COLORADO GOV REPEALS STATE’S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN
Amidst rising concerns about threats to marriage equality, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) has proactively signed legislation to repeal the state’s dormant same-sex marriage ban. Though rendered invalid by the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the ban’s removal ensures legal protection for LGBTQ+ couples in Colorado, particularly in light of anxieties stemming from the Roe v. Wade reversal. “Colorado is for everyone,” stated Polis, emphasizing the state’s commitment to inclusivity.
BILL TO PROTECT GENDER-AFFIRMING, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Citing the president’s healthcare attacks and the Republican control of Congress, Massachusetts State Senator Cindy Friedman (D) has introduced a Senate bill aimed at safeguarding healthcare professionals and lawyers assisting individuals seeking gender-affirming care or reproductive healthcare. This legislation, part of a broader “Response 2025” initiative countering the right-wing “Project 2025,” seeks to shield providers and legal counsel from federal or out-of-state investigations by preventing state agencies from cooperating with such inquiries. Senator Friedman stated the bill intends to “protect, defend, and lead Massachusetts through oncoming threats from the federal government.”
TRANS PILOT SUES INFLUENCER FOR FALSELY LINKING HER TO FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH
Transgender military pilot Jo Ellis is suing conservative influencer Matt Wallace for defamation after he falsely identified her on social media as the pilot in the fatal Reagan National Airport helicopter collision that killed 67 people. Wallace’s posts on X, including one viewed 4.8 million times suggesting a “trans terror attack,” forced Ellis to deny involvement and, according to the lawsuit, caused significant damage to her reputation and safety.
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER PASSPORT GENDER MARKERS
A federal judge has partially blocked a Trump administration policy preventing transgender individuals from updating the gender markers on their passports. Judge Julia E. Kobick ruled that six transgender and nonbinary plaintiffs in an ACLU lawsuit must receive accurate passports, including an “X” option. Kobick found the policy likely discriminatory and based on “irrational prejudice.” The ACLU hailed the decision as a “critical victory” and will seek to extend it nationwide. The lawsuit challenged the policy enacted after an executive order defining only two genders, arguing it violated constitutional rights.
LESBIAN FIREFIGHTER SECURES $1.75M AFTER CITY DENIES PTSD PENSION
Lesbian ex-firefighter Lori Franchina has won a second lawsuit against Providence, Rhode Island, securing a $1.75 million award after the city denied her accidental disability pension for PTSD stemming from years of homophobic discrimination within the fire department. This victory follows a previous $806,000 award in a 2016 discrimination lawsuit related to the abuse she endured.
