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We don’t need “Special Ambassadors” for Hollywood, we need protections ‘As Trump appoints celebrity “ambassadors” to “save Hollywood,” his administration dismantles vital Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. By JACINDA HALL, Wichita Independent Writer It’s official, we are in for another round of Trump as President, and believe me, I’m just as scared as you are. We’ve already seen some of the stuff he and his cabinet has done, such as Elon Musk doing the Nazi salute twice in a row and...

In its wisdom, Kansas Legislature puts mugging transgender children ahead of all other priorities Transgender Kansans and their allies rally May 5, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka in protest of the “women’s bill of rights.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) The first bill sent to Gov. Laura Kelly this year wasn’t about taxes, education, or infrastructure. Instead, it targeted transgender youth, banning gender-affirming care with sweeping, harmful restrictions. By CLAY WIRESTONE, Kansas...

Op-eD: iT'S ABOUT YOU NOT ME Learning the Hard Way: How Ignoring History and Division Threatens Our Rights, Relationships, and Future By CAL WIEBE, Guest Contributor It is a luxury to be able to choose when, what, or how we learn. Most of us do not have that luxury. It's not unusual for our "what" and "how" of learning to be thrust upon us. "When to learn" is too often right now — given that the prior best time to learn has passed. That applies to all of us, including the President, who says...

Feeling helpless? 10 actions you can take to support LGBTQ+ rights by Dana Piccoli, News is out These past two weeks have been particularly difficult, with numerous executive orders affecting diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Three executive orders this week alone focused on the trans community. Between doomscrolling and 24/7 coverage, it’s easy to get caught up in a pervasive feeling of helplessness. But there are things you can do if you are feeling helpless and want to take action. There...

Trial Begins of Men Accused of Drugging, Murdering and Robbing Hell’s Kitchen Nightclub Patrons From Left: Robert Demaio, Jacob Barroso and Jayqwan Hamilton in court on Wednesday. Photo: Phil O’Brien Prosecutors allege the defendants preyed on intoxicated patrons leaving gay nightclubs, drugging them with substances like fentanyl to incapacitate them before robbing them of thousands of dollars. By Phil O'Brien The trial of three men accused of orchestrating a deadly scheme targeting gay...

Minor Details Are You Taking Care of Yourself During this Scary New Backlash? By ROBERT MINOR, M.A., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, University of Kansas We’ve entered a new era in the struggle for equality, diversity and inclusion. For many it feels as if the legal gains made over the last fifty years are about to be rolled back – and with a vengeance. The politics of those leading this backlash from the top down are blatantly ugly, openly mean, and marked by unbelievable cruelty. “Vengeance” is a...

Kansas Republicans revive gender-affirming care ban for trans youths Two hearings on Jan. 28, 2025, on identical bills attempting to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths drew large crowds and more than 400 pieces of written testimony. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector) The bills ban medical procedures recommended or performed in response to gender dysphoria, the psychological distress that arises when a person’s biological sex and gender identity differ. TOPEKA — Identical bills in...

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on broad swath of federal payments President Donald Trump addresses the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami on Jan. 27, 2025 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) District Judge Loren L. AliKhan’s decision temporarily blocks the Office of Management and Budget from moving forward with plans to stop payments on multiple federal programs, which it announced late Monday. WASHINGTON — A federal...

Trump’s gay Treasury Secretary should denounce anti-trans attacks Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key) President likes his queer people gay, white, cis, rich, and obedient The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Scott Bessent, President Trump’s pick for Treasury Secretary, in a rare bipartisan vote of 68-29. Bessent, a billionaire hedge fund manager, becomes the first openly gay, Senate-confirmed Republican Cabinet member. He’s also the highest-ranking out gay...