Jo Yurcaba
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joyurcaba.bsky.social
Jo Yurcaba
@joyurcaba.bsky.social
16K followers 530 following 360 posts
NBC News reporter covering the LGBTQ+ community.
DMs open; email Jo.Yurcaba@nbcuni.com; Signal @joyurcaba.91
Pronouns: they/them
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joyurcaba.bsky.social
Jo Yurcaba @joyurcaba.bsky.social · Dec 1
Today I return to NBC News Digital as an enterprise reporter. I'll be covering the LGBTQ+ community, but I'll regularly venture into other beats as well.

Send tips, ideas, gossip: Jo.Yurcaba@nbcuni.com
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
juliannemcshane.bsky.social
🚨🚨 SCOOP @ms.now : The Department of Veteran Affairs has quietly implemented its abortion ban following a DOJ memo issued last week.

This will affect 9 million veterans and their dependents, and has been a long time coming: It was outlined in Project 2025.

Read/share 👇
Department of Veterans Affairs quietly implements abortion ban
A VA spokesperson confirmed to MS NOW that the ban was in place following a Department of Justice memo issued last week.
www.ms.now
December 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
erininthemorning.com
A second national anti-trans healthcare bill has passed the US House, a medicaid ban for trans youth. 4 Democrats crossed party lines to vote for it. Henry Cueller (TX), Vincente Gonzalez (TX), Don Davis (NC), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA). It is not expected to get through the Senate filibuster.
December 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
NEW: The Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday that it would begin to take steps aimed at ending transition-related care for minors nationwide.

with Erika Edwards for @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
HHS moves to slash funding and access to care for transgender minors
The proposals announced Thursday would bar hospitals that receive federal funding from providing transition-related care to minors.
www.nbcnews.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
The House passed legislation today that would charge doctors with a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison for providing transition-related care to minors.

Rep. Sarah McBride strongly condemned the legislation in rare personal remarks ahead of the vote.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
House passes bill to criminalize transition care for minors
The House passed legislation today that would charge doctors with a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison for providing transition-related medical care
www.nbcnews.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
mikehixenbaugh.com
In May, my @nbcnews.com colleagues and I uncovered allegations dating back 40+ years that a longtime children's pastor formerly in the Assemblies of God was a serial child rapist.

Today he was arrested in Missouri.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Longtime children’s pastor Joe Campbell arrested on child sex abuse charges
The former Assemblies of God minister was indicted in Oklahoma after an NBC News investigation revealed decades of missed warnings.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
My first story back at NBC takes a behind-the-scenes look at how an Oklahoma student’s essay about gender became a national controversy in less than two weeks.

With @tktk.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
How an Oklahoma student's gender essay became a national culture war fight
Conservative activists and politicians have rallied around a college student who received a zero on an essay. Some grad students said they’re worried about what happens next.
www.nbcnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
tktk.bsky.social
NEW: Wondering how a college student's homework assignment worth 25 points becomes a national controversy?

With @joyurcaba.bsky.social we unraveled how it happened after a Univ of Oklahoma student emailed politicians and activists about her grade dispute www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
How an Oklahoma student's gender essay became a national culture war fight
Conservative activists and politicians have rallied around a college student who received a zero on an essay. Some grad students said they’re worried about what happens next.
www.nbcnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
ericmgarcia.bsky.social
Tucked inside the Republican bill for health care subsidies, a clause that would restrict the money from being used for abortion (with exception for rape, incest or life of the mother) or for "any sex trait modification procedure or service."
www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
6 ‘‘(A) abortion, other than— 7 ‘‘(i) if the pregnancy is the result of 8 an act of rape or incest, or 9 ‘‘(ii) in the case where a woman suf10 fers from a physical disorder, physical in11 jury, or physical illness, including a life-en12 dangering physical condition caused by or 13 arising from the pregnancy itself, that 14 would, as certified by a physician, place 15 the woman in danger of death unless an 16 abortion is performed, or 17 ‘‘(B) any sex trait modification procedure 18 or service (as defined in section 156.400 of title 19 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on 20 the date of the enactment of this subsection), 21 shall not be treated as paid for medical care.’’.
December 8, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
prismreports.org
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Today I return to NBC News Digital as an enterprise reporter. I'll be covering the LGBTQ+ community, but I'll regularly venture into other beats as well.

Send tips, ideas, gossip: Jo.Yurcaba@nbcuni.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Some old news and new news: Just over a month ago I was laid off from my job as a reporter for NBC Out, the LGBTQ+ section of NBC News Digital, along with all of the reporters and editors of NBC News' diversity verticals (NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, and NBC Latino).

1/
November 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Teen Vogue was among my first big bylines. What I loved about it was that once I showed them I could report, editors from other sections of the website reached out with assignments. It was the first place that treated me like a strong reporter and not just a reporter for trans/queer stories.
allegrak.bsky.social Allegra Kirkland @allegrak.bsky.social · Nov 3
Teen Vogue was one of the only outlets that took young people seriously as political actors and covered how they're organizing, voting, and being impacted by state + national legislation.

It was a launching pad for so many great young journalists
November 3, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
lexmcmenamin.com
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.

certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
oriion.bsky.social
What does our health care system look like? What does our social safety net look like?

It looks like Marcus. At 61, he spends most nights riding the Chicago Red Line or looking for a park bench or bus stop, trying to find sleep. He recently finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer.
Cancer killed his parents. He’s facing the same disease alone — and unhoused.
Marcus Ford, like other Black men around the country, lives with a higher risk of dying from cancer due to factors out of his control. But Medicaid cuts may take away his treatment.
19thnews.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
joyurcaba.bsky.social
This past weekend, I went to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, which celebrated 50 years of gay rodeo.

I grew up doing rodeo as a teen and felt like I'd never be able to go back because I came out as trans. This story felt like a homecoming.

For @nbcnews.com:

www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
Not their first gay rodeo: Celebrating 50 years of queer cowfolks
Contestants and line dancers traveled from across the country to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, Nevada, to celebrate a half-century of gay rodeo.
www.nbcnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
This past weekend, I went to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, which celebrated 50 years of gay rodeo.

I grew up doing rodeo as a teen and felt like I'd never be able to go back because I came out as trans. This story felt like a homecoming.

For @nbcnews.com:

www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
Not their first gay rodeo: Celebrating 50 years of queer cowfolks
Contestants and line dancers traveled from across the country to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, Nevada, to celebrate a half-century of gay rodeo.
www.nbcnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
This week I spoke to kids and parents at DOD-operated schools about how the shutdown has canceled their sports games and homecoming dances.

Seniors who are trying to get recruited to play sports in college are among those most affected.

For @nbcnews.com:

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Shutdown cancels sports games and dances for students at military-base schools
Military parents say their kids, especially those who are high school seniors, are devastated by the cancellation of some of their last sports games and school dances.
www.nbcnews.com
October 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
kissphoria.bsky.social
In 2017, a Republican speaker blocked Texas' bathroom bill over fears that the billl would face a north carolina-style backlash

Almost a decade later, the bill sailed through with no opposition from Republicans and no real pushback from business leaders.
September 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Texas to become the 20th state with a law restricting what bathrooms transgender people can use

For @nbcnews.com:
www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
Texas to become the 20th state with a transgender bathroom law
The bill, which Texas first attempted to pass in 2015, will require transgender people to use restrooms in public schools and government buildings in accordance with their birth sex.
www.nbcnews.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
kissphoria.bsky.social
Welp: Texas A&M President Mark Welch just stepped down after pressure from Republicans over a video of a professor who taught about transgender people in a children's literature class
September 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
ericmgarcia.bsky.social
If you are a parent of a kid you think might #ActuallyAutistic and don't want to get them screened because of RFK Jr., I'd love to talk with you for a piece. DM me or Eric.Garcia@the-independent.com. My Signal is emgarcia.85
September 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
kissphoria.bsky.social
NEW in @chron.com: Hundreds of LGBTQ+ books were found sitting in a surplus warehouse at Texas A&M University, and the university won't say why. As first reported by @joyurcaba.bsky.social, the books include a memoir by Matthew Shepard's mother and academic texts.

www.chron.com/culture/arti...
Why are hundreds of LGBTQ+ books sitting in a Texas A&M warehouse?
"It just felt really slimy on the university's part."
www.chron.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
These were the engravings on the bullet casings of Kirk's suspected killer:

"Notices bulges OWO what's this?" (reference to a meme)
"Hey fascist! Catch!" w/ arrow symbols
Another had the lyrics of Italian folks song "Bella Ciao"
"If you read this you are gay lmao"

www.nbcnews.com/video/inscri...
Inscriptions found on bullet casings of Charlie Kirk's suspected killer
Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed that inscriptions were found on the bullet casings belonging to Tyler Robinson, the suspected accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk. One of the inscriptions had ...
www.nbcnews.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Part of the statement from the @transjournalists.org on reporting details of the the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation.

Full statement here:
www.transjournalists.org/tja-urges-ca...
A screenshot of part of a statement from the Trans Journalists Association regarding reporting on Charlie Kirk shooting investigation: It should also be noted that “transgender ideology” is a term coined for and used in anti-trans political messaging to falsely equate identity with politics, which is a way to frame transgender identity as a political choice rather than an innate identity. As it is often unclear what actions or political positions the phrase actually refers to — not unlike how “the homosexual agenda” is an amorphous term that has no real definition — reporters should be careful about using this term; it is used exclusively to attack a minority group for political gain.
September 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Jo Yurcaba
thelincoln.bsky.social
NYT on the alleged messages on the shooter's weapon:
According to a preliminary internal report circulated inside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, federal and local officials recovered ammunition with the shooter’s rifle that appeared to be engraved with statements “expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” But a senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation cautioned that report had not been verified by A.T.F. analysts, did not match other summaries of the evidence, and might turn out to have been misread or misinterpreted. In fast-moving investigations, such status reports are not made public because they often contain a mixture of accurate and inaccurate information.
September 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM