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Politics

How the Overturn of Roe v. Wade Will Impact LGBTQIA+ Couples in the South

Posted on September 23, 2022
A photo of protests surrounding the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. In doing so, the Supreme Court gave states the right to outlaw abortion. Several states, many of them in the South, have trigger laws, which state legislators have already approved, that went into effect immediately or almost immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned. A perhaps unforeseen result of the overturn is that the ruling may also make it more difficult for LGBTQIA+ couples in the South to adopt…

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In Defense of Trans Youth in Alabama

Posted on September 9, 2021
A photo of a trans youth.

As in states across the country, anti-trans bills are plaguing Alabama. Once again, conservatives have manufactured a problem so that they can craft a solution that causes undue suffering to an entire community already persecuted by conservative lawmakers in the state. Fiendishly, the community in question is children.…

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HIV Disproportionately Affects People in the South. Why is Texas Trying to Cut Funding?

Posted on March 23, 2021
A photo of BIPOC people representing HIV Texas.

The numbers are clear: HIV affects people in the South at much higher rates than elsewhere in the nation. Within the southern demographic, the virus disproportionally affects BIPOC southerners. And right here in Texas—where we have the highest uninsured rate in the nation—the state legislature would like to cut funding for the Texas HIV Medication Program (THMP).…

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Dear Well-Meaning Liberals, Listen to the Voices of the South

Posted on October 6, 2020
A photo of the South.

“F*ck Texas.” “F*ck the South.” “Let’s just divide the country at the Mason-Dixon and let the South fend for itself.” “Texas is a lost cause.” These are just a few of the tone-deaf tweets I have seen from well-meaning liberals over the last few months, years, and so on. It’s exhausting. Let’s be clear: If you perpetuate that narrative every time you want to express displeasure at a southern Republican or conservative legislator’s gaffe—you’re part of the problem, you’re tone deaf, and you’re showing your…

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Changing the Game: Trans Athletes and the Fight for Inclusion

Posted on September 11, 2020
A photo of Changing the Game.

A political war is being waged against transgender Americans, and young trans athletes are caught in the crossfire. Mack Beggs is one of four transgender athletes featured in Changing the Game, a documentary that profiles the lives of young trans athletes in an effort to raise awareness about the complexity surrounding the transphobic policies that transgender high school athletes are forced to navigate just to compete. “I think it’s many things at once,” Alex Schmider, associate director of transgender representation at…

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A Quick and Queer Guide to the Democratic Presidential Primary

Posted on February 25, 2020
A photo of voting in the Democratic presidential primary.

Texans (and American voters everywhere), the presidential primary election draws near! Although we are no longer contending with a whole circus of Democratic candidates, there are still a lot of people running in hopes of beating Donald Trump. It can be difficult to sift through the endless articles, advertisements, and heated debates to get to the true heart of these candidate’s issues. That’s why I have created this quick and easy guide to understanding each of the candidates’ stance on…

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A Decade in Review: Reflections on the Last 10 Years of LGBTQ Milestones

Posted on January 7, 2020
A photo of LGBTQ milestones.

We’re less than a week into the new decade, but the LGBTQ community is already full steam ahead in our fight for equality. But as we move forward, it’s important to take time to reflect on just how far our movement has come in the past 10 years. The 2010s brought massive wins and milestones for the queer community, but plenty of setbacks as well. Below, we’ve compiled a 10-year review of some of the most powerful LGBTQ moments of…

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A Legal History of Queer Sexualities in the Holy Roman Empire: The Constitutio Criminalis Carolina

Posted on November 15, 2019
A photo of the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina.

The Holy Roman Empire can often be difficult to talk about in sweeping terms because of its decentralized nature. But in 1530, the Constitutio Criminalis Carolina (also known as the Lex Carolina), would mark the first body of German criminal law and attempt to unite the various principalities and kingdoms in the Empire. It also set the foundation for the prosecution of queer identity and life.…

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