Jo Yurcaba
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joyurcaba.bsky.social
Jo Yurcaba
@joyurcaba.bsky.social
16K followers 520 following 340 posts
Reporter for NBC News covering the LGBTQ+ community.
DMs open; email Jo.Yurcaba@nbcuni.com; Signal @joyurcaba.91
Pronouns: they/them
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joyurcaba.bsky.social
A throwback to my rodeo days. I managed to get something like 5 concussions from riding as a teen so I opted for a helmet instead of a cowboy hat. I also had a habit of losing my stirrups while competing because this saddle was a different one than I usually rode in.
October 15, 2025 at 6:49 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Also, check out the incredible photos by Jesse McClary and Allie Leepson:

www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
October 15, 2025 at 4:21 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
joyurcaba.bsky.social
One Florida mom told me she's moving to Berlin next month because she doesn't know where else to take her daughter for care.

www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Screenshot of two paragraphs from the NBC article about hospitals ending trans care for minors: When her daughter first sought access to transition care, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and state Republican legislators were trying to ban it, so in September 2021, the teen and her dad started driving 11 hours to Alabama every few months so she could access care at the University of Alabama’s gender clinic. Then, in August 2023, a court allowed a care ban to take effect in Alabama. Last July, they began flying to Washington, D.C., to receive care at Children’s National Hospital. Last month, the hospital announced in a message on its website that “in light of escalating legal and regulatory risks to Children’s National, our providers, and the families we serve, we will be discontinuing the prescription of gender-affirming medications” effective Aug. 30.
August 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
I’ve been on vacation this week exploring Glacier National Park with a few friends. Got up at 3:30 this morning to drive Going to the Sun road at sunrise as a goodbye (for now) to this incredible place.
July 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
It was a rough week so look at my cute dog
May 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Navy Cmdr. Emily Shilling, lead plaintiff in the case against Trump's trans military ban, responds to SCOTUS' decision allowing it to take effect:

"We are not a policy debate. We are real people, doing real jobs, in defense of a nation we still believe in, even when it struggles to believe in us."
A screenshot of a statement from Navy Commander Emily Shilling in response to the Supreme Court allowing Trump's transgender military ban to take effect while a court case proceeds. It reads: Today’s decision by the Supreme Court to stay the injunction in Shilling v. United States is a heavy blow—not just to me, but to every transgender service member who has worn the uniform with honor and integrity. We asked for clarity. We asked for stability. Instead, we received uncertainty. The protections granted by the District Court, which affirmed our right to serve openly and authentically, are now paused while this case continues its journey through the courts. But let me be perfectly clear: this is not defeat. This is delay. Transgender service members have served this nation with courage, skill, and selflessness for years. We’ve flown combat missions, led sailors, commanded troops, and stood watch. We are not a theory. We are not a policy debate. We are real people, doing real jobs, in defense of a nation we still believe in, even when it struggles to believe in us. I know this decision will cause fear and doubt in the ranks. To those feeling shaken, I say this: stand tall. You are not alone. You are part of a community that will fight for you, stand beside you, and never stop pushing forward. This case isn’t over. The truth is still on our side. And history, like it always has, will find in favor of those who choose courage over cowardice, service over exclusion, and unity over fear. We carry on and fight forward.
May 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
What struck me about talking with Rosie Sandri was that, throughout the interview — despite being afraid to leave her house after getting death threats — she kept saying she would be fine and urging people to help others.
A screenshot of the last paragraph of an NBC News article that features a quote from Rosie Sandri: “My message to Libs of TikTok is, ‘You picked the wrong one,’” Sandri said. “The whole community stands behind me, and they don’t care, and I am lucky enough to have that privilege that a lot of trans people don’t have. So my message to everyone is, ‘Don’t just make this about me. Go out there and help the trans people and the LGBTQIA community, because there are Black and brown trans people, there are trans youth, there are gay and lesbian people who are having their right to marriage threatened right now. Go out there and help these people.”
April 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
March 28, 2025 at 2:54 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Fun pics from last night, including this hilariously awkward one of me holding my boxed award next to Hannah Einbinder 😅🤠
March 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Check out the incredible interactive map in the article by @joemurph.bsky.social of all the women's sports bars currently open and expected to open by the end of the year.

www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
A screenshot of an interactive map in an NBC News news article about women's sports bars opening across the U.S.
March 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
More bread. Both sourdough, top with parm-rosemary-olive oil cheese. Bottom is plain. My Bluesky is now for both work and bread
February 24, 2025 at 6:29 AM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Results. Some room for improvement but they smell amazing.
February 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
I’ve been baking a lot more since I have to use crutches for 6 weeks and can’t do my usual activities. I’ve had the same sourdough starter since 2019. This is my latest experiment: dark chocolate sourdough with dried cherries. Will post the end result.
Dark chocolate sourdough bread dough with dried cherries in a large metal bowl after its bulk fermentation.
February 22, 2025 at 2:23 AM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Judge Reyes pressed the DOJ hard, demanding repeatedly that the attorney say whether the order expresses animus.

The DOJ refused, sticking to the answer that the govt doesn't think it's constitutionally relevant.
Reyes: Would it be fair to say that excluding a group of people from military service based on unsupported assertions that they are liars, immodest, lack integrity, are undisciplined and are dishonorable, would you agree with me that — particularly where there's no support for any of those assertions — that that is animated by animus? I want to know whether this executive order signed by the President of the United States, who calls an entire category of people dishonest, dishonorable, undisciplined, immodest, lack integrity — people who have taken an oath to defend this country, people who have been under fire, people who have received medals for taking fire for this country — I want to know from the government, whether that language expresses animus.
February 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
I'm listening to this again, and Judge Reyes read the highlighted portion of the EO and asked, "Would you agree that that's demeaning?" DOJ says, "No, your honor."
Consistent with the military mission and longstanding DoD policy, expressing a false “gender identity” divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service. Beyond the hormonal and surgical medical interventions involved, adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life. A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member. With the second sentence highlighted.
February 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
From Dr. Birnbaum:

www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
A screenshot of two paragraphs from an NBC News article about a New York doctor who said he'll continue providing transition care despite a recent executive order issued by President Trump that attempts to restrict such care for those under 19. The paragraphs say the following: Birnbaum said Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict care, along with another that describes the idea that someone can be trans as “gender ideology,” denies the realities of the people he treats every day. “If somebody says the sky is green, just because they say it, doesn’t make the sky green,” Birnbaum said. “I’m looking at the medical literature, research that’s been done. I’m looking at real people in front of me. I’m not looking at some right-wing, religious ideologue who is referring to this as ‘gender ideology.’ It’s no ideology. They have the ideology. I’m dealing with science and medicine.”
February 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
I've gotten a lot of wild emails about my work, but today I got one titled "Jo's crimes against God..." 👀

He ends it, "Please email me if you have any questions. Thanks for your time friend."
An email with the subject line "Jo's crimes against God..." from Mitch Etling to Jo Yurcaba. The portion of the email shown in the photo says: Jo, I saw your article: "One of Los Angeles' two lesbian bars announces it will close due to wildfires"... I thought that I should let you know the following: ---------- The world is ran by Satan and his angels... Satan has set up a world structure that essentially guarantees that every living person on Earth will willfully sin at least once and then be condemned to Hell. You must realize that because *you've* sinned even one time, that you've *already* been condemned to Hell - as soon as you die you have to go to Hell. ---------- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 ---------- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Another section of the lengthy email that reads: Now that God has given His life to destroy the works of the devil, and so that you could have a chance to repent, and stop willfully sinning, and be forgiven for the sins that you've *already* committed, so that you can have eternal life instead of an eternity in the Lake of Fire -- now that He's sacrificed Himself *FOR YOU* -- how much *MORE SEVERE* do you think His judgment is going to be than the flood?! If you don't repent and become "born again" and obey the Gospel, YOU *WILL* DIE AND GO TO HELL - perhaps quite soon... Is that what you want? If you don't want this to happen to *YOU*, then you must repent and become born again and obey God - you MUST turn from evil and YOU MUST STOP WILLFULLY SINNING - if you don't stop willfully sinning, you will *still* go to Hell -- EVEN IF YOU'RE BORN AGAIN... You could die at any moment - you could be dead and IN HELL by midnight, and then what?! ---------- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
February 11, 2025 at 5:45 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
The State Department has removed a webpage on selecting your gender marker on a U.S. passport.

Here is an archive of the page: web.archive.org/web/20250121...

Now if you click this link it redirects to a general passport info page: travel.state.gov/content/trav...
A screenshot of part of the State Department webpage titled "Selecting your Gender Marker." It said: You can select male (M), female (F), or unspecified or another gender identity (X) as the gender marker on your U.S. passport book and card. The gender marker you select does not need to match the gender on your citizenship evidence or photo ID. You do not need to provide medical documentation to change your gender marker. Applying for the first time: Follow the steps to apply in person. Renewing as an adult: You may be eligible to renew by mail. Applying for a child under 16: Follow the steps for a child under age 16. Your new photo must look like your current appearance and meet our photo requirements. Use our Form Filler to fill out your form online and print it. If you are having technical issues with the Form Filler, download a PDF version of your form. A screenshot of the second half of a State Department webpage on "Selecting your Gender Marker." It says: Our Commitment We promote the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ individuals. We are demonstrating this commitment to better serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of gender identity. Preparing to Travel If you have an X gender marker, you may not be able to travel to some other countries. Go to our LGBTQI+ Travelers’ Page to learn about the safety, security, and entry requirements of the country you plan to visit. The page also features a graphic that shows how you could select your gender marker on a U.S. passport form.
January 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
This story features a tidbit from an interview I did with the couple last year that I didn't get to include in my profile of Zooey:

www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...
A screenshot of two paragraphs of an NBC News article. They say: Reed said she fell in love with Zephyr in part because she is so easy to talk to. When the pair first started dating, they wrote out a list of questions divided into four categories: sweet, silly, spicy and serious. They would roll a four-sided dice commonly used in a tabletop role-playing game they both love, Dungeons and Dragons, to determine which category they’d select a question from. They played the game for months until they ran out of questions, they told NBC News last year. “I’m a bit of a night owl, and my favorite times of the day were that midnight period where I was just laying in bed talking to her until we fell asleep,” Reed said last year. “I fell in love with just talking to her.”
December 17, 2024 at 6:28 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Vienna Cavazos, 18, traveled from Delaware because the case is extremely important to them and their family after they moved away from Texas in 2022 amid state investigations into the parents of trans kids.

“We’re going to seek the health care whether it’s legal or not.”
December 5, 2024 at 2:41 AM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
“We absolutely know that this care saved our son’s life,” Lisa said through tears. “He didn’t think he had a future. He didn’t plan for anything, because he didn’t think he was going to be a boy, and he didn’t think he was going to be around.”
December 5, 2024 at 2:38 AM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Scene from outside the Supreme Court this morning as we prepare to hear arguments on Tennessee’s ban on transition-related care for minors.
December 4, 2024 at 1:55 PM
joyurcaba.bsky.social
Well I can’t choose just one
December 4, 2024 at 2:50 AM