Joe.My.God. LGBT News

Florida News Service reports: The Republican-controlled House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee voted 14-4 along almost-straight party lines to approve the proposal (HB 1223), after numerous LGBTQ advocates slammed the bill as harmful to vulnerable youths. Rep. Lisa Dunkley, D-Sunrise, voted with Republicans for the measure. The 2022 law, which drew national attention and federal court challenges, prohibited instruction about sexual …

From the Arizona Department of Education: Arizona schools chief Tom Horne has launched the Department of Education “Empower Hotline” so that Arizonans can report inappropriate public school lessons that detract from teaching academic standards. These include those that focus on race or ethnicity, rather than individuals and merit, promoting gender ideology, social emotional learning, or inappropriate sexual content. The hotline …

The Associated Press reports: The state’s Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board barred conversion therapy in December. A month later, the Legislature’s Republican-controlled rules committee voted to temporarily suspend the ban. Republicans brought a bill to the Assembly floor Tuesday that would prohibit the board from enacting any future conversion therapy bans. The GOP opted …

The New York Times reports: A $19 million luxury yacht deal brokered by Representative George Santos between two of his wealthy donors has captured the attention of federal and state authorities investigating the congressman’s campaign finances and personal business dealings. The sale, which has not been previously reported, is one of about a dozen leads being pursued by the F.B.I., …

The Guardian reports: Federal prosecutors in New York involved in the criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s social media company last year started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8m with suspected Russian ties. Towards the end of last year, federal prosecutors started examining two loans totaling $8 million wired to Trump Media, through …

NewsNation reports: Elon Musk’s reduced Twitter safety oversight has allowed Mexican cartel members to flaunt their lifestyles online, post violent content and recruit new members, according to a new study. Several previously banned accounts of known cartel members are again open and active on Musk’s Twitter, according to a report published last week by the Alliance to Counter Crime Online …

Politico reports: Trump’s team and his allied PAC are preparing an expansive opposition research file by poring over DeSantis’ record as a prosecutor, member of Congress, and Florida governor. Among the items a Trump-allied group has drilled into is DeSantis’ record while serving as an assistant U.S. Attorney before running for congressional office, with plans to accuse him of being …

The Insider reports: South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham says Russia should be “held accountable” for the destruction of a US military drone. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday, Graham said the US should gun down Russian planes in retaliation. “If you ever get near another US asset flying in international waters, your airplane will be shot down,” …

Law & Crime reports: Seventeen Republican lawmakers in South Carolina sponsored a bill that would redefine “person” under the state’s criminal law to include a fertilized egg. Should the measure pass, it would mean that under the state’s penal code, a pregnant person who undergoes an abortion could be subject to all applicable punishments, including the death penalty. Chairman of …

Mediaite reports: Tucker Carlson referred to the 2021 Capitol insurrection as the second-biggest scam of his lifetime on Tuesday night. The Fox News host was interviewing a self-professed Proud Boy who trespassed at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building. Daniel Goodwyn pleaded guilty last month to entering the Capitol and …