30s to transition into a transmasculine person. They said the medical treatment helped them "live life to the fullest." "It was like my depression was magically cured after struggling with it my entire life - going to therapy, being on other medications," they said. "Gender-affirming care is what made me happy." When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Wednesday, McCreight said they were unsurprised, but sad and angry nonetheless. McCreight, 37, joined about 200 others who braved the Saturday afternoon heat to protest the court's decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti. Demonstrators started the 12:30 p.m. rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to the tunes of Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" and Nipsey Hussle's "FDT" from loudspeakers. Under the blistering sun, protesters demanded equal rights for trans and gender-nonconforming people. They pointed to the importance of gender-affirming care in helping trans youth who face higher rates of mental health issues, including depression and suicide. "We need to show up for our youth," said Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois and one of the protest's organizers. "Because they deserve to be the incredible human beings that they're meant to be, and we need every single one of them to grow up." Advocates blasted the court's decision in the Skrmetti case, where families and a doctor challenged Tennessee's ban on puberty blockers and hormones to help minors transition. They argued the law deprived them of their constitutional right to equal protection under the law, but the state contended it was necessary to protect children. For Keerthi Nan, a trans Chicago schoolteacher, the decision "further dehumanized" young trans and gender-diverse people. "It sucks to be a trans adult right now," Nan told the crowd. "But it is so much harder, so much scarier, to be a trans kid, a trans adolescent in this moment." Nan added that though Illinois and Chicago appear to be safe places for trans youth, they still hear Chicago Public School students calling their peers slurs for gay and trans people. They called on protesters to raise continued attention for trans rights. "Show up to the school board meeting," she said. "Show up when people aren't watching. Fight like our students' futures depend on it because they do." State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat and the only openly lesbian member of the Illinois House, also called for more action from the broader LGBTQ+ community. She said not only were trans rights and abortion rights at risk - other liberties for LGBTQ+ people could also be in danger. "You don't get to take your wedding cake and go home, boys," Kelly said. "They are not just coming for trans kids." At the rally, the parents of trans children stressed the importance of accepting their kids for their identities. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who has two children who have received gender-affirming care, said letting his kids lead their treatment in consultation with medical professionals wasn't "hard" nor "emotionally complicated." "At no moment in that process did it make a bit of sense for a politician to insert themselves," he said. After speeches from trans and LGBTQ+ rights' advocates and local politicians, protesters marched for about a half hour, circling downtown, from Dearborn Street to Michigan Avenue and Adams Street to Washington Street. The crowd chanted slogans including "Health care is a human right" and "Trans rights are human rights" for about half an hour as it moved. Onlookers on the sidewalks stopped to cheer, clap and record the march. McCreight said they felt "reinvigorated" by the event. "You're seeing your rights being stripped away and wondering, 'Am I going to lose access to my health care next as an adult, the thing that I know has literally saved my life?'" they said. "But I come out here and I know that people aren't going to give up, and honestly, I feel like we're going to eventually win." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Chicago Tribune
21-06-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Trans and LGBTQ+ community take to streets to protest gender-affirming care ban
Jey McCreight underwent hormone replacement therapy and top surgery in their mid-30s to transition into a transmasculine person. They said the medical treatment helped them 'live life to the fullest.' 'It was like my depression was magically cured after struggling with it my entire life — going to therapy, being on other medications,' they said. 'Gender-affirming care is what made me happy.' When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Wednesday, McCreight said they were unsurprised, but sad and angry nonetheless. McCreight, 37, joined about 200 others who braved the Saturday afternoon heat to protest the court's decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti. Demonstrators started the 12:30 p.m. rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to the tunes of Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' and Nipsey Hussle's 'FDT' from loudspeakers. Under the blistering sun, protesters demanded equal rights for trans and gender-nonconforming people. They pointed to the importance of gender-affirming care in helping trans youth who face higher rates of mental health issues, including depression and suicide. 'We need to show up for our youth,' said Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois and one of the protest's organizers. 'Because they deserve to be the incredible human beings that they're meant to be, and we need every single one of them to grow up.' Advocates blasted the court's decision in the Skrmetti case, where families and a doctor challenged Tennessee's ban on puberty blockers and hormones to help minors transition. They argued the law deprived them of their constitutional right to equal protection under the law, but the state contended it was necessary to protect children. For Keerthi Nan, a trans Chicago schoolteacher, the decision 'further dehumanized' young trans and gender-diverse people. 'It sucks to be a trans adult right now,' Nan told the crowd. 'But it is so much harder, so much scarier, to be a trans kid, a trans adolescent in this moment.' Nan added that though Illinois and Chicago appear to be safe places for trans youth, they still hear Chicago Public School students calling their peers slurs for gay and trans people. They called on protesters to raise continued attention for trans rights. 'Show up to the school board meeting,' she said. 'Show up when people aren't watching. Fight like our students' futures depend on it because they do.' State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, the only openly lesbian member of the Illinois House, also called for more action from the broader LGBTQ+ community. She said not only were trans rights and abortion rights at risk — other liberties for LGBTQ+ people could also be in danger. 'You don't get to take your wedding cake and go home, boys,' Kelly said. 'They are not just coming for trans kids.' At the rally, the parents of trans children stressed the importance of accepting their kids for their identities. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who has two children who have received gender-affirming care, said letting his kids lead their treatment in consultation with medical professionals wasn't 'hard' nor 'emotionally complicated.' 'At no moment in that process did it make a bit of sense for a politician to insert themselves,' he said. After speeches from trans and LGBTQ+ rights' advocates and local politicians, protesters marched for about a half hour, circling downtown, from Dearborn Street to Michigan Avenue and Adams Street to Washington Street. The crowd chanted slogans including 'Health care is a human right' and 'Trans rights are human rights' for about half an hour as it moved. Onlookers on the sidewalks stopped to cheer, clap and record the march. McCreight said they felt 'reinvigorated' by the event. 'You're seeing your rights being stripped away and wondering, 'Am I going to lose access to my health care next as an adult, the thing that I know has literally saved my life?'' they said. 'But I come out here and I know that people aren't going to give up, and honestly, I feel like we're going to eventually win.'
Fox News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Republicans criticize Dem congressional candidate's '86 47' post as call for 'political violence'
Republicans in swing state New Hampshire are criticizing the move by a Democratic congressional candidate to post a photo of herself next to an "86 47" sign, which some in the GOP see as a shorthand message suggesting violence against President Donald Trump. Maura Sullivan, a former Marine Corps officer who deployed in the Iraq War and later served at the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration under former President Barack Obama, attended a "No Kings" protest this past weekend in her hometown of Portsmouth, N.H. Demonstrators at thousands of rallies nationwide on Saturday protested what they call the president's anti-democratic actions and authoritarian tendencies. Sullivan, while at the rally, posted on social media a photo of herself standing next to a fellow veteran who was holding a sign that read "Veterans for Democracy." But the sign also included the phrase "Foxtrot Delta Tango," as well as the message "86 47." "Foxtrot Delta Tango" is a military-style phrase in the NATO phonetic alphabet that spells out the letters "FDT," which is seen as a derogatory term towards Trump. While "86" is a term long used in restaurants to signify when they are out of a food item on a menu, or in bars or military circles to get rid of something – or someone. And of late, some Republicans perceive it as a message to have Trump eliminated. The Secret Service continues to investigate former FBI director James Comey after he earlier this year posted on social media an image of seashells arranged to spell "86 47." Comey, following a conservative uproar, took down his post and apologized. The social media post by Sullivan, one of two top Democrats running to succeed Rep. Chris Pappas in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, came hours after the horrific shootings of two leading Minnesota Democratic state lawmakers - one of them fatal. State Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota state House, and her spouse were killed, and Sen. John Hoffman and his spouse were severely wounded in the shootings, which appear to be politically motivated attacks. Sullivan's congressional campaign, in a statement to Fox News, pointed to the Minnesota shootings. "Maura is outraged and heartbroken about the assassination of a public servant in Minnesota. She believes that there is absolutely no place for violence in our politics, regardless of party or affiliation," Sullivan campaign manager Nick London said. London added that on Saturday, "Maura joined thousands of Granite Staters and millions of Americans in peacefully protesting Donald Trump's use of our servicemembers as props for his political agenda. If the President cared about our veterans, he would be focused on improving healthcare at the VA, expanding mental health services and supporting our military families." Republicans in New Hampshire quickly criticized Sullivan over her post. "I knew Maura was cozying up with the extreme radical left, but this is a step too far. Calls for political violence like this have no place in New Hampshire," New Hampshire GOP chair Jim MacEachern said in a statement. And NHGOP vice chair Hollie Novoletsky, who came in second in the 2024 GOP congressional primary in the 1st District, said in a statement, "Whether the target of an assassination is President Trump or a Democrat State Rep in MN, it is unacceptable. You'd think as a 'Veteran for Democracy,' Maura would know that." The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the campaign arm of the House GOP, which is trying to flip the district for the first time in eight years, went further. "Political violence has no place in our country – and posing with propaganda calling for the assassination of President Trump is dangerous and disqualifying," NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole argued. "Maura Sullivan must apologize, take down the photo, and take herself out of the running for New Hampshire's First Congressional District."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump's Least Favorite Words, in One Terrifying Song
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Last year, a lot of indie-music fans—including myself—got someone else's packing list stuck in their head. I'd walk around muttering 'Milk thistle, calcium, high-rise, boot cut / Advil, black jeans, blue jeans'—lyrics hissed out by the art-punk legend Kim Gordon on a song called 'Bye Bye.' The track led off her album The Collective, one of the most acclaimed releases of 2024. Over hard hip-hop beats and snarling guitar distortion, Gordon stammered about daily banalities, reframing modern life as a psychological war zone. Now the 72-year-old co-founder of Sonic Youth has released a new version of the song, called 'Bye Bye 25.' The music is largely the same, but the lyrics are new, and they start like this: mental health electric vehicle Gulf of Mexico energy conversion gay bird flu These are among the terms that the Trump administration has tried to minimize from public life. PEN America has assembled a list of at least 350 phrases that federal authorities have, this year, scrubbed from government websites and materials (including school curricula), flagged as necessitating extra review in official documents and proposals, or discouraged the use of among staffers. The attention paid to these words reflects Trump's crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as his team's stances on policy issues such as energy and vaccines. Gordon picked some of these words to rework 'Bye Bye'—making her, somewhat curiously, one of the few established musicians to release music directly inspired by Trump's second term. For all the chaos and consternation caused by the president this year, the entertainment world's response has been relatively muted. Bruce Springsteen, that liberal stalwart, kicked off his tour with an anti-Trump sermon; stars such as Doechii and Lady Gaga have made awards-show speeches in support of immigrants, trans people, and protesters. But outright protest music responding to recent events has been rare. 'I think people are kind of mostly just still stunned and don't know what to do,' Gordon told me in a video chat earlier this week. The memory of what happened the last time around might be contributing to the hesitation. Trump's rise to power in 2016 spurred a quick response from popular culture, resulting in diss tracks (Nipsey Hussle and YG's 'FDT') and provocations from luminaries (remember Madonna wanting to explode the White House?). The indie-rock world united for a compilation called Our First 100 Days: one track released for each of Trump's first 100 days in office. But today, many of those efforts feel like either artifacts of a bygone movement—the pink-hatted #Resistance—or simply inconsequential. When I spoke with Gordon, she said, with a laugh, that she had no memory of contributing to the Our First 100 Days project. The new version of 'Bye Bye' caught my attention because it's deadpan funny, and because it avoids some of the pitfalls that await many anti-Trump protest efforts. The president and many of his supporters seem to use liberal outrage as fuel, which means strident criticism has a way of backfiring. Steve Bannon's stated strategy to 'flood the zone with shit'—to stoke multiple incendiary media narratives every day—can make knowing what to protest first difficult. The firing of human-rights workers? The extrajudicial deportations? The dehumanization of trans people? The bid to turn Gaza into a resort? How do you pick? Gordon's song cuts across topic areas by highlighting the dark absurdity of an ascendant political tactic: controlling policy by controlling language. It also doesn't sloganeer; instead, it presents a patently ridiculous jumble of terms for listeners to reflect on. (Theoretically, a MAGA loyalist might even enjoy the sound of diversity-related jargon becoming a heavy-metal hit list). 'I wanted to have some really mundane, weird words in there like allergy or measles or tile drainage,' she told me. 'It's unrealistic to think they could actually ban these words, because everyone uses them every day. But I think if they had their ultimate fantasy, maybe.' Gordon and her former band, Sonic Youth, emanate the kind of inscrutable hauteur that might seem at odds with outright protest. But this is not her first such effort in this vein. Sonic Youth arose out of the punk-rock underground of the 1980s that was boiling with outrage against Ronald Reagan. In 1992, their song 'Youth Against Fascism' featured Thurston Moore—the band's other singer, and Gordon's now-ex-husband—sneering, 'Yeah, the president sucks / He's a war pig fuck.' That same year, the Gordon-led 'Swimsuit Issue' skewered male chauvinism, a topic she returned to with the hilarious 'I'm a Man' on The Collective. Talking with her, I remembered that though Gordon is often associated with Gen X disaffection, she's really a Baby Boomer who came of age attending Vietnam War protests and listening to folk music. The video for 'Bye Bye 25' splices images from the recent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles with shots of her holding cue cards in the style of Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' video. She told me her favorite protest song is Neil Young's 'Ohio,' which decried the state violence at Kent State University in 1970. Young, she suspected, didn't intend to write an out-and-out rallying cry. 'Those lyrics were describing a time,' she said. 'That's what I hope I'm doing with my music and my lyrics—really describing what's going on.' Article originally published at The Atlantic
Morocco World
27-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Catalonian Economic Delegation Kicks Off Three-Day Mission to Morocco
Doha – A delegation of Catalonian business leaders and officials begins a three-day economic mission to Morocco today. The visit, running from May 27 to 29, aims to strengthen economic and commercial relations between the northeastern Spanish region and the North African country. The mission is organized by the Catalonian Employers' Confederation, known locally as Foment del Treball (FDT), in partnership with the Morocco-Spain Economic Council (CEMAES). About thirty entrepreneurs representing strategic sectors with high cooperation potential are participating in the delegation. Led by Josep Sánchez Llibre, president of FDT, the delegation will visit Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca. The group includes businesses specializing in international logistics, customs management, engineering, construction, sustainable chemistry, digital solutions (SaaS), and industrial production of technical materials. During their stay, the Spanish delegation will hold meetings with Moroccan institutions including the Regional Investment Center of Tangier, the Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, and Casablanca Finance City. The visit agenda includes tours of strategic industrial sites such as Tangier Automotive City and the Nouaceur Technopole. Networking opportunities are also planned with key officials, including Ryad Mezzour, Morocco's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Omar Moro, president of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, and Enrique Ojeda Vila, Spain's Ambassador to Morocco. This mission is part of FDT's international projection strategy, which aims to foster sustainable economic partnerships. The initiative seeks to bring Moroccan and Catalonian productive ecosystems closer together while encouraging interregional dialogue between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Morocco, Spain's top trading partner in Africa The visit coincides with heightened trade and investment flows across the Strait of Gibraltar—momentum that is set to grow further as both countries, alongside Portugal, prepare to co-host the 2030 World Cup. Spain has been Morocco's top trading partner for over a decade, with bilateral trade reaching a historic record of over €22.5 billion in 2024. Spanish exports to Morocco reached €10.843 billion in 2024, showing a 68% increase. Imports from Morocco were valued at €8.220 billion, growing by 9.1% during the same period. Approximately 61% of Spanish exports to Africa go to Morocco. Morocco ranks as Spain's third-largest trading partner outside the European Union, behind only the United States and the United Kingdom. Since 2014, Spain has been both Morocco's primary customer and supplier, with 18-20% of Morocco's foreign trade conducted with Spain. Spanish investment in Morocco exceeded €250 million in both 2022 and 2023. Spanish companies invest primarily in Morocco's automotive industry, textiles, agribusiness, and tourism sectors, while Moroccan investments in Spain reached nearly €40 million by late September 2024. Read also: Spain Commits €340 Million to Casablanca Desalination Plant
