Not fun times

If this were the least bit humorous, it might rival Abbot and Costello’s old routine of “Who’s on First?” Farah, a 21‑year‑old Moroccan lesbian, sought refuge in the United States after fleeing escalating family violence in Morocco, where homosexuality is criminalized. She had no criminal record, and her case proceeded entirely through the civil immigration system. After requesting asylum at the U.S. border, she spent months in civil ICE detention. A U.S. immigration judge issued a protection order halting her removal while her asylum claim moved forward. Despite that order, ICE deported her, invoking a broad reading of its civil authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The agency argued the judge’s order barred removal to Morocco but not removal from the United States. Using the “third‑country removal” provision, ICE sent her to Cameroon — a country she had never visited and where same‑sex relationships are also criminalized. Detained on arrival, she was later released and ultimately returned to Morocco, where she now lives in hiding. The struggles of asylum seekers in the U.S.A. are farcical but not a joke.

What’s wrong with Kansas

Transgender advocacy groups in Kansas moved swiftly to challenge a new state law that voids updated driver’s licenses and birth certificates for trans residents. Passed over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, the measure forces Kansans to surrender their licenses or face penalties and misdemeanor charges. S.B. 244 also bars transgender people from using restrooms or locker rooms in government buildings that don’t match their sex assigned at birth and even prohibits multi‑stall gender‑neutral facilities. The ACLU, representing unnamed plaintiffs, argues the law violates equal‑protection guarantees by denying accurate identifying information routinely granted for other changes, such as names or military status. About 1,700 Kansans are affected. The legislation, trans advocates say, is a direct attack on transgender residents’ dignity and safety. The judge found the plaintiffs hadn’t met the legal standard for emergency relief and denied an injunction, so the law is in force while the case proceeds.

Pew: U.S.A. on homosexuality

As much chatter as there is about LGBT issues by the U. S. political class, a majority of U.S. citizens, 61 percent, do not consider homosexuality “morally wrong.” On homosexuality, the U.S. falls roughly in the middle globally, with 39% viewing it as morally wrong, comparable to Israel (47%), Hungary (34%), and Greece (30%). In Sweden, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, over 90% of people do not consider homosexuality morally wrong.

Texas run-off

U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson made history as the first out LGBT person elected to Congress from Texas and the broader U.S. South, winning a special election after Rep. Colin Allred resigned to run for the U.S. Senate. When Allred later exited that race as Rep. Jasmine Crockett entered, he returned to seek his former House seat, setting up one of the most unusual intraparty matchups of the 2026 cycle. Johnson and Allred are now headed to a May 26 runoff after neither surpassed 50 percent in the Democratic primary for Texas’s 33rd Congressional District, one of several closely watched contests shaped by mid‑decade redistricting. With 74 percent of votes counted Wednesday morning, Allred led 44.8 to 33.7 percent, according to NBC News. Johnson currently represents the 32nd District and previously served three terms in the Texas House, where she helped establish the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus and frequently opposed anti‑LGBT legislation. The 33rd District is lucky, as either candidate will be good in Congress. Too bad the nation loses one of the two from serving because an unelectable narcissist ran and lost in the Senate primary.

Liza at GLAAD

Among the many highlights at the annual GLAAD Media Awards was a sentimental — and at times cringe‑worthy — surprise appearance by Liza Minnelli. GLAAD, founded in the early 1990s as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, dropped its full name in 2013 to better reflect its commitment to the full LGBT community amid the rise of transgender visibility and advocacy. Considered a quintessential “gay icon,” Minnelli — who turns 80 next week — appeared onstage flanked by a phalanx of dancers, prompting a standing ovation at the Beverly Hilton. The daughter of Judy Garland, one of the patron saints of gay culture, Minnelli was serenaded with “Happy Birthday” by the crowd. She has faced physical and cognitive challenges in recent years and at moments appeared startled by the choreography, though she remained mostly delighted. “You make me so proud because you’re strong and you stand up for what you believe. You really do. And it’s so nice to be here with you,” she told the audience. In addition to her milestone birthday, the EGOT (winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award) legend is preparing to release her highly anticipated memoir, “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This.”.

Watch the 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/i4ntgliZwWg

Idaho message bill

For the second time in two years, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a measure urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which legalized same‑sex marriage nationwide. The resolution, House Joint Memorial 17, passed 44–26 but lost three Republican votes compared to an identical measure approved by the House last year. Introduced by Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R), the memorial argues that Obergefell created a constitutional right that the nation’s founders would not have recognized and improperly treated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause as a source of substantive rights. The measure now heads to the Idaho Senate, which declined to take up last year’s memorial. Even if approved, it would does not compel the state government to do anything but send the memorial to the Supreme Court to revisit Obergefell, and the Court recently declined to hear a challenge to the ruling, and except for a couple of justices shows not willingness go take it up

DEI Ban sent to Governor Desantis

Florida lawmakers have approved SB 1134, a sweeping measure that would bar cities and counties from funding, promoting, or formally supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The bill now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for signature. The  bill authorizes the governor to remove local officials who violate its provisions and allows residents to sue local governments over perceived noncompliance. Supporters argue the legislation curbs what they describe as costly and divisive DEI initiatives, while opponents warn its broad language could chill routine local activities like Pride activities, from cultural celebrations to community outreach. The proposal prohibits local DEI offices and inclusion officers, and Democrats contend it could discourage recognition of community observances or programs benefiting marginalized groups. Republican sponsors maintain the bill is clear and narrowly targeted, noting it does not affect state or federal holidays. The measure follows earlier statewide restrictions on DEI spending in higher education.

Political kettle of fish in Great Britain

Gay or straight, British men share the same political ethic. The political party, Reform UK, founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party, has rebranded around anti‑immigration, eurosceptic and anti‑“woke” positions, including a pledge to repeal the antidiscrimination 2010 Equality Act. A “More in Common” poll of 8,921 adults recently found Reform is the top choice for both gay and bisexual men (25%) and straight men (33%). There’s no surprise, too, women are different from men and lesbians are different from straight women. The Green Party, which ranked second among gay and bisexual men (19%), and was the leading choice for lesbian and bisexual women (37%). Among straight women, Reform led with 29%. Conservatives polled 23% with straight women. Reform’s 2024 manifesto proposed overhauling the Equality Act, eliminating DEI programs and banning “transgender ideology” in schools. Research in 2024 found 69% of Reform voters oppose legal gender change via GRCs and 65% support same‑sex marriage, still the gay boys like it.