Another week has passed and another set of headlines about the LGBTQ+ community have come and gone along with it. There’s just six full weeks until election day, and candidates are still doubling down on anti-trans rhetoric. It would be easy get overwhelmed by all that news, but we’re here to help.

While there have been more attacks on the LGBTQ+ community this week, that’s only part of the story. There have also been positive moves in banning harmful practices and people are being called out for their hate. Here’s this week’s news all wrapped up, both the good and the bad.

Conversion therapy bans grow and stand

For years, bills aimed at banning conversion therapy have failed in Kentucky because of Republican opposition. This week, Democratic governor Andy Beshear changed that by signing an executive order to ban the harmful practice within the state and saying “Let’s be clear: Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it has been shown to increase rates of suicide and depression.”

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Beshear’s move follows bans in other states, including Colorado. In the Centennial State this week, a ban on conversion therapy was upheld by a federal appeals court. Kaley Chiles, a counselor, had claimed that the ban affected her practice and claimed that the denial of conversion therapy impinged on her first amendment right to free speech. The case is (unsurprisingly) backed by the hate group the Alliance Defending Freedom. While many states still have no laws against conversion therapy on the books and there isn’t a federal ban, the tide is clearly moving in the right direction. This is true internationally as well, as the EU has signaled that they are moving towards a conversion therapy ban, following the lead of the UK and Ireland.

Republicans are continuing failed efforts to run on anti-trans platforms

Various Republican candidates are still attempting to run on anti-trans issues. Whether it’s about bathroom bills or picking up Trump’s lies about minors getting surprise surgeries at schools or ad buys in the campaigns, are leaning towards painting trans people as the villains. One candidate focused on this line of attack is everyone’s favorite Texan, Ted Cruz. The anti-trans gambit has repeatedly failed for the Republicans, but Cruz is trying again and now he might be the latest failure in the mix. New polling shows that Cruz has fallen behind his Democratic opponent, Colin Allred.

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Texas’ driver license policy draws the pranks

Until recently, the gender marker on a Texas driver’s license could be changed if the subject brought a court order. However, last month that changed to only being allowed to be changed if it was a clerical error. More concerning was that if anyone tried to change it with a court order at the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the office was required to send an email to an internal address informing them of the persons name and ID number. This could create a list of people to target in the future. Somehow that internal email address was leaked to the public and people quickly got around to spamming it. Reportedly, as well as receiving many emails from individuals, it was signed up for emails from PETA, a sex toy company, and a couponing website.

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The North Carolina governor’s race just got horrifying

This week, a North Carolina Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public claimed that the “+” in LGBTQ+ included pedophilia. That’s obviously not true, but it’s also only the second worse press a North Carolina Republican got this week.

Mark Robinson, current lieutenant governor for North Carolina and Republican candidate for governor was the subject of some detailed CNN research and the results were shocking, to say the least. Comments on a website called “Nude Africa” have been tied to the political figure, and while Robinson denies that they were from him, CNN made a compelling case. Mark Robinson’s comments expressed his adoration for porn featuring trans women (despite his anti-trans platform), referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” recounted his exploits spying on women in showers, and proclaiming that slavery is good and should be reinstated.

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Biden broke Obama’s LGBTQ+ record

This week, Judge Mary Kay Costello, appointed by Joe Biden, was confirmed by the senate. She is the 12th Senate-confirmed LGBTQ+ judge that has been appointed by Joe Biden. This set a new record, as previously the most LGBTQ+ judges appointed by a president was 11, a record held by Obama.

Gay republicans pretended don’t say gay law doesn’t exist

During an interview with the National Association of Black Journalists this week, Vice President Kamala Harris discussed Project 2025 and the dangers of “Don’t Say Gay” laws, such as those in Florida. The Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay GOP Republicans responded with ire to the mention. While Republicans often argue that such bills are good, the Log Cabin Republicans instead claimed that they simply don’t exist. (They do.)

Survey reveals the cost for businesses rolling back DEI

Finally, this week saw new data around the effects for businesses rolling back DEI initiatives. The figures from HRC show that companies that step away from DEI commitments are likely to be boycotted by LGBTQ+ adults, with 80.1% saying they would stop shopping at stores or using a company’s services.  Similarly, such moves would see LGBTQ+ employees at those companies begin to seek new employment and have reduced productivity.

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