Erin Reed
@erininthemorning.com
Independent LGBTQ+ journalist, mom, D&D DM. Tips: http://ko-fi.com/erininthemorn // Booking: http://erinreedwrites.com // Venmo erin888
Bylines @TheGuardian.com, @advocate.com, @xtramagazine.com
Subscribe to support my journalism www.erininthemorning.com
Bylines @TheGuardian.com, @advocate.com, @xtramagazine.com
Subscribe to support my journalism www.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
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.
7. The proposed rule nevertheless asserts that these guidelines would preempt state laws, placing a direct target on the “shield laws” enacted by states like California, Minnesota, and New York. The text is explicit in its intent to override state sovereignty.
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
7. The proposed rule nevertheless asserts that these guidelines would preempt state laws, placing a direct target on the “shield laws” enacted by states like California, Minnesota, and New York. The text is explicit in its intent to override state sovereignty.
6. The government attempts to get around this by stating that gender affirming care is not part of “the practice of medicine.” In a section dedicated to this anticipated challenge, the new rule states:
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
6. The government attempts to get around this by stating that gender affirming care is not part of “the practice of medicine.” In a section dedicated to this anticipated challenge, the new rule states:
5. This rule violates multiple U.S. statutes and constitutional limits on federal authority. Most notably, Section 1801 of the Social Security Act explicitly bars the federal government from using Medicaid regulations to exercise direct supervision or control over the practice of medicine.
![Sec. 1801. [42 U.S.C. 1395] Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize any Federal officer or employee to exercise any supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided, or over the selection, tenure, or compensation of any officer or employee of any institution, agency, or person providing health services; or to exercise any supervision or control over the administration or operation of any such institution, agency, or person.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:m65ifh7vn5zdgs7izcmht4gy/bafkreidhzf5v75y3nezosb7cknbeylyereyi6mkazzfbhvqdg6ofgvxqlm@jpeg)
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
5. This rule violates multiple U.S. statutes and constitutional limits on federal authority. Most notably, Section 1801 of the Social Security Act explicitly bars the federal government from using Medicaid regulations to exercise direct supervision or control over the practice of medicine.
4.The new rule contains no exceptions for patients already receiving care, meaning transgender youth who have remained in treatment even under some red-state bans would immediately see that care cut off. For many, this would amount to forced medical detransition.
The government acknowledges this.
The government acknowledges this.
December 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
4.The new rule contains no exceptions for patients already receiving care, meaning transgender youth who have remained in treatment even under some red-state bans would immediately see that care cut off. For many, this would amount to forced medical detransition.
The government acknowledges this.
The government acknowledges this.
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.
Trump has ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela, which is an act of war.
Literally will go to war to protect pedophiles.
Literally will go to war to protect pedophiles.
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Trump has ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela, which is an act of war.
Literally will go to war to protect pedophiles.
Literally will go to war to protect pedophiles.
8. Previously, a handful of House Democrats have shown support for other anti-LGBTQ+ provisions primarily centering on transgender people. See the list here:
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
8. Previously, a handful of House Democrats have shown support for other anti-LGBTQ+ provisions primarily centering on transgender people. See the list here:
7. When asked about the bills, Democratic Representative from Delaware Sarah McBride told Erin In The Morning that the bills represent Republican obsession with transgender people, going as far as trying to jail parents for affirming their trans youth.
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
7. When asked about the bills, Democratic Representative from Delaware Sarah McBride told Erin In The Morning that the bills represent Republican obsession with transgender people, going as far as trying to jail parents for affirming their trans youth.
6. The bill also includes a definition of sex that Republicans have increasingly attempted to insert into legislation touching gender issues, defining female based on reproductive capacity.
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
6. The bill also includes a definition of sex that Republicans have increasingly attempted to insert into legislation touching gender issues, defining female based on reproductive capacity.
5. It applies broadly, covering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical care for anyone under the age of 18, while explicitly allowing cisgender people to receive the same medications for other medical purposes while denying them to transgender youth.
December 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
5. It applies broadly, covering puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical care for anyone under the age of 18, while explicitly allowing cisgender people to receive the same medications for other medical purposes while denying them to transgender youth.
6. The bill also goes further by codifying the state’s viewpoint toward trans people into law. It declares that “it is the policy of this state that a person’s sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex."
December 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
6. The bill also goes further by codifying the state’s viewpoint toward trans people into law. It declares that “it is the policy of this state that a person’s sex is an immutable biological trait and that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex."
5. Most significantly, the bill would ban “adverse personnel action” against employees who engage in openly transphobic conduct, shielding them under the banner of “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
December 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
5. Most significantly, the bill would ban “adverse personnel action” against employees who engage in openly transphobic conduct, shielding them under the banner of “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
A little bit of Thursday night D&D with @zoandbehold.bsky.social DMing for our son and his friend and his friend’s family.
Love it when she breaks out the dwarves forge map.
Love it when she breaks out the dwarves forge map.
December 12, 2025 at 2:10 AM
A little bit of Thursday night D&D with @zoandbehold.bsky.social DMing for our son and his friend and his friend’s family.
Love it when she breaks out the dwarves forge map.
Love it when she breaks out the dwarves forge map.
9. You can see the dems here:
December 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
9. You can see the dems here:
4. When bills are written, you always must establish definitions. In this case, the NDAA says that it only applies “IN THIS SECTION.”
This is not a broad federal definition of sex.
It’s also, interestingly, a lazy definition - not their usual longer one on capacity to produce sperm/ova etc.
This is not a broad federal definition of sex.
It’s also, interestingly, a lazy definition - not their usual longer one on capacity to produce sperm/ova etc.
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
4. When bills are written, you always must establish definitions. In this case, the NDAA says that it only applies “IN THIS SECTION.”
This is not a broad federal definition of sex.
It’s also, interestingly, a lazy definition - not their usual longer one on capacity to produce sperm/ova etc.
This is not a broad federal definition of sex.
It’s also, interestingly, a lazy definition - not their usual longer one on capacity to produce sperm/ova etc.
So this take is spreading around a lot, and I want to put a little caution.
The NDAA is a bill that passes yearly, only applies to this year.
The “definition of sex” applies only to athletics and only to military cadets, so not other athletes.
It is still a bad bill, for many reasons.
The NDAA is a bill that passes yearly, only applies to this year.
The “definition of sex” applies only to athletics and only to military cadets, so not other athletes.
It is still a bad bill, for many reasons.
December 11, 2025 at 4:22 PM
So this take is spreading around a lot, and I want to put a little caution.
The NDAA is a bill that passes yearly, only applies to this year.
The “definition of sex” applies only to athletics and only to military cadets, so not other athletes.
It is still a bad bill, for many reasons.
The NDAA is a bill that passes yearly, only applies to this year.
The “definition of sex” applies only to athletics and only to military cadets, so not other athletes.
It is still a bad bill, for many reasons.
4. The bill also targets trans people in a way not seen in any other state: it applies to private businesses. While previous bans have stopped at public schools or govt buildings, HB1442 extends to any “place of public accommodation”—hotels, bars, theaters, concert venues, retail stores, and more.
December 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
4. The bill also targets trans people in a way not seen in any other state: it applies to private businesses. While previous bans have stopped at public schools or govt buildings, HB1442 extends to any “place of public accommodation”—hotels, bars, theaters, concert venues, retail stores, and more.
3. The new violation does not apply to trans men. In bathroom debates, Republicans have grown visibly uncomfortable when confronted with many trans men presenting with traditionally masculine feature.
NH republicans are apparently sidestepping this by shrugging and only applying it to trans women.
NH republicans are apparently sidestepping this by shrugging and only applying it to trans women.
December 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
3. The new violation does not apply to trans men. In bathroom debates, Republicans have grown visibly uncomfortable when confronted with many trans men presenting with traditionally masculine feature.
NH republicans are apparently sidestepping this by shrugging and only applying it to trans women.
NH republicans are apparently sidestepping this by shrugging and only applying it to trans women.
We have always been here.
Always a pleasure to learn about new trans people who existed in history.
Especially in the wonderful state of Montana.
www.lwvmunciedelaware.org/content.aspx...
Always a pleasure to learn about new trans people who existed in history.
Especially in the wonderful state of Montana.
www.lwvmunciedelaware.org/content.aspx...
December 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
We have always been here.
Always a pleasure to learn about new trans people who existed in history.
Especially in the wonderful state of Montana.
www.lwvmunciedelaware.org/content.aspx...
Always a pleasure to learn about new trans people who existed in history.
Especially in the wonderful state of Montana.
www.lwvmunciedelaware.org/content.aspx...
7. Nancy Mace, one of the chief architects of the anti-trans provisions in the House version of the bill, posted immediately after the text was released, writing, “NDAA is out, furiously reading through to see which of our Amendments made it in, and which did not.”
She has yet to comment.
She has yet to comment.
December 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
7. Nancy Mace, one of the chief architects of the anti-trans provisions in the House version of the bill, posted immediately after the text was released, writing, “NDAA is out, furiously reading through to see which of our Amendments made it in, and which did not.”
She has yet to comment.
She has yet to comment.
From a new paper in Nature.... Satellite light pollution is becoming a major problem. If it continues at this rate, this is what our deep space telescope images of the universe will look like.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
December 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
From a new paper in Nature.... Satellite light pollution is becoming a major problem. If it continues at this rate, this is what our deep space telescope images of the universe will look like.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
One of my joys is visiting dark sky parks... and nwo you can't go without seeing many satellites.
5. The bill explicitly forbids all school staff and faculty from “the use of alternative pronouns or names for the minor student, either in school records or otherwise.” Notably, it contains no provision for parental consent.
You can see the provisions here:
You can see the provisions here:
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
5. The bill explicitly forbids all school staff and faculty from “the use of alternative pronouns or names for the minor student, either in school records or otherwise.” Notably, it contains no provision for parental consent.
You can see the provisions here:
You can see the provisions here:
8. Gallego, when confronted with his texts, did not deny them. In fact, he leaned into them, saying that they were “a reflection of what I’ve been saying the whole time.” He claimed that the texts actually reflected inclusivity:
December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
8. Gallego, when confronted with his texts, did not deny them. In fact, he leaned into them, saying that they were “a reflection of what I’ve been saying the whole time.” He claimed that the texts actually reflected inclusivity:
6. Matt Walsh echoes the sentiment often, such as when he rails against feminism by claiming, “Feminism set the stage for trans activists by insisting for years that there are no significant or inherent differences between men and women apart from anatomy.”
December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
6. Matt Walsh echoes the sentiment often, such as when he rails against feminism by claiming, “Feminism set the stage for trans activists by insisting for years that there are no significant or inherent differences between men and women apart from anatomy.”