@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr LGBTQnation
Pictures surface of both Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Mike Collins (R-GA)--running in Rep primary to unseat Dem Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and known for their virulently anti-trans statements --dressed as women in drag. That should goose the base's turnout.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr Advocate
When they reconvene, Reps are expected to continue moving forward H.R. 7661, which allegedly focuses on federal book ban of materials with sexual content from public libraries but defines it to include any content on “gender dysphoria or ‘transgenderism.”
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
Darts, one of few sports which has been largely co-ed esp. at top competition levels bec. sex differences don't factor in, has banned Dutch competitor Noa-Lynn van Leuven--subject of a long-running international hate campaign-- from all women-only events.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
Even as Trump admin, red states and IOC struggle to define sex precisely so they can oppress trans people, new book by trans historian Beans Velocci argues that it doesn't actually exist in new book, "Sex Isn’t Real: The Invention of an Incoherent Binary."
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr Axios
Anti-trans hate crimes showed a small (6%) drop in prelim. FBI numbers but are still 98% above avg and nearly twice the next category. Based on ~3m trans people, the rate is about 1/10,000. Anti-Latino and anti-Sikh hate crimes hit record highs for 2025.
This is some of my favorite reporting I’ve done. The concept of detransition is frequently used as a cudgel against trans people, but detrans people aren’t a monolith.
Often, their stories look a lot like ours.
Exactly
The simple truth is some people are just born different from whats considered normal. I know I was born gay. Trans are the same. They are different and deserve their place in society like everyone does. A man once told me I was abnormal. My response was you are abnormal to me he was shocked.
thank you. i've talked to so many people who have this idea that finland is somehow LGBTQ friendly and are surprised when i say being trans/queer is easier in the US (yes it depends where in the US). there's good things about finland but if you're at all different you're not gonna have a good time.
Want a lift? Read this great story of allyship among detrans people by freelancer @madisyn-writes.bsky.social on Assigned!
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
The things I've heard about how trans youth are treated in Finland are extremely grim. The woman who runs the one program there is very influential. In principle it's legal for providers to offer services outside her clinic, but she's been able to convince authorities that any who do are sketchy.
Extremely relevant context for understanding the new Finnish study
This is why myself and many other trans people in Finland will have nothing to do with Transpoli 🤷♀️
Finland is genuinely hellish in this. It's the *care* I got as a t(w)een--eighteen... For those who know my story, welp. 🥲😭
It seems it's that but as a standard.
Genuine torture. Zero care. 100% *cruelty*.
They're *murdering* our most vulnerable—literal children.
#protecttranskids
A study from Finland has been used to cast doubt on gender affirming care for youth.
But Finland never offered gender affirming care.
Perhaps invasive, adversarial, fruitless years of assessment harm trans youth? New opinion by @evanurquhart.bsky.social:
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
This is great work with original reporting by @madisyn-writes.bsky.social and deserves your attention!
Detransition is often used as a cudgel against the transgender community, but most people who detransition actually remain trans supportive.
Today on Assigned, @madisyn-writes.bsky.social spoke with three detransitioners who support trans people.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr EITM
Mississippi joins seven other red states in banning correct gender on driver's licenses for its trans residents, including those who have undergone full gender transition. The bill awaits the governor's signature.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social [Finnish study]
FYI the study counts simple visits to psychiatrist with actual mental health deterioration , altho its trans subjects were closely monitored every 3-6 months through...visits to adolescent psychiatrists.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr EITM
Study in low-impact journal Acta Paediatrica from anti-trans Finnish activist/psychiatrist Riittakerttu Kaltiala falsely claims GAC for under-23s does not improve their mental health and may worsen them. This will def come as news to trans ppl under 23.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
After a fed court court ruling vacates HHS's declaration that hospitals providing minors' GAC risked losing Medicaid/Medicare funding, Children's Minnesota hospital resumes prescribing blockers/hormones.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
Catholic nuns operating a NY state nursing facility are suing the state over law requiring them to provide care for elderly transgender patients in their correct gender, claiming it violates their faith.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
HRC/SSRS TDOV survey of 1k finds 85% agree trans ppl should have the same rights as others (incl 76% of Reps), 89% should be able to access GAC, 83% protected from school bullying, and 79% protected from job discrimination.
I am planning to write something about the study from Finland that is being shared by anti-trans advocates later this week, but until then please enjoy this piece by Veronica Esposito on a study they completely ignored.
This is some of the most cutting edge research, and it bolsters the case for the efficacy of gender-affirming care. The positive impacts were particularly high for patients who accessed testosterone.
Care about great science journalism for the trans community? Support our work today!
Huge new study on trans people and mental health.
A new study from Australia concluded that gender-affirming care results in an initial increase in mental health appointments followed by a decline below levels prior to accessing care.
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr PBS
In an unprecedented move, the US Education Dept is terminating agreements reached by previous administrations with 5 school districts and a college to ensure they uphold civil rights protections for trans students.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr LGBTQnation
A Rep state senator in Kentucky has been desperately trying to attempts sneak amendments that would ban trans people from teaching in state schools into one bill after another -- he has failed miserably.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr
TIME does a long-form look at how new Olympic sex testing rules and their application intended to screen out trans women will also hurt intersex/DSD athletes.
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social 2026 Apr Advocate
Profile of Taylor Brown, the civil rights attorney appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani to head new Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs and her efforts to battle Trump admin and support NYC's trans people.