Cynthia Phillips was mesmerized when she saw the latest pictures of her favorite moon. Here at last was a fresh look at Europa, an icy satellite of Jupiter. The moon resembles a truffle drizzled haphazardly with strips of melted white chocolate, as if the universe had rushed to finish a baking-show challenge. The images gave us a new sense of Europa’s topography, its collection of ridges and troughs appearing more intricate than ever. The lighting was different this time, Phillips told me, and the shadows brought out dramatic shapes in the terrain.
The images were taken by a Jupiter-observing spacecraft as it swept past Europa last week, coming within just 222 miles (358 kilometers) of the frozen surface. Phillips, a planetary geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, immediately reached for the Europa globe on her desk and began comparing the real-world views with the topography stretched over the plastic orb. The last probe to come this close to Europa was disposed of in 2003, when NASA deliberately plunged it into Jupiter’s atmosphere after the mission started running low on fuel. “We haven’t seen Europa’s surface in this level of detail for 20 years,” Phillips said.
Europa might be the best place to search for life elsewhere in the solar system. Scientists are almost certain that beneath the Jovian moon’s frozen surface is a salty ocean with more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. And such a watery subsurface environment could provide a comfortable home for small Europan life forms.
[Read: Jupiter’s frozen moon is studded with 50-foot blades of ice]
Two years from now, another NASA spacecraft will depart for the Jupiter system, specifically designed to study Europa. The probe will swing past the moon dozens of times, sometimes coasting just 16 miles (25 kilometers) above the surface. Each pass will bring scientists closer to understanding the workings of this celestial truffle and its mysterious interior. Beneath that frosty coating could be the answer to one of our biggest questions: Is there life anywhere else in the universe?
Europa is enveloped in a thick coat of water ice. (Some other moons in our solar system have ice made of methane and nitrogen—the cosmos is a weird place.) The criss-crossing lines visible in the new pictures are actually cracks and fissures in that frozen exterior. Scientists suspect that they’re caused by the stretching and squashing that Europa experiences as it orbits giant Jupiter. The moon’s terrain is sprinkled with chemical compounds such as sodium chloride and magnesium sulfate—more commonly known to Earthlings as table salt and Epsom salt—and they could indicate briny waters below.
A close-up view of Europa’s textured surface (NASA / JPL-Caltech / SWRI / MSSS
Scientists got their best evidence that a Europan ocean might exist two decades ago, when that earlier NASA spacecraft detected a magnetic connection between Europa and Jupiter that could easily be explained by the presence of a salty, global sea. This deep into the solar system, Europa’s underground ocean wouldn’t feel the warmth of the sun; it would stay liquid because of Jupiter’s gravitational tugging. In recent years, telescopes have detected signs of plumes of water vapor spewing out of the cracks and into space. Scientists believe that Europa’s ocean could be as old as the moon itself, about 4 billion years or so, which would give life plenty of time and a stable environment in which to evolve, Phillips said.
[Read: Europa’s mysterious glow]
The data suggest that Europa has a rocky mantle—the layer between the moon’s crust and core—and when rock and water come together, magical things can happen: Chemical interactions between them are known to produce hydrogen-rich materials for tiny creatures to metabolize. “On our own planet, hydrothermal systems at the seafloor provide energy for communities of microorganisms,” Samantha Trumbo, a planetary scientist at Cornell who studies icy ocean worlds like Europa, told me.
The upcoming NASA mission, named Clipper—a nod to the speedy, lightweight vessels favored by 19th-century merchants—will study nearly every bit of the Europan surface. If it gets lucky, the spacecraft could fly through some plume particles, take a sip, and analyze the contents. Alyssa Rhoden, a planetary geophysicist at the Southwest Research Institute who studies Europa, is most excited about a Clipper instrument designed to detect warmer-than-usual spots on the moon’s surface. “When you look at Europa’s surface, you can see a lot of pits where the surface seems to have dropped down a little bit, places where the surface has been disrupted,” Rhoden told me. “We think that that’s happening from heating coming from below.” That signature could simply indicate the presence of melted bits of ice near the frigid crust—or it could mean a roiling sea has floated toward the surface, perhaps bringing any tiny inhabitants with it.
[Read: Exploring the oceans of the outer solar system]
The Clipper mission is not meant to find definitive proof that life exists on Europa, only explore whether the moon has the right conditions and chemistry to make life possible. Evidence of life will require more missions, guided by Clipper’s data, that could land on the Europan surface and drill into the ice. NASA is also searching for life elsewhere in the solar system, notably on Mars, where a rover is collecting samples from a dried-up river delta. But Europa is a more tantalizing target, and so are the other ocean moons sprinkled across the solar system, such as Enceladus and Titan, which orbit Saturn, and Triton, around Neptune. The Mars mission is designed to search for signs of fossilized life that existed several billion years ago, when water once flowed on the planet. “It’s quite possible that Mars could have had life in the past, in a warmer-weather era, and it’s possible that there are subsurface pockets on Mars that could have remnants of this living biosphere,” Phillips said. “But on somewhere like Europa, life could exist there now.”
And what might humanity, by way of carefully engineered machines, find on Europa, once we’ve figured out which melty bits to inspect? “I would love for there to be Europan whales swimming around in that ocean,” Phillips said with a laugh. But alien life, if it exists, is likely to be small and simple. Energy sources are limited in the Europan depths, and scientists don’t think the environment can support the development of more complex organisms, Phillips said. Still, even the discovery of a single microbe would mark an explosive event in human history. It would mean that life had managed to spring up in two different places around the same star—in a universe absolutely brimming with stars. If it happened more than once here, in our own solar system, it’s likely happened elsewhere in the cosmos, around someone else’s sun. This is why scientists are so eager to catch a glimpse of Europa, and prepare as much as they can for the exploration to come. “We all want it to be water,” Rhoden said. “We all want it to be a cool plumbing system in the shell with lots of activity, and someday we’ll get down there and find little Europan sea urchins clinging to the bottom of the ice.”
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Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded July 7, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 58 Seconds
Episode 1,079 – The Trifecta Of Threats To Our Democracy. Guest is Naomi Wolf.
New CPS program puts free condoms in nearly every school — including elementaries
When Chicago Public Schools students head back to their schools next month, any school with kids in the 5th grade and up will offer birth control.
When Chicago Public Schools fully reopen late next month for the first time since the start of the pandemic, students will be returning to schools stocked with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, forehead thermometers and air purifiers.
But nearly every CPS school will also have items that experts say will keep students healthy and safe regardless of the status of the pandemic: menstruation products and condoms.
Both will be provided as the result of a new policy passed by the CPS Board of Education in December. A similar action that will require all schools in Illinois provide menstruation products generated far more attention this spring when it was passed by state lawmakers in Springfield.
Under the CPS policy, schools that teach fifth grade and up must maintain a condom availability program as part of an expanded vision of sexual health education. That means all but a dozen, which enroll only younger grades, of the more than 600 CPS schools will have condoms.
The idea was years in the making and, though it may come with some controversy, was what many experts agreed was a step in the right direction for student health, CPS’ top doctor Kenneth Fox said in an interview last week. Until now, principals have had massive leeway to use their own discretion on sex-related education and resources.
“Young people have the right to accurate and clear information to make healthy decisions,” said Fox, a pediatrician of 30 years. “And they need access to resources to protect their health and the health of others as they act on those decisions.”
Preventing ‘bad stuff’ is key, CPS top doc says
Fox said the goal is prevention.
“Essentially what we want to do is make condoms available to students for if and when they think they need them,” he said. “ … When you don’t have those protections and don’t make those resources available then bad stuff happens to young people. You have elevated risks of sexually transmitted infections, of unintended pregnancies, and that’s very preventable stuff.”
To start, elementary schools will get 250 condoms and high schools — many of which already make them available — will get 1,000. The Chicago Department of Public Health will provide the condoms at no cost to the district as part of the city’s effort to prevent teen pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. When a school runs out, principals will be told to request more from CPS and CDPH.
Schools will get a letter from Fox explaining the policy to parents, and principals will receive guidance for where to store the condoms and how to operate the program. The condoms should be in easily accessible locations in the school while also not too out in the open so there’s still privacy for students, Fox said.
“I would expect that not everybody is going to be completely on board right from the start, but I do think society has changed,” Fox said.
Asked why fifth grade was the target year, Fox said that decision was “informed by a developmental understanding of children,” and he didn’t believe there would be any adverse effects on younger kids.
In alignment with state standards, CPS’ sex ed curriculum includes lessons on puberty, hygiene, gender identity, relationships, sexual harassment, birth control, abstinence and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
“CPS stresses that choosing to not have sex is the norm for 5th graders. Parents/guardians should be notified by their school if a condom demonstration will be provided,” the curriculum reads.
Parent education will be key to making families comfortable, and so will staff training so educators can have discussions with parents since local schools are likely to be their first stop, Fox said.
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Expert: Providing condoms does not encourage their use
Scout Bratt, an outreach and education director at the Chicago Women’s Health Center, said there will be plenty of parents who don’t believe this program is right for their family, and it’ll be the district’s responsibility to listen to those concerns and offer direct communication about what condom availability does and doesn’t mean.
“I want to be really clear that the existence of condoms does not mean that all students are going to be using those condoms or encouraged to use them,” Bratt said. “The idea is to say we are educational centers, we are community health centers essentially, and we know to invest in young folks’ health and well-being by providing comprehensive sex ed, it means we also need to provide the resources.
“We want students to come to us and to have access to those condoms for free as opposed to potentially having to find them elsewhere or choose not to use condoms. … It is about recognizing that school is investing in young people’s health.”
Bratt said there’s no evidence to suggest access to condoms will lead to more kids deciding to have sex. The idea is that those who are already making those decisions will now have an easier way to protect themselves.
“It’s a harm reduction approach,” Bratt said.
The Women’s Health Center is one of 28 organizations, including local hospitals, that CPS consulted through a sexual health advisory committee created in 2019, the district said. Faith leaders from different religions and parts of the city were also engaged.
In addition to condoms, CPS’ sexual health policy calls for free menstrual products in at least one bathroom in every school. State lawmakers in May passed legislation requiring menstrual products in school bathrooms despite Republican objections about tampons, pads or cups being available to transgender boys in male-designated restrooms.
Fox said offering free menstrual products was a matter of “equity and justice” because many don’t have access for financial reasons, or so-called “period poverty.” Bratt said that can lead to people missing school while menstruating, a dire educational impact — and added that it’s important to provide resources to those who menstruate no matter their gender identity.
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Instagram/Healing to Action
CPS is doing things backwards, parent says
Maria Serrano, whose daughter is heading into her sophomore year in high school, said condoms would be a helpful resource as long as sex education is up to par.
But Healing to Action, a grassroots organization that works to address the root causes of gender-based violence and advocates for improved sex ed, has found that isn’t the case.
The group has said it discovered through a 2018 public records request that 70% of CPS schools weren’t properly implementing the existing sex ed requirements, with schools that serve majority Black and Brown students disproportionately falling short.
Healing to Action also criticized CPS’ new sex ed policy in December, saying it doesn’t do enough to ensure qualified educators are teaching sexual health and doesn’t provide parents with enough resources to have conversations with their children at home. Teachers now will be required to undergo only 90 minutes of training to earn a four-year certificate for sex ed. They previously needed to participate in a six- to eight-hour training session.
Serrano, a parent advocate working with Healing to Action, said education and communication have to come before condom availability. She only knew about the new program because of her advocacy work but has heard no communication from CPS as a parent.
“My question is, ‘Oh my God, how is it that CPS wants to give condoms to kids?’” Serrano asked in Spanish. “They are 10 years old, 11, 12. They are kids. So why is CPS thinking about providing condoms? Why not provide them information, and at the end give them the resource of a condom when they are prepared to use those resources they want to provide. For me, this isn’t the best option. They are doing things backwards.”
Serrano said parents in her Little Village neighborhood may be shocked to find out about the condom program because they have very little information and their kids aren’t all getting quality sex ed.
“Why not educate us as parents? In my case I come from Mexico, it is taboo for [kids to] talk to parents about these topics. In communities that are majority Latino, we are not prepared to talk about these topics with our kids.”
Loudoun County Schools Continue Fight Against Teacher Suspended for Objecting to Transgender Policy
The legal battle persists between Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) and a teacher who was suspended for opposing the school district’s policy about transgender pronouns, as opposing sides argue over whether the Virginia Supreme Court should revisit the case.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative legal group representing the teacher, Byron “Tanner” Cross, said it is asking the state Supreme Court to reject an appeal from the school district, which seeks to repeal a lower court’s injunction mandating that Cross be reinstated to his teaching position.
Cross, who teaches physical education at Leesburg Elementary School, was placed on leave in May after he spoke out against a proposed rule that would require teachers and staff to address students by their preferred gender-identity pronouns. He addressed LCPS school board during a public meeting in which the proposal was discussed, saying he “will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl, and vice versa,” because that would violate his Christian beliefs.
“I love all of my students but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences,” Cross had said. “I’m a teacher but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because it’s against my religion.” . . .
Woman says a person ‘with a beard and a penis’ got into hot tub with her daughter, 6, at LA spa
Transgender woman ‘with a beard and a penis’ got in a hot tub with her daughter, 6, at LA spa more than a YEAR before this weekend’s clashes over child exposure incident in female steam room
- A woman spoke out of an uncomfortable encounter between the transgender woman at the spa, which saw violent protests over a separate incident Saturday
- She said the incident occurred more than a year ago, and described the uncomfortable situation in which the woman sat next to her daughter, naked
- She described the woman as having ‘a beard and a penis’, and said they were not ‘making any attempt to look like a woman whatsoever’
- She said she wanted clarify the situation after the protests, which she attended, noting that it wasn’t just between transphobes and Antifa activists
- Saturday’s clashes broke out after a separate viral video in which a customer is complaining to staff at Wi Spa in LA about the transgender woman
- Do you know the identity of the woman? Email newsUS@mailonline.com
State Department Will Let People Choose Their Gender on Passports
by Jennie Taer
The State Department will allow people to choose their gender on passports, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Wednesday.
The State Department will let people “self-select their gender as ‘M’ or ‘F’” and will waive the required medical certification for individuals whose gender on their citizenship or ID doesn’t match their “self-selected gender,” Blinken said.
Blinken also said his department was also working toward adding “non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons” gender markers for passport applicants.
“The Department of State is committed to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ persons,” Blinken said.
“Since assuming office, President Biden has taken several executive actions demonstrating this administration’s commitment to human rights and has directed agencies across the U.S. government to take concrete actions to promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world,” he continued.
He added: “Today, I am pleased to announce that the Department will be taking further steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender or sex.”
Today we are taking important steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens. https://t.co/tfNnTUQmsp
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 30, 2021
The proposal was released on the last day of Pride month, which has been recognized by the Biden administration. Blinken earlier this month authorized U.S. embassies to fly the “Progress Flag” and the president prioritized a number of initiatives championing the LGBTQ community.
Notably, Biden rescinded former President Donald Trump’s 2018 ban on transgender people serving in the military.
– – –
Jennie Taer is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Protest Erupts Following Alleged Penis Exposure By Transgender Woman At Spa
[Screenshot/YouTube/CBS Los Angeles]
Tensions boiled over Saturday outside of a Los Angeles spa during a protest in response to the alleged exposure of a transgender woman’s penis in an all-woman’s wet spa section.
A woman complained to Wi Spa over the alleged exposure of a transgender woman’s genitals in front of women and children in a viral Instagram video which sparked protests in support of her, Fox News reported. The arrival of a group of individuals in black clothing, who some claimed to be part of Antifa, sparked a series of hostile encounters, footage showed.
One video appears to show individuals wearing masks and black hoodies attacking a female protester and a group of Christian street preachers, hitting one of them in the face with a skateboard. One person reported that they were stabbed, according to Fox News. . . .
VIDEOS: Violence Erupts As Antifa Beat Protesters At Wi Spa, Where Trans Woman Allegedly Showed Penis To Minors
Violence has repeatedly erupted at dueling protests held in Los Angeles, California at the location of Wi Spa, where the company defended a transgender woman allegedly flashing a biologically male penis at women and young girls. Leftists and Antifa have repeatedly accused those who think it is morally wrong to flash one’s genitals of being transphobic, and today, have repeatedly attacked those protesting peacefully.
Newsmax TV correspondent James Klug recorded several videos of fights breaking out, generally provoked by Antifa members and other leftist protesters. Klug noted that there was a large police presence at the dueling protests, but very few arrests were made. “More fights breaking out in the middle of the street. I have seen 1 arrest made so far,” wrote Klug in one tweet. Klug was later attacked by Antifa members, resulting in his phone malfunctioning. Klug says he was also attacked as he entered the area.
LA: More fights breaking out in the middle of the street. I have seen 1 arrest made so far. pic.twitter.com/QHDQhiSLzX
— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021
Earlier today: Countless fights broke out down the street from Wi Spa (where the demonstration was held)
A bottle thrown hit my phone at the end of this video and cut it short. pic.twitter.com/KBXLZEGKJj
— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021
The only footage I have of me getting assaulted earlier today in Las Angeles
I had just arrived at this point and hadn’t even made it to the location of the demonstration. pic.twitter.com/1i3ZHb2nUN
— James Klüg (@realJamesKlug) July 3, 2021
In one video, individuals flying an Antifa banner “punch a man, then chase & assault a videographer at the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles,” wrote Antifa expert Andy Ngo on Twitter. Another video shows that “Antifa started a fire on the street at their riot in Los Angeles to counter a group of people who protested the Wi Spa,” wrote Ngo, “a business where a person allegedly exposed their genitals to women & girls. Antifa called the protesters transphobes as they beat them.”
Breaking: A mob of antifa (look at their flag if it’s not obvious enough) punch a man, then chase & assault a videographer at the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles. cc @pressfreedom, @uspresstracker, @spj_tweets pic.twitter.com/GiIlDzuiKI
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021
Antifa started a fire on the street at their riot in Los Angeles to counter a group of people who protested the Wi Spa, a business where a person allegedly exposed their genitals to women & girls. Antifa called the protesters transphobes as they beat them. pic.twitter.com/dh2EWEPaHS
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021
More videos appear to show random acts of violence, with Antifa members repeatedly accusing others of transphobia and threatening them with physical violence for opposing biological men showing their penis to women and young girls. At one point, a street preacher was attacked.
Antifa assault street preachers who tried to attend the Wi Spa protest in Los Angeles. Several people have been assaulted today but police don’t appear to be responding at all. pic.twitter.com/p5mblPgXYG
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2021
Another fight. Will update as I can. Police presence large. pic.twitter.com/YaG9AMlEeo
— Sean Carmitchel (@ACatWithNews) July 3, 2021
Biden’s Deputies Urge Children to Demand Transgender Status
President Joe Biden’s top deputies joined with transgender activists on Wednesday to encourage children to claim they are suffering from anti-transgender discrimination.
“If you or someone you know is facing discrimination because you are transgender, we want to know,” said Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, said in the June 30 YouTube broadcast.
“You can file a complaint now … We see you, we hear you, and we will keep fighting for your inclusion, your dignity, and your equal rights under law,” said Clarke, who also suggested that the Supreme Court will back the children’s claim.
“We are on your side, we’ve got your back,” said Miguel Cardona, the Secretary of Education. He continued:
We stand with you, we see you, we hear you. We respect you. You matter. You are brave. And you are already strong, standing in the light that emanates and you can be unapologetically and authentically you. Continue to be courageous by speaking up and speaking up when you believe that you have experienced discrimination.
“You are so brave,” said Rachel Levine, a transgender man who is the Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. “I want you to know your president has your backs … and I will do everything that I can to support and advocate for our community,” Levine added. . . .
13-year-old transgender girl sues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over sports ban
A 13-year-old transgender girl has sued Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over a new law that bars her from competing in high school sports.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, argues that the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” is discriminatory and will deprive the Broward County teen of opportunities.
The bill, signed by DeSantis on June 1, requires anyone participating in girls athletics in public schools to have an original birth certificate that states they are female.
The teen, Daisy, has played on girls soccer teams since she was 7, but will no longer be able to when the law takes effect Thursday. She also planned to try out for a high school volleyball team.
Taking part in school sports has taught her leadership skills and given her a social network and support system, according to the suit, filed on her behalf by the Human Rights Campaign.
“Depriving her of these opportunities will have a long-term impact on her future. It also will create a sense of shame and diminish her positive sense of self, which can have lifelong consequences,” the filing states. . . .
Illinois legislature passes law requiring feminine hygiene products in boys’ bathrooms
A bill awaiting the Illinois governor’s signature would require schools to provide free menstruation products in both girls’ and boys’ bathrooms for grades 4 through 12.
Currently, Illinois requires tampons to be provided to students who need them, but the supplies are kept in the nurse’s office.
State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, a co-sponsor of the proposal, said products such as tampons and sanitary napkins are needed in both girls’ and boys’ bathrooms in order to address the health needs of transgender students.
“If you are biologically a female, but identifying as a male, you’re going to menstruate and you’re going to need these products,” Willis said during floor debate. . . .
‘Honestly it’s disgusting’: Fmr Olympic champ Caitlyn Jenner blasts ungrateful Gwen Berry
Speaking on Newsmax this Wednesday, the former gold medal-winning Olympic athlete once known as Bruce Jenner slammed Berry for disrespecting the flag and national anthem at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials Sunday in Eugene, Oregon. . . .
Tolkien Society Goes Woke, ‘Finds’ Transgenderism, ‘Antiracism,’ and Queer-ness in The Lord of The Rings
The Tolkien Society invited academics and others to submit papers to present at the seminar, specifically encouraging the “theme of diversity” and representation.
“While interest in the topic of diversity has steadily grown within Tolkien research, it is now receiving more critical attention than ever before. Spurred by recent interpretations of Tolkien’s creations and the cast list of the upcoming Amazon show The Lord of the Rings, it is crucial we discuss the theme of diversity in relation to Tolkien,” the society urged in its prompt for papers.
“Representation is now more important than ever and Tolkien’s efforts to represent (or ignore) particular characteristics requires further examination,” the society prompt argued. “Additionally, how a character’s identity shapes and influences its place within Tolkien’s secondary-world still requires greater attention. This seminar aims to explore the many possible applications of ‘diversity’ within Tolkien’s works, his adaptations, and his readership.”
The society asked for papers about “diversity,” and the presenters did not disappoint. . . .
13-year-old transgender soccer player suing Gov. DeSantis
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is being sued by a 13-year-old transgender soccer player named Daisy after he signed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
The law prevents transgender athletes from competing in girls’ high school sports in the state. The suit protesting that law was filed on Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on behalf of Daisy, who is transgender, and argues that the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which was signed on June 1 by DeSantis, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Title IX, the federal policy outlawing sex discrimination in education.
Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David reportedly said that the lawsuit is a message to DeSantis and others. “Given the unprecedented onslaught of state legislative attacks, we have a responsibility to utilize every tool in our belt to safeguard the LGBTQ community, including suing the states that infringe upon our civil rights,” declared David. “On the first day of Pride Month, a moment of celebration, Gov. DeSantis signed a bill into law attacking transgender children—now, on the last day of Pride, we are sending a message to him, and all anti-equality officials, that you cannot target our community without retribution.” . . .
Tory Govt Placing Trans Women in Female Only Prisons Is Lawful, UK High Court Rules
Transgender women who were born as men can legally be placed in female-only prisons in England and Wales, the High Court has ruled.
A lawsuit put forward by a female inmate, referred to as FDJ, argued that Britain’s policy of allowing trans inmates to be housed in women’s prisons — regardless of whether they have been legally recognised as women or have had any gender reassignment surgery — exposes female inmates to a higher risk of being sexually assaulted while in prison.
The female inmate alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a transgender prisoner who had previously been convicted of sexual assault and therefore argued that the Ministry of Justice’s trans-prison policy was endangering biological women, the BBC reported.
The MoJ said that the intention of the policy is to facilitate “the rights of transgender people to live in and as their acquired gender (and) protecting transgender people’s mental and physical health.”
While Lord Justice Holroyd accepted that which showed that statistically, the likelihood of trans prisoners being convicted of sexual offences was “substantially higher” than natural-born female or male prisoners, he argued that it was a “misuse of the statistics, which… are so low in number, and so lacking in detail, that they are an unsafe basis for general conclusions.”
Former Prisons Minister Reveals Trans Inmates Have Raped Female Staff https://t.co/bhhwypOwzY
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) April 14, 2020
Justice Holroyd said that while he “fully understood” the concerns of the claimant and of other female prisoners if they are imprisoned alongside inmates with male sexual organs, the rights of trans inmates should also be considered.
“The unconditional introduction of a transgender woman into the general population of a women’s prison carries a statistically greater risk of sexual assault upon non-transgender prisoners than would be the case if a non-transgender woman were introduced,” the judge admitted.
“However, the policies require a careful, case by case assessment of the risks and of the ways in which the risks should be managed,” he added. . . .
VIDEO: NFL Proudly Declares That ‘Football is Gay,’ ‘Queer,’ and ‘Transgender’
In a new video, the NFL has proudly declared that football is not only “gay,” but also “lesbian,” “transgender,” “queer,” and accepting of everyone.
The 30 second advert produced by the NFL, which was described by TMZ as being a “powerful video,” declares in white text on a black background that “football is gay,” in a move apparently designed to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Further descriptors of what the NFL claim football is then pop up on screen, including “lesbian,” “queer,” “exciting,” “transgender,” “heart,” “power,” “bisexual,” and finishes by saying that football is “for everyone.”
If you love this game, you are welcome here. Football is for all. Football is for everyone.
The NFL stands by the LGBTQ+ community today and every day.
For more information on how you can help the @TrevorProject, visit https://t.co/YtauzLAHIF pic.twitter.com/bkdWkAZ3vF
— NFL (@NFL) June 28, 2021
“I am proud of the clear message this spot sends to the NFL’s LGBTQ+ fans: This game is unquestionably for you,” said Sam Rapoport, the diversity director for the NFL, to gay sports outlet Outsports. “I will be playing its first line over and over in my head all season,” he added. “This spot is about celebrating Pride, and the importance of inclusion,” Tim Ellis, the NFL’s chief marking officer also noted. “It’s imperative that we use our voice and leverage the NFL platform to drive positive change, which includes supporting what our players care about and what they stand for.”
The advertisment, put together with LGBTQ+ youth organisation, The Trevor Project, was created in direct response to Carl Nassib, the pass-rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, coming out as gay last week, an NFL spokesman confirmed. “I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable to get this off my chest,” Nassib said in a video posted to Instagram. “I’m going to do my best and do my part to cultivate a culture that’s accepting and passionate,” he continued, further announcing he would be donating $100K to the Trevor Project.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now but I finally feel comfortable getting it off my chest.”
Raiders DL Carl Nassib shared this video to social media and became the first active NFL player to announce he is gay. pic.twitter.com/gGXbZEP3R7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 21, 2021
Unsurprisingly, the video was relentlessly mocked on social media, with many noting that the NFL had continued down a road of pandering to leftist cultural norms, most notably previously the movement to kneel for Black Lives Matter.
Stay tuned for the followup video, “Football is a little bitch nerd that should give me it’s lunch money” https://t.co/UqAwlFGriS
— Fithich Blackstone (@byte4554) June 28, 2021
If you kept watching after the knee shit, and you keep watching through this, you’re gonna watch the gay porn halftime show in 2022 https://t.co/Or5igVkIiu
— Unruly (@unrulyjungle) June 28, 2021
sports simps taking another massive L today https://t.co/HgDO1DGQDN
— Scott Greer 6’2” IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) June 28, 2021
now more than ever https://t.co/ZalvDEAr0n
— Ethan Ralph (@TheRalphRetort) June 28, 2021
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded July 6, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 30 Seconds
Episode 1,074 – The Axis of the Elite Has Now Been Set Up. We are witnessing a populist nationalist conservative movement. Guests are: Jack Posobiec, Natalie Winters.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded July 6, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 33 Seconds
Episode 1,075 – Fact Checker Gets War Room Struggle Session. We are witnessing a populist nationalist conservative movement, corrupt merger with Biden regime and the NSA. Guests are: Jack Posobiec, Natalie Winters, Alan Duke.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded July 6, 2021 | Video: 42 Minutes 07 Seconds
Episode 1,076 – Tyrants Takeover America By Door to Door. Biden reveals his new Covid strategy. Guests are: Mike Lindell, Naomi Wolf, Joe Allen.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 1 | Recorded July 5, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 35 Seconds
Episode 1,071 – The Weaponization of Migrants. GETTR CEO addresses questions about the new platform, Mike Lindell makes huge announcements about ‘One of the most important events in history’, and Michael Yon discusses how what goes on overseas effects the immigration crisis on our southern boarder. Guests are: Jason Miller, Michael Yon, Mike Lindell.
Bannon’s War Room | Morning Edition Hour 2 | Recorded July 5, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 31 Seconds
Episode 1,072 – Lawsuits Filed By Texas Sheriffs. First in history lawsuits, pro athlete calls out Nike and China, and young priests stand up against the Catholic Church. Guests are: Royce White, Kris Kobach, Liz Yore, Matt DePerno, Boris Epshteyn.
Bannon’s War Room | Evening Edition | Recorded July 5, 2021 | Video: 48 Minutes 59 Seconds
Episode 1,073 – Allen West Will Save Texas From California Elites. Allen West talks about the problems at our southern border, Jack Posobiec discusses his newest article, and Jesse talks ANTIFA. Guests are: Allen West, John Mills, Jack Posobiec, Jesse Holguin, Joe Allan.
“Woke” Hypocrites at Google Flash Gay Logo in US on YouTube During Pride Month but NOT in Turkey and China
A slew of multinational corporations have spent the month of June making communal proclamations of Pride month everywhere.
“Woke” companies – from YouTube and Mercedes-Benz to Lenovo, Nestle and Sephora – updated their logos as June began.
At every turn, we’ve been inundated with promotions of rainbow-blazoned corporate logos, ads romanticizing drag queens, gushing affirmations of gender fluidity and celebration of the “gender transitioning” and gender “conversion therapy” of the youth.
Yet, these corporations are only force-feeding Americans and Europeans their pansexual, non-binary, transgender propaganda. Pandering businesses are careful not to promote their “pride” to Muslim countries.
YouTube’s Pride logo can only be seen in Western markets, a Gateway Pundit reader pointed out.
“They changed the little logo in the top left the YouTube app to a lgbtqzP flag with the satanic crescent moon and sun behind it. I use a VPN and can change my location to anywhere. If you change your location to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the gay pride banner vanishes,” he said. “When I changed to China…Presto no gay pride bullshit! They care so much about gay and tranny equality, just not in the countries where gays and trannies are illegal.”
oh, hey, @YouTube is flying #pride colors on their logo this month like we forgot about how they censor the community to help their ad revenue.
— NO UNITY WITHOUT JUSTICE (@steamboat28) June 26, 2021
LMAO I CONNECTED TO A VPN TO THE USA AND YOUTUBES LOGO TURNED INTO YOUTUBE PRIDE BUT IT DOESNT DO THAT IN TURKEY LMAOOO
— pqaza (No moreee aegean) (@bilalgmodlover) June 26, 2021
Hey youtube, incredibly fucking bold of you to create a pride month themed animation to put next to your logo when you shadowban videos with lgbt related content and hashtags. We’re on to you, do better.
— funky time (@_ayyybella) June 26, 2021
Social justice-fighting corporations stand up for what they believe, except, of course, where their precious profits may suffer if they do:
Dying to see a company, any company, support gay rights in parts of Asia and the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/nEapZBaXcp
— Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) June 2, 2021
While corporations refrain from promoting non-gender pride in countries that will not tolerate it, Americans who push back against the campaign to eliminate gender and promote transgenderism and pansexuality to the youth are demonized, demonetized, and canceled.
Filipino-American becomes the FIRST transgender woman to be crowned Miss Nevada
A boundary-breaking beauty queen! Filipino-American becomes the FIRST transgender woman to be crowned Miss Nevada – and will now go on to make history as the first-ever trans Miss USA contestant.
- Kataluna Enriquez, 27, was named Miss Nevada at Sunday’s pageant, which was held at South Point hotel-casino in Las Vegas
- Next up, she’ll head to Oklahoma for the Miss USA contest on November 29, where she will also be the first trans woman to vie for the national title
- She qualified with a win in the Miss Silver State pageant
Kataluna, who was emigrated to the US at age 10, recalled facing discrimination in past pageants - Angela Ponce, the 2018 Miss Spain, was the first trans Miss Universe contestant; if Kataluna wins Miss USA, she will be the second
- In 2012, Miss Universe reversed a long-standing policy that participants must be ‘naturally born’ women
The Miss Nevada pageant has crowned its first ever transgender winner, who will go on to compete for the title of Miss USA later this year.
Kataluna Enriquez, 27, was named Miss Nevada at Sunday’s pageant, which was held at South Point hotel-casino in Las Vegas.
Next up, she’ll head to Oklahoma for the Miss USA contest on November 29, where she will also be the first trans woman to vie for the national title. . . .
In the UK, Resistance to Transgender Activism Is Fueled by Socialized Medicine and Feminist Wine Moms
On paper, there should be little pushback to transgender activism in the United Kingdom. Britain has strict hate speech laws and no First Amendment, and British police have arrested people for “misgendering” others on social media. Britain also lacks a religious right: In 2018, the Church of England adopted a policy of “unconditional affirmation of trans people,” instructing clergy to use parishioners’ preferred names.
Yet critics of trans activism have gone mainstream in the United Kingdom. Britain has seen a flowering of feminist organizations opposed to the activists’ excesses, which they argue hurt women and young people, especially girls. At the same time, British courts are becoming more critical of hate speech claims: In May, a U.K. judge ruled that skepticism of trans identity is a “protected philosophical belief” under Britain’s Equality Act, the same law that protects trans people from discrimination.
The British medical community is also becoming more critical of childhood gender transition. After a whistleblower alleged that the National Health Service (NHS) was prescribing puberty blockers without proper psychiatric screening, Britain’s High Court in December effectively banned their use, ruling that children under 16 couldn’t consent to the drugs. A few months later, U.K. health regulators concluded that the evidence for puberty blockers was “very low.”
How did the pushback across the pond survive the legal and cultural forces arrayed against it? The answer is that trans activists in the United Kingdom are fighting an uphill battle of their own—not just against British feminists but also British institutions, particularly the socialist ones.
Britain’s socialized health care system encourages a more conservative approach to gender reassignment than some U.S. clinics, removing the profit motive that drives the American on-demand treatment model. And British trade unions have fomented resistance to trans activism by providing a template for grassroots organizing, one being used to great effect by mothers worried about their kids. . . . .
Advocates for Female Inmates Push Back as Transgender Prisoner Transfers Ramp Up in California
Advocates for incarcerated women are calling on California political and correctional leaders to halt and reverse the transfer of male-to-female transgender and nonbinary prisoners into the state’s women’s prisons.
SB 132, which took effect Jan. 1, lets prisoners choose their gender identity for purposes of placement — and even bodily searches — regardless of sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapy.
Though transfers were a trickle in the first few months, they have “sped up dramatically in recent weeks, and the safety of these women has become more and more compromised,” a spokesperson for the Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) told Just the News.
“Under the law as written, there is no method to screen out males who genuinely self-identify as transgender from those who are using the system to prey on women,” the group wrote in an open letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and the heads of the corrections department and two women’s facilities Monday.
A nonprofit started by formerly incarcerated women also said Monday it had received “hundreds of distressed messages from our sisters inside” since SB 132 took effect.
“They are scared, angry, confused and in disbelief that legislators completely left them out of a decision that affects their mental health and safety 24 hours a day,” Woman II Woman wrote, highlighting stark differences in the social dynamics between men’s and women’s prisons. “Anyone can gender self ID to get a transfer, and who wouldn’t?”
“Irreversible Damage” author Abigail Shrier profiled the nascent Woman II Woman in The Wall Street Journal in May, arguing the Equality Act championed by congressional Democrats would nationalize SB 132. She interviewed current and former female inmates, one of whom said many incoming transgender inmates aren’t even on hormone therapy and could get a “full erection” in a cell with women. . . .
In win for transgender student, Supreme Court refuses to hear case on bathroom ban
WASHINGTON —
The Supreme Court on Monday took another step toward ending discrimination against transgender students by turning down an appeal from a conservative Virginia school board.
Over two dissents, the justices refused to hear a case filed by the Gloucester County school board and left intact rulings by lower courts that said Gavin Grimm was denied equal rights when high school officials prohibited him from using the boys’ bathroom.
His discrimination suit against the school district had bounced back and forth in the courts since 2015, as the Obama administration took his side. But the Trump administration switched course and backed the school board.
Monday’s court action is not a final ruling on the issue of transgender students, but it is consistent with a series of rulings forbidding such discrimination, including last year’s Supreme Court decision outlawing workplace discrimination against LGBTQ employees. . . .
Biological Male Barred From Women’s 400-Meter Olympic Hurdle Due to High Testosterone Levels
A biological male was barred from competing in the women’s 400-meter Olympic hurdle event due to high testosterone levels.
CeCe Telfer, a transgender runner who previously won the NCAA title as a ‘woman,’ is now trying to compete as a woman in the Olympics.
Telfer used to compete in the men’s division at Division II Franklin Pierce, but after losing, he ‘transitioned’ into a female and became a superstar.
“Telfer was entered in this week’s trials but was ultimately not allowed to compete because of guidelines World Athletics released in 2019 that closed off international women’s events of between 400 meters and a mile to athletes who did not meet the eligibility requirements. Among those requirements was that their testosterone levels had to be below 5 nonomoles per liter (nmol/L) for a span of 12 months.” – AP reported.
“CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train. She will compete on the national — and world — stage again soon,” Telfer’s manager David McFarland said.
“Following notification from World Athletics on June 17 that the conditions had not yet been met, USATF provided CeCe with the eligibility requirements and, along with World Athletics, the opportunity to demonstrate her eligibility so that she could compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. According to subsequent notification to CeCe from World Athletics on June 22, she has not been able to demonstrate her eligibility.” – USATF said in a statement.
Cuomo Signs Law Allowing Trans People To Amend Birth Certificates
Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law Thursday that allows New Yorkers to amend their stated sex on official documents.
The new law, signed in the middle of Pride Month, simplifies the process for transgender and LGBTQ persons to change their names and sex on birth certificates. New Yorkers who wanted to change their names previously had to publish both their old and new name, address, and date and place of birth in a newspaper, according to a press release from the governor’s press office.
The Gender Recognition Act eliminates that practice, according to the press release, and “creates a process to petition a court to change an individual’s sex designation or recognize their gender identity” that can be sealed to protect “against fear of reprisal or retaliation.” . . . .
Kamala Harris: ‘My Pronouns Are She and Her’
Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed gay and transgender activists into her ceremonial office on Wednesday, expressing her preferred pronouns during her remarks.
“I want to thank you and welcome you for being here,” she said. “My pronouns are she and her.” Harris spoke in front of a placard that put her preferred pronouns after her name.
She suggested she was the first vice president to welcome gay activists, alluding to the past under former Vice President Mike Pence and even former Vice President Joe Biden.
“You are the voices of so many who probably never have walked into this room, and over the course of time probably weren’t thought to be invited into this room,” she said.
Harris spoke about the attack on transgender youth in the United States, including Republican-led attempts to prevent biological males from competing in women’s sports. . . .
Police Arrest 2 Parents Who Spoke Out Against CRT, Transgenderism at Loudoun School Board Meeting
Loudoun County, Va., has become ground zero in the debates over Marxist critical race theory (CRT) and transgender orthodoxy in education. Parents have spoken out against the unjust attempted suspension of PE teacher Tanner Cross and the threat of CRT masquerading as “sensitivity training.” After a meeting of the Loudoun County School Board devolved into a shouting match on Tuesday night, police arrested two men, reportedly parents. The board chair then castigated parents for engaging in “dog-whistle politics.” . . . .
Ex-New Zealand Olympic weightlifter weighs in on transgender athletes and Laurel Hubbard
After seeing transgender Olympic weightlifter Laurel Hubbard break her national records in New Zealand, a recently retired female lifter is now warning against the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports.
‘It’s honestly going to knock women out of sport,’ former Olympic weightlifter Tracey Lambrechs told Fox News on Wednesday. ‘Women are not going to want to participate in something where there isn’t opportunity for them to win medals or go to international competition.
‘In a strength sport, where there are reasons for having a male and female category, you can’t just do away with categories,’ she continued. ‘I look at a lot of young athletes around us. There are 14, 15-year-old boys lifting what our females lift.’ . . .
Japanese soccer player Kumi Yokoyama comes out as transgender
TOKYO — Japanese soccer player Kumi Yokoyama said they are transgender — a revelation praised in the U.S. where they play in the National Women’s Soccer League but an identity not legally recognized in Japan.
The 27-year-old forward for the Washington Spirit said they felt more comfortable with their own gender identity while living in the United States, where teammates and friends are more open to gender and sexual diversity.
“I’m coming out now,” Yokoyama said in a video talk on former teammate Yuki Nagasato’s YouTube channel. “In the future, I want to quit soccer and live as a man.”
Yokoyama’s revelation was praised by President Joe Biden.
“To Carl Nassib and Kumi Yokoyama – two prominent, inspiring athletes who came out this week: I’m so proud of your courage. Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today,” Biden tweeted. Nassib is the first active NFL player to come out as gay.
The Spirit also expressed the team’s support and pride in Yokoyama. “Thank you for showing the world it’s ok to embrace who you are!” the team tweeted, adding that the player uses they/them pronouns.
Support and awareness of gender and sexual diversity has slowly grown in Japan, but LGBTQ people lack many legal protections and often suffer discrimination, causing many to hide their sexual identities. An equality law pushed by rights groups was scrapped recently due to opposition from the conservative ruling party.
Transgender people in Japan also must have their reproductive organs removed to have their gender recognized on official documents — a requirement that human rights and medical groups criticize as inhuman and unnecessary and say should end.
In a society where pressure for conformity is extremely high, disclosure of an LGBTQ sexual identity is rare, especially in sports, which rights activists say remains unfriendly to LGBTQ people because of its gender specificity.
Yokoyama said they weren’t enthusiastic about coming out but it was a choice made while thinking about the future and that it would be harder to live closeted. “I would not have come out in Japan,” they said.
They thanked their teammates, friends and girlfriend for their support and courage.
Yokoyama played for Japan at the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France and moved from Japanese club AC Nagano Parceiro to the Washington Spirit.
Yokoyama said they felt a strong pressure to conform and remain closeted in Japan but hoped to live as a man after retiring as a professional soccer player and to help raise awareness for sexual minorities in Japan.
“More people in Japan are becoming familiar with the word LGBTQ and it’s seen more (in the media), but I think awareness won’t grow unless people like myself come out and raise our voices,” Yokoyama said.
Brett Favre Says It’s ‘Unfair’ For Laurel Hubbard And Transgender Women To Compete Against Biological Women
Brett Favre is not a fan of transgender athletes competing against biological women.
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to be the first transgender woman to ever compete in the Olympics, and the legendary Packers quarterback thinks that’s a problem. . . .
Transgender Weightlifter to Compete in Olympics
Women weightlifters are set to compete with a transgender athlete in the Olympics. But her admission to an Olympic women’s sport is drawing a lot of attention from female athletes and organizations, saying it isn’t just. . . .
Transgender Olympian Said She Would Burn U.S. Flag on Podium if She Won
Transgender student to receive $300K in discrimination suit
Transgender high school swimmer who was barred from using the boy’s locker room after he transitioned is awarded $300,000 in damages
- The Anoka-Hennepin School District agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit with Nick Himley
- He swam for Coon Rapids High School in 2015-16 and had used the boys’ locker room for much of that season before he was told he could not any longer
- District also agreed to make several policy changes, including a rule that allows every student to use all facilities consistent with their gender identity
- Training on the policies will be provided for school board members, staff and students
Pediatrician Transgender Ideology Causing Child Abuse | President Of The American College Of Pediatricians
President of the American College of Pediatricians is concerned transgender ideology has infiltrated her field and is producing large-scale child abuse. “Our job as parents and physicians is to help children embrace their healthy bodies. And when this is done, once they get past puberty into late adolescence, as many as 95% will come to embrace their bodies and identify with their biological sex.” ~ Michelle Cretella, MD, FCP