Natalie Colleen Gates
@nataliecgates.bsky.social
Trans. Liberal. Democratic voter. Artist. Big Tolkien fan. Writer of stuff. Rideshare driver.
Tough couple of days to be trans. Last passenger of the night called me sir, complimented my “mullet” and said they like my taste of music. Selfie to feel a little better about myself. Though I think a lot of passengers assume their uber driver is a man, + my boobs last night got me a free shot.
December 20, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Tough couple of days to be trans. Last passenger of the night called me sir, complimented my “mullet” and said they like my taste of music. Selfie to feel a little better about myself. Though I think a lot of passengers assume their uber driver is a man, + my boobs last night got me a free shot.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
I'm looking forward to 2029 when we remove and destroy every aspect of Trump's name on federal property like US forces taking down everything with Saddam Hussein on it.
That's the bare minimum any Dem should do. Leave no trace of his existence.
That's the bare minimum any Dem should do. Leave no trace of his existence.
December 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I'm looking forward to 2029 when we remove and destroy every aspect of Trump's name on federal property like US forces taking down everything with Saddam Hussein on it.
That's the bare minimum any Dem should do. Leave no trace of his existence.
That's the bare minimum any Dem should do. Leave no trace of his existence.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
One reason the NYT has burned its credibility with trans people is that they still cite the discredited Cass report in reporting on trans healthcare. Never the German, Utah, or other systematic reviews supporting care. They also never provide the political context behind restrictions in care.
December 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
One reason the NYT has burned its credibility with trans people is that they still cite the discredited Cass report in reporting on trans healthcare. Never the German, Utah, or other systematic reviews supporting care. They also never provide the political context behind restrictions in care.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
It's incredible to me how the mainstream press will be incredulous and skeptical when RFK Jr and other HHS officials push they're quackery around vaccines but suddenly become credulous when they go attack trans healthcare. Anti vax and anti trans beliefs are all the same quack pseudoscience.
December 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It's incredible to me how the mainstream press will be incredulous and skeptical when RFK Jr and other HHS officials push they're quackery around vaccines but suddenly become credulous when they go attack trans healthcare. Anti vax and anti trans beliefs are all the same quack pseudoscience.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
"The mere idea that there can be a 'bottom vs top' politics should not be allowed in serious discourse. By any reasonable understanding, this is what left vs right is." powermapmag.com/it-is-about-...
It Is About Left vs Right - Power Map Magazine
Stop falling for the oldest marketing trick in the book.
powermapmag.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
"The mere idea that there can be a 'bottom vs top' politics should not be allowed in serious discourse. By any reasonable understanding, this is what left vs right is." powermapmag.com/it-is-about-...
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
Democrats feared that a handful of their members would vote for anti-trans legislation. So Sarah McBride spoke with some of the Republicans who ultimately voted ‘no." via @oriana.bsky.social
www.notus.org/congress/mcb...
www.notus.org/congress/mcb...
Sarah McBride Lobbied Some Republicans to Vote Against an Anti-Trans Bill
When House Democrats suspected a few members in their caucus would support a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for trans youth, McBride reached out to some Republicans who went on to oppose the...
www.notus.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Democrats feared that a handful of their members would vote for anti-trans legislation. So Sarah McBride spoke with some of the Republicans who ultimately voted ‘no." via @oriana.bsky.social
www.notus.org/congress/mcb...
www.notus.org/congress/mcb...
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
What bothers me more than anything about this is that many of the same people who correctly go, "This guy's a crank!" when he's talking about Tylenol causing autism or anti-vax stuff will sit there nodding along like, "Hey, if HHS said this, it must be legit!" when it involves trans care.
I’m at HHS headquarters where RFK Jr. is announcing new restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors by spouting pseudoscience and political misinformation that goes against every major medical association.
December 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
What bothers me more than anything about this is that many of the same people who correctly go, "This guy's a crank!" when he's talking about Tylenol causing autism or anti-vax stuff will sit there nodding along like, "Hey, if HHS said this, it must be legit!" when it involves trans care.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
and no, transgender rights are not a "distraction"
THEY ARE THE FIGHT
THEY ARE ALL THE FUCKING FIGHT
THEY ARE THE FIGHT
THEY ARE ALL THE FUCKING FIGHT
December 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
and no, transgender rights are not a "distraction"
THEY ARE THE FIGHT
THEY ARE ALL THE FUCKING FIGHT
THEY ARE THE FIGHT
THEY ARE ALL THE FUCKING FIGHT
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
The reason they're so focused on trans teens is that people who transition younger typically blend into society better. To the extent that they're willing to tolerate our existence in society at all, they'd rather we be easily identified by our appearance/voices/etc.
Cis people really have no idea how it feels to watch a regime hold a press conference to admit, on camera, the pogrom against trans people they've been waging for 11 months is not only real, but they're going to double down on genocide and try to wipe out all the children first.
December 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The reason they're so focused on trans teens is that people who transition younger typically blend into society better. To the extent that they're willing to tolerate our existence in society at all, they'd rather we be easily identified by our appearance/voices/etc.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
“These [HHS] rules are not in effect. They are merely proposals with a notice and comment process ahead. We encourage all to use the comment portals [that will be] provided to let HHS know just how dangerous these regulations are.” – Sasha Buchert, Senior Attorney
Read more: tinyurl.com/brdy37e
Read more: tinyurl.com/brdy37e
December 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
“These [HHS] rules are not in effect. They are merely proposals with a notice and comment process ahead. We encourage all to use the comment portals [that will be] provided to let HHS know just how dangerous these regulations are.” – Sasha Buchert, Senior Attorney
Read more: tinyurl.com/brdy37e
Read more: tinyurl.com/brdy37e
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
would like to see more Ds make statements like this.
To all the young people in New York and across our country who count on gender-affirming care:
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
December 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM
would like to see more Ds make statements like this.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
If this were true, they wouldn't be banning the medical care that does this.
"Men are men. Men can never become women. Women are women. Women can never become men."
December 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
If this were true, they wouldn't be banning the medical care that does this.
This fucking moron! Children aren’t getting bottom surgery. If they’re lucky puberty blockers and maybe HRT. Gender affirming care saves lives, and having access to it young spares years if not decades of trauma.
Dr Oz: "The creation of a penis costs on average in America $150,000 per child ... if you add testicles, that's extra"
December 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
This fucking moron! Children aren’t getting bottom surgery. If they’re lucky puberty blockers and maybe HRT. Gender affirming care saves lives, and having access to it young spares years if not decades of trauma.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
This announcement alone is going to kill people and we need to prepare for that
RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz to announce moves to ban gender-affirming care for young people
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to announce a package of measures that would together ban gender-affirming care for minors. A press conference is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.
www.npr.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This announcement alone is going to kill people and we need to prepare for that
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
“it’s reasonable to ask questions about trans girls in sports” was always intended to mainstream transphobia.
It’s absurd that people fell for it. Democrats are constantly letting oppressors set the terms of debate instead of just saying “no, fuck you.”
It’s absurd that people fell for it. Democrats are constantly letting oppressors set the terms of debate instead of just saying “no, fuck you.”
December 18, 2025 at 2:12 PM
“it’s reasonable to ask questions about trans girls in sports” was always intended to mainstream transphobia.
It’s absurd that people fell for it. Democrats are constantly letting oppressors set the terms of debate instead of just saying “no, fuck you.”
It’s absurd that people fell for it. Democrats are constantly letting oppressors set the terms of debate instead of just saying “no, fuck you.”
I still drink $1 PBRs. In theory I could still get blindingly drunk at a bar for under $30 but I’d probably get too bloated first. God bless RVA and HSH
At the risk of sounding old. The music was better and I could get blindingly drunk in bars for less than $30. 2025 could never.
Why must we live through the early 2000s a second time
December 18, 2025 at 2:44 AM
I still drink $1 PBRs. In theory I could still get blindingly drunk at a bar for under $30 but I’d probably get too bloated first. God bless RVA and HSH
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
The fact that it at least anecdotally seems to be a semi-regular practice to tell white people a minority got the job in order to soften the blow of rejection really should put the elite woke panic into perspective.
December 17, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The fact that it at least anecdotally seems to be a semi-regular practice to tell white people a minority got the job in order to soften the blow of rejection really should put the elite woke panic into perspective.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
Just now, a national trans healthcare felony ban for youth has passed the US House, with 10 year prison terms.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
December 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Just now, a national trans healthcare felony ban for youth has passed the US House, with 10 year prison terms.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
3 Dems crossed party lines to vote to jail providers.
4 GOP crossed party lines to vote against.
It is not expected to pass the Senate, where Dems hold filibuster power.
Story to come.
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
That blows my mind.
December 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
That blows my mind.
Finished this today. Money has been tight so it’s been a challenge to get into my studio. “Cityscape with Lights and Traffic, 2025, no. 2” oil on canvas, 48x36 inches
December 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Finished this today. Money has been tight so it’s been a challenge to get into my studio. “Cityscape with Lights and Traffic, 2025, no. 2” oil on canvas, 48x36 inches
A few of my oil paintings available for sale. I’ve shown these at Glave Kocen Petite, Gramophone Winery, and Black Iris Gallery in RVA. I paint buildings and architecture and am also available for commissions. Paintings make great Christmas gifts! :)
December 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
A few of my oil paintings available for sale. I’ve shown these at Glave Kocen Petite, Gramophone Winery, and Black Iris Gallery in RVA. I paint buildings and architecture and am also available for commissions. Paintings make great Christmas gifts! :)
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from federal immigration detention, his attorney's office says
Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been released from an immigration detention center in Pennsylvania following an order from a federal judge issued Thursday, according to his attorney’s office.
apnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Democratic leadership didn’t want to stick their necks out for him. The GOP didn’t want him even referred to as a “Maryland man.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, his congressional representative fought for him. And we should never forget any of this. apnews.com/article/abre...
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
People need to acknowledge that all of the loud voices on the "Dems have to move to the center" team are paid by a Super PAC with the express purpose of electing more moderate Dems. They are not putting impartial empirical research out there. it's just Super PAC fundraising masquerading as "data"
none of these people (inclusive of UK labour) seem to understand that voters want their leaders to *lead* them, not reflect their own ill thought preferences back at them
December 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
People need to acknowledge that all of the loud voices on the "Dems have to move to the center" team are paid by a Super PAC with the express purpose of electing more moderate Dems. They are not putting impartial empirical research out there. it's just Super PAC fundraising masquerading as "data"
I had fun writing this one. 🙂 I listened to the AT40 from this date today and was inspired to write this reflecting on pop music, politics, and middle school. Not really political, more a reflection on culture and how we experience it. Kinda proud of it :)
August 6, 1988
Today I listened to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 from August 6, 1988.
open.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 AM
I had fun writing this one. 🙂 I listened to the AT40 from this date today and was inspired to write this reflecting on pop music, politics, and middle school. Not really political, more a reflection on culture and how we experience it. Kinda proud of it :)
Reposted by Natalie Colleen Gates
A lot of journalists are writing stories about DIY now and I don't trust any of them not to scaremonger about it to build support for crackdowns. I've refused requests for interviews on this. Do not talk to the media about DIY.
Trans people need to be careful about talking about DIY. Yes talk about it in the general sense, quote the facts and figures but be careful. Don't give away sources to cis folks. Don't talk to journalists about the details. They're coming for it.
December 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A lot of journalists are writing stories about DIY now and I don't trust any of them not to scaremonger about it to build support for crackdowns. I've refused requests for interviews on this. Do not talk to the media about DIY.