The National Institutes of Health concluded that the antiviral drug tecovirimat, used without other antivirals, did not reduce the time to clinical resolution of clade II mpox lesions or improve pain control among adults in an international clinical trial. The Study of Tecovirimat for Mpox (STOMP) began in September 2022 as part of the U.S. whole-of-government response to the clade II mpox outbreak. STOMP was a randomized international efficacy study that enrolled participants who had been ill with mpox for fewer than 14 days in Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Thailand and the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Out gay U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-New York) planned to introduce legislation that would criminalize the sharing of classified information on messaging apps, like Signal, with up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, LGBTQ Nation noted, citing Axios. The bill—which probably won’t pass the Republican-led legislature—is a direct response to the recent leak of military information by White House officials on Signal. As Democrats criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the chat’s other participants for the leak, White House officials claimed that no classified information had been shared in the group chat—so The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg (who was included in the chat) and his publication published screenshots of the chat.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) is scrapping the traditional comedy portion of its annual dinner—which means queer comedian Amber Ruffin will now not be involved in the event, The Advocate reported. The decision comes amid heightened tensions between the Trump White House and the media, and just weeks after the WHCA announced that Ruffin would headline the April 26 event in D.C. “At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists,” WHCA President Eugene Daniels (who is gay) wrote. Ruffin recently appeared on a podcast in which she described the current political environment under Trump’s second term as “a rollercoaster” and “not normal.” She also delivered a mocking rebuke while appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, according to The Daily Beast.
The National Black Justice Collective (NBJC) was among the many organizations that recognized the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) on March 31. In a press release, NBJC CEO and Executive Director Dr. David J. Johns said, “We recognize the countless contributions transgender and gender-expansive people have had on our society and our communities. … Amid our celebration, we cannot ignore our current reality: The rights of transgender and LGBTQ+ people are under a relentless assault. The continued onslaught of anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, repeals of hard-won and fundamental human rights, and the constant stream of bigoted statements seeking to dehumanize and erase the trans community must be fought at all levels of government as an attack on all our civil liberties. … Policymakers, community leaders, and the people as a whole must identify and seek to rectify the blatant discrimination and systemic oppression that currently faces the trans and LGBTQ+ communities. In honor of TDOV, contact your members of Congress at 202-224-3121 to let them know about the opportunity to co-sponsor the new Transgender Health Care Access Act.”
The Iowa Senate passed a bill that says that foster parents would not have to accept policies that conflict with their “sincerely held moral and religious beliefs” related to gender identity and sexual orientation, per the Des Moines Register. LGBTQ+-rights advocates fear the bill would allow discrimination against youth in foster care and permit the discredited practice of “conversion therapy” on queer children, while supporters say the measure protects religious freedom for current and prospective foster parents.Senate File 473 passed the Senate 35-14, with state Sen. Mike Zimmer, D-DeWitt, joining Republicans to support the bill. Zimmer said Iowa does not have enough prospective foster parents to meet the level of need, and he felt parents’ religious beliefs should be recognized.
In St. Louis, more businesses are stepping up to help fill in the $150,000 gap for Pride STL after Anheuser Busch—one of its biggest sponsors—suddenly ended its 30-year partnership without explanation, First Alert 4 noted. “It’s a shame really. I mean, seeing businesses and corporations that have aligned with our community for years, essentially walking away from us in our biggest time of need, is really disheartening—but it won’t stop us,” said Max Klapp of Grey Fox Pub; the pub recently donated 100% of the proceeds from “Roast of Grey Fox” to Pride STL. Anyone who would like to contribute to the campaign efforts to reach the $150,000 goal can visit pridestl.org/45for45.
City College of San Francisco (CCSF) honored the late gay San Francisco supervisor Harry Britt by naming its new multi-use building in his honor, the Bay Area Reporter noted. “This renaming ceremony highlights the significance of the role Harry Britt played in shaping San Francisco. As a proud and visible member of the queer community, Harry Britt called attention to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ people and advocated for equality,” stated gay CCSF Interim Chancellor Mitchell Bailey. “Having his name on a City College building not only honors his legacy, it also sends a clear message to our queer students, employees and members of our community that they are welcomed, supported and celebrated at City College.”
In Texas, transgender teacher Rosie Sandri resigned less than a week after a state lawmaker called for her to be fired over a social media video in which she talks about feeling supported by her students, NBC News noted. Sandri said, “When I signed that resignation, it felt like my dream was being taken away from me.” Sandri, 33, came out as a trans woman late last year and said her colleagues at school and the Red Oak Independent School District were very supportive. State Rep. Brian Harrison—who represents Red Oak, where the school is—shared Libs of TikTok’s post on X and demanded that Sandri be “immediately terminated.”
In Arizona, authorities found the body of gay 45-year-old yoga instructor Marcus Freiberger in a rock quarry outside of Phoenix on March 19—nearly a month after his Feb. 21 disappearance, per LGBTQ Nation. Freiberger had planned on meeting a blind date on the day he went missing, and his 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck remains missing as well, People noted. Freiberger taught classes at the local Melrose Yoga studio and frequently called his mother to check on her, but then the phone calls suddenly stopped.
Following the news that the Sundance Film Festival is leaving the state for Boulder, Colorado in 2027, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said plans are being drawn up to create a new film festival in the state—and he’s going to use Sundance allocated cash to launch it, Deadline noted. However, politics and Colorado’s incentives played roles in Sundance’s future in Utah. “Unfortunately, a recent bill passed by the Utah legislature and comments made by some legislators have not been helpful in our bid to keep the festival here,” retiring Park City Mayor Nann Worel said of an anti-Pride flag measure in her recent State of the City speech. Scheduled to start May 7—months before the last Park City-based Sundance next January—H.B.77 contains a provision for there to be a $500 fine daily for every Pride flag flying from and in state-funded buildings.
FILM SPOILER: “This silence surrounding intersex lives, mirrors the secrecy in places of power—like the Vatican,” wrote intersex filmmaker Pidgeon Pagonis in an online magazine essay discussing the queer themes of the Oscar-winning film Conclave, according to New Ways Ministry. In a climactic moment of the film, the newly elected pope, Cardinal Benítez, reveals being intersex. Pagonis stated, “It’s wild how something as natural and prevalent as intersex people—roughly 2% of the population is born intersex each year—is still kept so hush-hush that it elicits audible gasps in the cinema.”
Wisconsin judge Susan Crawford won her race for the state Supreme Court on April 1, defeating opponent Brad Schimel despite tens of millions of dollars in opposition campaigning by billionaire Elon Musk, Them noted. As Republicans have made the norm in modern U.S. elections, Schimel and his backers took aim at Crawford over transgender rights, accusing her in a March TV ad of being a “special interest” puppet candidate who would support trans women using women’s bathrooms and changing facilities, trans girls in women’s school sports leagues and puberty blockers for trans youth. In winning, Crawford preserves the court’s narrow four-to-three liberal majority.
In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, TransLash Media and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) held a special screening of American Problems; Trans Solutions—a short documentary by award-winning journalist Imara Jones—on March 31 at HRC headquarters in D.C., per a press release. The film highlights how Black trans people, among the most marginalized Americans, are creating groundbreaking solutions to some of the country’s biggest challenges. A post-film conversation was slated to include Jones; HRC President Kelley Robinson; and The Advocate Senior National Reporter Christopher Wiggins, who was set to moderate.
In Washington state, Newcastle Mayor Robert Clark and an LGBTQ+-rights activist named Jen debated which flags should be able to fly over city hall—with the former unleashing on the latter, according to Fox 13 Seattle. The activist described the city flying the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag as a “political stunt” during the public comment portion of the city council meeting, although she began by stating she hoped Clark would support the pride flag “in proclamation this year” since he had a “new-found appreciation” for banners besides the U.S. flag. Clark was incensed by the “political stunt” comment, first asking Jen “How dare you?” before adding, “”This country was founded because veterans lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands of people died for this country so that you could fly your Pride flag.” Clark apologized for being “pissed” and “out of line,” but warned her “do not ever disparage veterans in my presence.”
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) broke a record by speaking for more than 24 hours in a marathon speech protesting the national “crisis” he said President Donald Trump and Elon Musk had created, according to ABC News. Booker’s speech went on for 25 hours and four minutes, surpassing the previous record set by the late GOP U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. “John Lewis would say something; he would do something,” Booker said toward the end in a voice that was beginning to show signs of strain. “He wouldn’t treat this moral moment as if it were normal.”
Distance runner Yared Nuguse has come out as part of the queer community, sharing an Instagram post that introduced boyfriend Julian Falco, per Outsports. “Introducing my boyfriend, Julian,” Nuguse wrote. “Can’t believe we’re already one year in my love.” Nuguse won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last summer; Outsports knew of almost 200 publicly out LGBTQ+ athletes competing at that event. Nuguse ran for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college. In 2022, and broke the indoor record for the 3,000-meter race that had stood for almost two decades.
Fencing Academy of Philadelphia’s Stephanie Turner refused to fight transgender opponent Redmond Sullivan, who transferred to the Wagner College women’s team in 2024, at the Cherry Blossom Open tournament at the University of Maryland—resulting in Turner’s disqualification, according to PinkNews. “I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said: ‘OK, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee,’” Turner said, per the Daily Mail. “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections.” A USA Fencing policy—in place since 2023—states that trans women can only compete in women’s events if they have completed “one calendar year of testosterone-suppression treatment.”
In D.C., Georgetown University students are advocating for a campus LGBTQ+ living space, according to New Ways Ministry. Members of GU Pride, the school’s LGBTQ+ club, have asked the university to reinstate the LGBTQ+ Living Learning Community (LLC); LLCs are intentional living communities aimed at bringing individuals with shared identities or interests together. Georgetown’s former LGBTQ+ LLC, called Crossroads, closed four years ago.
The drag performer Lil’ Miss Hot Mess criticized Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Georgia) “hateful” ignorance and fascism after Greene called her a “monster” and a “child predator” during a congressional hearing, LGBTQ Nation noted. Greene discussed the drag performer in a hearing about defunding PBS and NPR, accusing the public broadcasters of becoming “radical left-wing echo chambers” and “grooming and sexualizing children.” During the hearing, Greene played a PBS YouTube video showing Lil Miss Hot Mess reading her 2020 children’s book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, calling it “repulsive.” The drag entertainer wrote on Facebook that “Marjorie Taylor Greene should find another hobby besides attacking drag queens, public media, and other beloved American institutions.”
Nominations for The Curve Award for Emerging Journalists, sponsored by The Curve Foundation, are now open, per a press release. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30. The award, sponsored by The Curve Foundation, provides financial support to emerging journalists whose work fosters fair and accurate coverage, and elevates the voices of LGBTQ+ women. The award is open to lesbians, queer women, trans women and non-binary people. Among the prizes for fellows are $5,000 from The Curve Foundation and a complimentary one-year membership to NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists.
The restaurant chain Chick-fil-A—which has a storied anti-LGBTQ+ history—saw sales growth slow in 2024 amid a difficult market for quick-service restaurants, Restaurant Business noted. U.S. system sales grew 5.4% in 2024, according to data from the company’s franchise disclosure document. It was the first time Chick-fil-A’s system sales grew less than 10% in the States since 2013. Among other things, the chain is encountering considerable competition from restaurants such as Wingstop and Raising Cane’s.
Dealing with arguments about the mundane nature of a former gay bar and its reportedly unremarkable role as an outreach center during the HIV/AIDS crisis, the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission voted against a historic designation of Donny’s Place in Polish Hill, according to Public Source. The venue operated between 1972 and 2022 as a queer bar and an outreach center during the spread of HIV/AIDS. Named after owner Donald Thinnes, who died last year, the bar has suffered from fire damage and Thinnes’ estate does not want the building to be historically designated, according to Jonathan Kamin, a lawyer who represents developer Laurel Communities. Kamin said the developer entered into an agreement with the Thinnes estate and that it was Thinnes’ wish to turn the area into a residential neighborhood. Polish Hill resident Elizabeth Anderson said that she is only seeking a historic designation for the building and the immediate surrounding area.
In NYC, best friends Hena Mustafa and Mica Fisher have opened Boyfriend—the city’s first cooperatively owned lesbian coffee and cocktail bar, per Hell Gate. “I was, like, ‘Oh no, we were joking,'” Mustafa told Hell Gate. “The next day, Mica and I were like, ‘Wait, you know, we don’t have to be joking.'” Almost immediately, the queer duo began planning and researching, and recruited two other co-founders to make their running gag a reality.
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