CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M
‘Largest Public Fraud In State History’: Mississippi Lawsuit Against Brett Favre and Others Untangles Web of Squandered, Misspent Millions Intended to Help the Poorest In The State

Nyamekye Daniel
Thu, May 12, 2022

This week the Mississippi Department of Human Services sued its former director and a Pro Football Hall of Famer for misusing more than $24 million meant to help the neediest families in the nation’s poorest state.

According to reports, John Davis, who was appointed to lead the state agency responsible for managing welfare programs in 2016, directed millions of dollars to two nonprofits who used the money to purchase luxury items, first-class airfare and pay Brett Favre for speaking arrangements he did not do, among other things.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services has sued former NFL Player Brett Favre ad 37 other defendants for misspending welfare funds. (Photo: Twitter/Brett Favre)

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White called it the “largest public fraud in state history.” White is requesting an overall repayment of $77 million. About $1.1 million was paid to the retired Minnesota Vikings quarterback, who lives in Mississippi.

“I applaud the team filing this suit and am grateful the state is taking another step toward justice for the taxpayers,” White said in a statement. “We will continue to work alongside our federal partners — who have been given access to all our evidence for more than two years— to make sure the case is fully investigated.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows that 19.6 percent of Mississippians live below the poverty line. The state’s 2.9 million residents have a median household income of $45,081, or $24,362 per person, according to U.S. Census data.

However, Davis used the public funding from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program that provides cash for families with children under 18 to boost his and his associates’ personal gain.

According to The Clarion-Ledger, the state agency approved 167 out of 11,717 TANF applications in 2016. The Department of Human Health Services is allowed to issue sub grants to supplement nonprofits that help poor families.

Reports show Davis routed about $19 million of the funding to nonprofits ran by mother and son Zachary, 39, and Nancy New, 69, who are also named in the suit.

“That illegal quid pro quo agreement and conspiracy between Davis and New resulted in all of the transfers of TANF funds for non-TANF purposes,” the lawsuit reads.

About $4 million reportedly paid for a volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi, which Favre backed.

The mother and son also agreed to give Florida-based pharmaceutical company Prevacus Inc. $1.7 million in exchange for them doing clinicial trials of a concussion drug in the state. Favre reportedly held the largest stake in the company.

Favre was also paid $1.1 million to speak in 2017 and 2018, which reports show he never did. He said he gave the speeches, but he would have never taken the money if he knew it was not being used as intended. He reportedly paid back $500,000. White said Favre still owes $828,000, including $228,000 in interest.

“I have never received monies for obligations I didn’t meet,” Favre tweeted on May 6, 2020. “To reiterate Auditors White’s statement, I was unaware that the money being dispersed was paid for out of funds not intended for that purpose, and because of that I am refunding the full amount back to Mississippi.”

The state is seeking $3.2 million from Favre in the lawsuit.

The News also paid for drug rehabilitation in California for former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase.

DiBiase, his father and his brother Ted DiBiase are among the 38 defendants in the civil suit. Davis also reportedly set up DiBiase with an agency job he was not qualified for but was paid $48,000 for work he allegedly did not do.

The News pleaded guilty to state fraud and bribery charges last month. Zachary New also pled guilty to mail fraud and federal conspiracy charges. His mother pleaded guilty to a state racketeering charge and federal wire fraud. They are now witnesses for the state against their four co-defendants.

“We will not tolerate the powerful preying on the weak,” Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said following the guilty verdict.

Davis left the state agency in 2019 and misspent the money during his tenure. He was indicted on 20 additional felony charges in relation to the scheme. Favre has not been charged in the criminal case.

Adidas ads celebrating ‘breasts in all shapes and sizes’ banned in the UK

David Artavia
Thu, May 12, 2022, 8:35 AM·4 min read

An image featuring women’s bare breasts has been banned in the United Kingdom following several complaints alleging the images cause “widespread offense” and are inappropriate for children.

In February, Adidas launched a campaign on social media as well as billboards and posters, featuring women’s breasts of all shapes and skin tones — with the nipples blurred out.

The adidas Instagram that has been banned in the UK. (Photo: @adidaswomen/Instagram

adidas Women on Instagram: “Breasts of all shapes and sizes deserve support and comfort tailored to them. Which is why our new sports bra range contains 43 styles, so…”

The campaign, shared in the United States as well, was meant to promote and celebrate the company’s 43 styles of sports bras.

“Breasts of all shapes and sizes deserve support and comfort tailored to them,” Adidas shared in a statement, alongside a collage featuring 24 images of women’s breasts. “Which is why our new sports bra range contains 43 styles, so everyone can find the right sports bra for them. In sport, everybody should feel free and inspired by what their bodies can achieve.”

However, the pictures weren’t sitting well with a lot of viewers.

According to the BBC, the Advertising Standards Agency, the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media, received 24 complaints claiming the ads's use of nudity objectified women by sexualizing them and “reducing them to body parts.” There were also concerns about whether or not the images were appropriate to be displayed where children could see them.

Twitter had also reportedly received a number of complaints but was quick to clarify that the images were not in breach of its terms of service.

“Although we did not consider that the way the women were portrayed was sexually explicit or objectified them,” the ASA said this week, "we considered that the depiction of naked breasts was likely to be seen as explicit nudity. We noted the breasts were the main focus in the ads, and there was less emphasis on the bras themselves, which were only referred to in the accompanying text."

The statement continued: "The ads must not appear again in the forms complained of. We told Adidas UK Ltd to ensure their ads did not cause offense and were targeted responsibly."

Despite the number of complaints received by the ASA, there was still widespread support from Adidas customers, many of whom applauded the company's stance on body positivity.

"Thanks for keeping us abreast of body positivity, Adidas!" one user wrote in the comments section of the company's Twitter ad.

"This is the breast ever!" Playboy magazine wrote from its official account.

"Despite all the negative comments I love this," one reader added. "My boobies have changed so much over the years and it’s lovely to see a brand catering for changes and seeing all boobies are normal and natural and beautiful."

Following news that the UK would be banning the ad, Twitter was ablaze with an array of opinions on the matter:



Banning an AD for sports bras, because bare breasts might offend people, wtf is wrong with people 🤨🧐😠 https://t.co/kKC2azv9m2

— Kimberley 🌺 👨‍🚀 (@Kim20Squad4Life) May 12, 2022

Scientists finally know what triggered the biggest climate catastrophe in history

Joshua Hawkins
Thu, May 12, 2022


Scientists believe they have finally discovered the trigger for the world’s biggest climate catastrophe. The catastrophe in question took place around 252 million years ago. At the time, the world was going through a “tumultuous period of rapid global warming.”

Many previously believed that a volcanic eruption in Siberia was the cause. However, new evidence shows that the climate of the world was already changing. Researchers published a new study in the journal Nature, which confirms several super-eruptions in eastern Australia could have helped expedite the climate change all those millions of years ago.

Super eruptions may have caused the world’s biggest climate catastrophe

MASSIVE COLLECTIVE COW BURP (METHANE)

The researchers say that super-eruptions shook eastern Australia between 256 and 252 million years ago. These super-eruptions could have been a great primer for the massive climate change that the world was going through at the time.

During these eruptions, researchers believe the eruptions spewed massive amounts of gasses and ash into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions have always been a leading cause of rising global temperatures. The levels of gas that these eruptions would have unleashed would have easily played a part in the world’s biggest climate catastrophe.

The researchers say that the spread of the ash produced is consistent with some of the largest volcanic eruptions that we know of.

Evidence of catastrophic eruptions in Australia

Sediment layers near de road at Teide National Park

Additionally, the researchers say that evidence of the eruptions, and their source, can be found in the eroded remnants of volcanoes preserved in the New England region of New South Wales.

Further, as the researchers note, layers of light-colored volcanic ash can be found buried in the sedimentary rock. They found these layers across massive areas of New South Wales and even Queensland. Even more intriguing, though, is the scale of the super-eruptions. It makes sense that they would have been big, especially if they helped cause the world’s biggest climate catastrophe.

The authors of the study believe that the volcanoes spewed at least 150,000 km³ of material into northern New South Wales over the course of those four million years. For comparison, the deadly eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 was roughly 1 km³ of rock and material. Even the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD would have only been around 3-4 km³.

The researchers involved in the study also published a detailed article breaking down their findings on The Conversation. You can read through their thoughts about the research directly. In the article, they share even more information about how these super-eruptions played a role in causing the world’s biggest climate catastrophe to date.

WELL AT LEAST IT WASN'T APOPHIS

No sea serpents, mobsters but Tahoe trash divers strike gold

SCOTT SONNER
Thu, May 12, 2022

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — They found no trace of a mythical sea monster, no sign of mobsters in cement shoes or long-lost treasure chests.

But scuba divers who spent a year cleaning up the lakebed beneath Lake Tahoe’s entire 72-mile (115-kilometer) shoreline have come away with what they hope will prove much more valuable: tons and tons of trash.

In addition to removing 25,000 pounds (11,339 kilograms) of underwater litter since last May, divers and volunteers have been meticulously sorting and logging the types and GPS locations of the waste.

The dozens of dives that concluded this week were part of a first-of-its-kind effort to learn more about the source and potential harm caused by plastics and other pollutants in the storied alpine lake on the California-Nevada line.

It's also taken organizers on a journey through the history, folklore and development of the lake atop the Sierra Nevada that holds enough water to cover all of California 14 inches (36 centimeters) deep.

The Washoe Tribe fished the turquoise-blue Tahoe for centuries before westward expansion in the mid-1800s brought railroads, timber barons and eventually Gatsby-like decadence to what became a playground for the rich and famous.

Tahoe’s first casino was built in 1902 by Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, who owned a big chunk of east Los Angeles and built the prominent Santa Anita horse track in 1907. Massive lakefront estates followed for decades, including one used for the filming of “Godfather II."

Cleanup organizers say one of the things locals ask most is whether they’ve found any gangsters’ remains near the north shore. That’s where Frank Sinatra lost his gaming license for allegedly fraternizing with organized crime bosses at his Cal-Neva hotel-casino in the 1960s.

The recovered debris mostly has consisted of things like bottles, tires, fishing gear and sunglasses.

But Colin West, founder of the nonprofit environmental group that launched the project, Clean Up the Lake, said there have been some surprises.

Divers think they spotted shipwreck planks near Deadman Point, where tribal tales tell of a creature like the Loch Ness Monster — later dubbed “Tahoe Tessie″— living beneath Cave Rock.

They've also turned up a few “No Littering” signs, engine blocks, lamp posts, a diamond ring and “those funny, fake plastic owls that sit on boats to scare off birds,” West said.

“It’s shocking to see how much trash has accumulated under what appears to be such a pristine lake,” said Matt Levitt, founder and CEO of Tahoe Blue Vodka, which has contributed $100,000 to the cleanup.

His businesses is among many — including hotels, casinos and ski resorts — dependent on the 15 million-plus people who visit annually to soak up the view Mark Twain described in “Roughing It” in 1872 as the "fairest picture the whole earth affords.”

“It is our economic engine,” Levitt said.

And while most contributors and volunteers were motivated primarily to help beautify the lake, it’s what happens once the litter is piled ashore that excites scientists.

Shoreline cleanups have occurred across the nation for years, from Arizona to the Great Lakes, Pennsylvania and Florida. But that litter goes into recycle bins and garbage bags for disposal.

Each piece from 189 separate Tahoe dives to depths of 25 feet (8 meters) was charted by GPS and meticulously divided into categories including plastic, metal and cloth.

Plastics are key because international research increasingly shows some types can break down into smaller pieces known as microplastics.

Scientists are still studying the extent and human harm from the tiny bits. But the National Academy of Sciences said in December the U.S. — the world’s top plastics-waste producer — should reduce plastics production because so much winds up in oceans and waterways.

Zoe Harrold, a biochemist, led scientists at the Desert Research Institute in Reno that first documented microplastics in Tahoe in 2019. She was the lead author of Clean Up the Lake’s 2021 report on a 6-mile (10-kilometer) pilot project.

“If left in place, the ongoing degradation of submerged litter, particularly plastic and rubber, will continue to slowly release microplastics and leachates into Lake Tahoe’s azure waters,” Harrold wrote.

The cleanup comes a half-century after scientists started measuring Tahoe’s waning clarity as the basin began to experience explosive growth.

Most credit, or blame, completion of the interstate system for the 1960 Winter Olympics near Tahoe City. The first ever televised, it introduced the world to the lake surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

From 1960-80, Tahoe’s population grew from 10,000 to 50,000 — 90,000 in the summer, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Peak days now approach 300,000.

“The majority of what we’re pulling out is a result of basically just the human impact of recreating, living and building a community here in the Lake Tahoe region,” West said.

His group plans dives this year at other Sierra lakes, including June Lake east of Yosemite National Park, and will expand future Tahoe searches to deeper depths.

The non-profit Tahoe Fund, which also helped raise $100,000 for the cleanup effort, is commissioning artists to create a sculpture made from Tahoe's trash at an events center being built in Stateline, on the lake's south shore.

"Our hope is that it will inspire greater environmental stewardship and remind those who love Lake Tahoe that it's up to all of us to take care of it,” Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry said.

THE NEW INQUISITION

Texas high court says governor cannot order transgender child investigations




Fri, May 13, 2022
By Brad Brooks and Maria Caspani

LUBBOCK, Texas (Reuters) - The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that neither Governor Greg Abbott nor the state's attorney general had the authority to order child abuse investigations of families that provide certain medical treatment for their transgender children.

In its ruling, the top court said the state could not investigate the family of a 16-year-old transgender child at the center of the case while the family's lawsuit was pending before lower courts.

The court did not go so far as to order a blanket ban on all such investigations, saying a decision on carrying out inquiries was up to the Department for Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

"The Governor and the Attorney General were certainly well within their rights to state their legal and policy views on this topic, but DFPS was not compelled by law to follow them," the court wrote in its ruling https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1454197/220229.pdf

The DFPS said in an emailed statement it was reviewing the ruling and had no comment.

Texas is one of dozens of states where conservative politicians have sought to criminalize provision of medical treatments used to help young people transition away from the gender they were assigned at birth. Critics of such proposals have accused Republicans of seizing on gender identity as a wedge issue for political gain.

In its ruling, the Texas Supreme Court noted that DFPS officials, through press statements the agency made, appeared to think it was bound by the Republican governor or attorney general's opinions on the matter, but that "nothing before this Court supports the notion that DFPS is so bound."

After the decision did not result in a blanket ban, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the ruling was a victory.

He wrote on Twitter that he had "just secured a win for families against the gender ideology of doctors, big pharma, clinics trying to 'trans' confused, innocent children."

Neither Paxton nor Abbott responded to requests for further comment.

The ACLU of Texas and Lambda Legal -- both of which represent the family of a transgender teenager targeted for investigation -- applauded the ruling as "a win for our clients and the rule of law."

The child, identified in the ACLU and Lambda lawsuit only as "Mary Doe, a minor," has taken puberty-delaying medications and hormone therapy.

The lawsuit says no other state treats gender-affirming medical care as a form of child abuse. There is wide agreement among mainstream medical and mental health professionals that gender-affirming care saves lives by reducing the risk of depression and suicide.

The DFPS has said it has opened at least nine child welfare inquiries under Abbott's policy.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas, and Maria Caspani in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)

Texas court allows child abuse probes into families of transgender teens to continue

By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune

Jey Austen listens to the testimony of an anonymous transgender child during the Trans Kids Cry for HELP! rally on March 13 against Gov. Greg Abbott's directive to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care to their kids. Photo by Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune

May 13 (UPI) -- Texas' child welfare agency remains blocked from investigating the family of a transgender teen who sued the state in March, but can once again investigate other families who provide gender-affirming care after the Supreme Court of Texas struck down a statewide injunction Friday.

Though it overturned the injunction on procedural grounds, the high court raised questions about why the Department of Family and Protective Services opened these investigations in the first place. The court affirmed in Friday's ruling that neither Attorney General Ken Paxton nor Gov. Greg Abbott had any grounds to direct the agency's actions.

In February, Paxton issued a nonbinding legal opinion that equated certain medical treatments and procedures for transgender teens with child abuse. Abbott, citing that opinion, then sent a letter to DFPS directing the agency to investigate parents who provided gender-affirming care to their transgender children.

In a statement responding to the order, DFPS said it would "follow Texas law" as laid out in Paxton's opinion, "[i]n accordance with Governor Abbott's directive." The agency proceeded to open at least nine investigations into parents of transgender children.

RELATED Arizona school district bucks law on transgender student athletes

"The governor and the attorney general were certainly well within their rights to state their legal and policy views on this topic, but DFPS was not compelled by law to follow them," Friday's ruling reads. "DFPS's press statement, however, suggests that DFPS may have considered itself bound by either the governor's letter, the attorney general's opinion, or both. Again, nothing before this court supports the notion that DFPS is so bound."

The ruling does note the myriad "informal mechanisms" through which elected officials can influence a state agency, but "ultimately, however, one department or another has the final say."

In this case, the ruling said, DFPS was responsible for deciding whether these investigations aligned with current state regulations -- and will have to decide whether to continue these investigations and allow new ones to be opened.

RELATED Federal judge hears case against Alabama law banning youth transgender treatment

DFPS employees have told The Texas Tribune that agency leadership has acknowledged that these investigations do not meet the current requirements for child abuse and have said policy would need to be generated to match the governor's directives.

In March, a district judge granted an injunction blocking the state from continuing these investigations or opening new ones. Paxton appealed that decision to the Third Court of Appeals, which reinstated the statewide temporary injunction.

He then petitioned the Supreme Court of Texas to review that appeal. In Friday's ruling, the high court agreed with Paxton that the appeals court overstepped -- while the appeals court can reinstate an injunction if it "preserves the parties' rights," they cannot reinstate a temporary injunction of any nature.

RELATED Most transgender children who socially transition stick with gender identity

In this case, the justices ruled, the "parties" are the family that sued the state initially -- not all parents of all transgender children.

Ian Pittman, an Austin attorney representing two families of transgender children who are under investigation for child abuse, said the injunction had allowed his clients to "breathe a sigh of relief" while their investigations were paused. Although the investigations can resume, he's hopeful that DFPS will close out the cases.

"This ruling reaffirms that [DFPS Commissioner Jaime Masters] acted improperly when she acknowledged the directive and said they would follow it," he said. "She was abdicating her responsibilities as commissioner to a political stunt that has no legal authority."

If DFPS does not close out the cases, he expects other families may consider bringing suits to get any investigations against them similarly blocked.

In a statement, Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas called the ruling "a win for our clients and the rule of law."

"It would be unconscionable for DFPS to continue these lawless investigations while this lawsuit continues, and we will not stop fighting to protect the safety and lives of transgender youth here in Texas," the statement said.

Paxton also framed this ruling as a win, saying on Twitter that the Texas Supreme Court "green-lighted investigations that lower [Democratic] courts froze."

DFPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins said the agency is reviewing the ruling.

For LGBTQ mental health support, call the Trevor Project's 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 800-273-8255 or texting 741741.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. Read the original here. /.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org

Kendrick Lamar releases track about accepting his trans relatives


Prince Williams

Jo Yurcaba
Fri, May 13, 2022

The rapper Kendrick Lamar released what some fans are calling a "barrier-breaking song" about accepting his transgender relatives.

Lamar dropped his highly anticipated album "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" on Friday. In one track, "Auntie Diaries," Lamar raps in the first verses, "My auntie is a man now / I think I’m old enough to understand now," telling the story of his "auntie" who is a trans man, and his journey to accepting him.

He also raps about a cousin who is a trans woman, the homophobia and transphobia his relatives faced and his own growth.

Referring to a homophobic slur, Lamar raps, "We ain’t know no better / Elementary kids with no filter however," and then describes how he became proud of his relative: "My auntie became a man and I took pride in it." But he goes on to describe how when his relative picked him up from school, his friends "stare."

"They couldn’t comprehend what I grew accustomed," he raps.

He raps about how a pastor didn’t support his cousin’s transition, and how he challenged those beliefs. "I said 'Mr. Preacher man, should we love thy neighbor? / The laws of the land or the heart, what’s greater?'"

He later raps that standing up for his cousin brought his family together. "The day I chose humanity over religion / The family got closer, it was all forgiven."

Some fans on Twitter have praised the song and its message, with one person describing it as "a truly barrier-breaking son in hip-hop."

Another fan said the timing of Lamar's track — when dozens of states nationwide have considered more than 200 anti-LGBTQ bills, with most targeting transgender youth — is "powerful."

But some LGBTQ fans disagreed with how Lamar delivered the track. He misgenders and deadnames his "auntie" and cousin, meaning he uses the wrong pronouns and names for them. He also uses a homophobic slur repeatedly.

"You can show growth and development without using a slur and blatant misgendering," one person said. "[B]eing kendrick lamar does not excuse you from accountability."

Another person shared an image of some of the song's lyrics, in which Lamar deadnames Caitlyn Jenner, who came out as transgender in 2015. "In what universe is deadnaming and misgendering remotely acceptable?" they said.

Another listener wrote that the "context of the track is important," because the song shows Lamar's "past ignorance and then his later growth and realization of the harm of his old ideologies." But the fan added that there are "better ways" to convey that message.

Some fans noted that Lamar tells a story in the song that shows he doesn't agree with using homophobic slurs. He raps about a show he did in Gulf Shores, Alabama, in 2018, during which he invited a fan on stage to sing one of his songs. He stopped her after a few verses, because the woman, who was white, sang the N-word along with him. He told her, “You got to bleep one single word.” He ended up giving her a second shot at singing the song.

He raps in "Auntie Diaries" that his cousin challenged him about his use of homophobic slurs, and that he thought of the Alabama show. "You said, 'Kendrick, ain’t no room for contradiction / To truly understand love, switch position."

Adidas ad featuring a trans woman is playing on repeat during March Madness. It's making people angry.

Kerry Justich
April 1, 2022

Adidas airs female-focused campaign during men’s March Madness tournament.

 (Photo courtesy of Adidas)

Adidas is facing backlash and the threat of boycotts in response to its latest Impossible Is Nothing campaign honoring women in sports.

The sportswear brand debuted The I'mPossible film series on February 14, which features volleyball player Tifanny Abreu; basketball player Asma Elbadawi; model Ellie Goldstein; actor Hoyeon; runner Fatima Ibrahimi; skateboarder Momiji Nishiya and yoga teacher Jessamyn Stanley. The mission behind it, Adidas tells Yahoo Life, is to demonstrate "the belief that sport has the power to change lives, with the brand’s seasonal narrative supporting those who are breaking down barriers and driving gender equity, on and off the field of play."


While the campaign highlights the stories of women "who have made their impossible possible, with the aim of inspiring others to do the same," according to the brand, it is being aired on repeat throughout the men's NCAA basketball tournament.

"We aim to drive further visibility to this message during March Madness, inspiring the next generation of student-athletes to continue to push boundaries for a more equal and inclusive community of sport," Adidas says.

By pushing boundaries, however, it seems that the brand has caused some upset.

Critics have taken to the brand's social media pages to express disappointment in the message — most notably, the inclusion of transgender Brazilian athlete Abreu amid heated debates about trans athletes.

"Impossible for me to ever buy another adidas product," one person responded on Twitter. "I’m buying a different brand."

Another wrote, "Now I'm muting you. I suggest that all women do the same and also boycott your products."

Others called the brand "fake woke" and suggested that the 30 second commercial "destroyed the company."

Still, Adidas has found support from audiences happy to see LGBTQ representation, among the inclusion of other inspiring women.

It's a welcome surprise to see the Transgender Community being recognized by corporate America during a month other than June. Thank you.
— C (@czuck1983) February 22, 2022

"It's a welcome surprise to see the Transgender Community being recognized by corporate America during a month other than June. Thank you," one viewer wrote. Another said, "I'm buying a pair [of Adidas] right now!"

Adidas tells Yahoo Life that the ad campaign is just a part of "the brand’s commitment to creating a more equitable future in sport," as it recently unveiled its own Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) network founded in equity and inclusivity.

"With the ability to reach over 50,000 student-athletes across 23 sports and 109 schools, the new NIL program will give eligible student-athletes of all genders the opportunity, directly with adidas, to become paid affiliate brand ambassadors," a statement from the brand reads.

“At adidas, we are committed to creating change through sport and recognize the important role student-athletes play in shaping the future,” said Rupert Campbell, president of Adidas North America. “Our groundbreaking NIL program advances our commitments toward building inclusivity in sport and inspires athletes to realize a more equitable world. I can’t wait to see it come to life.”

Trans refuge bills: New York, 18 other states commit to protecting trans kids and families

Sammy Gibbons, 

New York State Team

Democrat and Chronicle
Fri, May 13, 2022

New York lawmakers counted New York among a number of states that introduced or announced legislation this week protecting access to care and rights for transgender constituents.

2021 marked a record-breaking year for anti-transgender legislation, according to the Human Rights Campaign. This year is even worse, according to New York State Assemblymember Harry Bronson. More bills prohibiting gender-affirming care, blocking trans girls from competing on women’s sports teams, among others, passed in several states already this year.

Bronson joined New York Sen. Brad Hoylman, in introducing New York's legislation, which is characterized as a "trans refuge" bill.

"As a society we must recognize the dignity and humanity inherent within others — especially our trans youth," Bronson said. "Our Trans Safe Haven legislation will send a strong message that LGBTQ+ rights will always be protected in the Empire State."

New York is one of three states that recently introduced a “trans refuge” bill, along with California and Minnesota. On May 3, several states passed more anti-trans laws, while 16 other states committed to bring forward similar legislation.

Tal Moskowitz, 8, below, a transgender child, holds a sign as his parents Faigy Gelbstein, left, and Naomi Moskowitz, upper right, of Long Island, hold separate signs during a rally in support of transgender youth at the Stonewall National Monument, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in New York.

New York’s bill prohibits separating parents or guardians from their child because they allowed their child to receive gender-affirming care. That care includes hormone replacement therapy or puberty blockers, as well as performing medical procedures. Gender-affirming surgeries are rarely performed on people under 18, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

In Alabama, as of Sunday, health providers could be charged with a felony for giving gender-affirming treatment to transgender people under 19. New York’s bill does the opposite: it would shield health providers caring for transgender patients from arrest.

The bill protects patients as well, largely through securing health information.

Consider a family traveling to New York to receive such care. New York’s bill, if passed, would block law enforcement agencies within the state from cooperating with other states’ investigations into legal gender-affirming care. It further protects health information by barring subpoenas seeking details in order to criminalize people or remove children as a result of gender-affirming care provided in New York.



New York government officials have stressed that their state is a safe haven for LGBTQ people. Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted out her commitment to “protect and champion our trans community.”

Hochul signed the START Act into law last year, which vacates convictions for victims of sex and labor trafficking. Hochul also voiced her desire for people imprisoned in New York to be housed in facilities that align with their gender identity, a protection measure many transgender groups have called for.

Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams launched a billboard campaign in Florida advertising the city’s acceptance of LGBTQ identities. Digitals sign boast phrases including “Come to the city where you can say whatever you want" — a direct call-out to a recently-passed Florida law critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.” It bars educators from teaching students in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Bronson, the assemblymember who introduced New York's bill, said the legislation is "essential" because of these families who may flee states that ban gender-affirming care.

"The science and data are clear — for trans youth, getting this physician-recommended care is not a choice, it's life-saving," Bronson said. "New York will be a safe haven for trans youth and their families and we'll continue the longstanding tradition for protecting the LGBTQ+ community in our state."

The U.S. coasts have long been areas where young LGBTQ people migrate to when they feel unsafe in other states, said Kate Barnhart, who directs New Alternatives for Homeless LGBT Youth in Manhattan.

A man waves a transgender pride flag as the Queer Liberation March passes below in New York, Sunday, June 30, 2019.

With legislation like trans refuge bills, whole families are thinking about relocating, she said. She already noticed a recent increase in young clients showing up at New Alternatives who "felt they just had to get out of where they were."

"There's a surge of young people arriving in the sanctuary states including New York and that means that the service providers, such as New Alternatives, are having to cope with an increase in clients without an increase in funding," Barnhart said.

NYC's outreach to LGBTQ+ Floridians: Mayor Eric Adams invites Floridians to New York, denounces 'Don't Say Gay' law in billboards

These trans refuge bills are expected to appear in more one-third of the nation, California Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said in a press release. A bill he introduced set the framework for the other bills.

He collaborated with the LGBTQ Victory Institute, Equality California and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California to bring together LGBTQ legislators in 19 states to “push back hard against the horrendous anti-trans legislation we’re seeing in Texas and elsewhere,” Wiener said in a press release.

New York's bill awaits discussion in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Hoylman chairs. He and Bronson have introduced several bills protecting LGBTQ rights and education in New York, including one that proposes establishing an LGBTQ awareness curriculum.

Sammy Gibbons is a culture reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region How We Live team. Email: sgibbons@gannett.com | Twitter: @sammykgibbons. For unlimited access to the most important news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: LGBTQ lawmakers' bill would make New York a transgender refuge state

These trans men are redefining masculinity through fitness education: 'Queer people just want to exist as they are'

David Artavia
Wed, May 11, 2022

Trans male influencers are filling a need in the fitness industry. (Photo: Getty Images)

As conversations about transgender rights — fueled by anti-trans legislation around gender-affirming care and inclusion in sports — reverberate across the country, a growing number of trans male influencers have aimed to create safer spaces in an industry not exactly known for transgender inclusion: fitness.

“A huge part of mental health is physical well-being,” Mar Keller, a trans fitness entrepreneur, tells Yahoo Life.

It's why influencers like Keller have been able to form communities, both online and in real life, for queer folks navigating their life and fitness goals. Shawn Stinson, the first ever trans male two-time bodybuilding champion and a personal trainer with nearly 18K followers, helms one such space. Ilya Parker, similarly, has built Decolonizing Fitness, a consulting firm striving to help trainers and gyms across the country unlearn "toxic fitness culture."

Meanwhile, some fitness companies are already there — including the Los Angeles-based Everybody Gym and the online training service Non-Gendered Fitness, which aim to offer welcoming spaces for trans clients, especially while they're in the process of transitioning.

Keller has built queer-focused online platforms like Q Grit Fitness, a personal training service he founded in 2019 catering to people of all sizes, abilities and identities, giving queer clients a newfound confidence in their bodies. It's something he believes has saved lives.

“A lot of queer people just want to exist as they are," he explains. "Their bodies are so scrutinized in everyday life, they don't really want to show up to a gym and feel like they're being scrutinized there, as well.”

While the personal training industry in the United States is currently estimated at $13 billion — representing a jump of $3.5 billion over the last 10 years, according to research from Ibis World — Keller say gyms and similar fitness spaces often neglect the needs of trans and nonbinary people.

“In the beginning of my transition, when I was trying to masculinize my body, I didn't really feel like I fit in anywhere going to the gym,” he tells Yahoo Life. “I was comparing myself to cis men and getting misgendered and not really knowing who to look up to. And I didn't really see a lot of healthy role models out there who were going through the same experience.”

Positive role models are vital for normalizing and celebrating trans bodies, says model-activist Aydian Dowling, a fitness professional who, in 2015, became the first trans man to be featured on the cover of Men’s Health.

Dowling began documenting his gender transition on YouTube in 2009 as a means to connect with other trans folks and to cultivate conversations about health and well-being — areas he says are widely misunderstood and under-researched when it comes to trans men.

“There is a large responsibility on trans men to speak up in spaces and times, to remind other men that, regardless of our sex at birth, we have an experience of being a man in the world,” Dowling tells Yahoo Life. “I have a voice to add to the table of masculinity I think could be really eye-opening for many men — and maybe offer a sense of kinship.”

That’s why Dowling co-founded Trace, an app for trans people undergoing gender transition surgery, helping them to track their progress and to create community support for their emotional, mental and physical health.

“It's hard to make choices that will benefit your body when you don't feel a connection to your body,” Dowling says of the need for fitness professionals to empower gender-diverse people.

“Isn't that what most people are at the gym for?" he continues. "They feel some type of disconnect and they're just trying to align [themselves]. Everyone has different goals: Some people are trying to get ripped and lean, and some people are just trying to move and feel good and get healthy. When we boil it down to those things, we're all there for the same reason.”

"Through storytelling, we become more human"

At least 20 million adults in the United States, according to the Human Rights Campaign’s most recent survey, could be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — representing nearly 8% of the total adult population. Of that number, more than 1% (or over 2 million) identify as transgender.

But despite more people identifying as LGBTQ than ever before, projects centering the trans male experience have been a slow burn — despite the trails blazed by celebs including Chaz Bono, Leo Sheng, Brian Michael Smith and Elliot Page.

T Cooper, executive producer and writer for NBC’s Blacklist, and whose documentary Man Made highlights the lives of trans male bodybuilders, says authentic storytelling not only saves lives but society as a whole, because it challenges toxic ideals around masculinity.

“It's very important to see our lives represented authentically on screen,” Cooper, himself transgender, tells Yahoo Life. Last season, for example, Cooper and his Blacklist team cast five transgender actors in non-trans-specific roles — a huge shift for trans visibility in Hollywood.

“When I was coming of age as a trans person, there were very few protected groups where you could sort of trade photos and information about top surgery or whatever,” he says, noting the importance of online communities like those created by Dowling and Keller. “Now, it's just such a different world. You might be in Texas, or wherever, but you can reach people all around the world who can offer possibilities for yourself.”

When one builds space for trans men to have rich conversations about physical and mental health, Dowling says, it has a trickle-down effect.

“Through storytelling, we become more human,” Dowling, father to a 4-year-old son, shares. “I've gone to the gym and have had people not enjoying my presence. Then I've had people who maybe just didn't quite know how to respond, but then we start a conversation — I would hear their story, they would hear my story — and it really humanizes us.”

Seeing trans people happy and thriving, Cooper notes, has a profound effect for parents of trans kids, as well. “The first reaction for many parents [of trans kids] is rejection,” he explains. “But when you see images of successful, healthy, thriving trans people, that tips them over to acceptance and support of their kids, when the opposite could literally be fatal.”

“When I would tour around with Man Made, cis straight dudes would come up and just be like, ‘Wow, I relate to that story’ or ‘I couldn't be further away from this experience, and yet I saw myself and my relationship to masculinity,’” adds Cooper, who is currently developing a docuseries based on the film. “Those are the kinds of things that help push people [toward acceptance].”

"There’s a lot of work to be done"

Looking ahead, Keller says it’s important for companies — particularly big chains like Equinox, 24 Hour Fitness and Planet Fitness — to be mindful of the needs of trans folks, especially now.

“When there's so many anti-trans bills saying, ‘Your existence isn't important’ or ‘Your body is wrong,’ there's a lot of parallels between that and the fitness industry,” he explains. “Feeling connected to your body is something I think a lot of queer and trans people don't necessarily have access to in a cis-heteronormative world.”

Dowling believes we’re reaching a precipice at which mainstream society — despite its attempts to dismiss trans people — will soon have no choice but to embrace equality.

“In the late ’70s and late ’80s going into the ’90s, there was this concept of, well, if we shun away gay people they will just go away, they'll disappear,” he explains. “I think that's what the trans community is experiencing now: if the outside world stops acknowledging us, then maybe we'll just disappear.”

But, he says, “As history has proven, that is not at all what happens. If anything, we grow in numbers, and kinda use that [backlash] as more of a reason to come out and to be more proud and to speak more assertively about our lives and who we are.”

SHH DON'T TELL THE GOP

Yep, trans men can get pregnant. Why Calvin Klein's ad depicting a trans family is causing a stir.

David Artavia
Fri, May 13, 2022

Trans families have always been here, but a controversial new Calvin Klein ad is serving as a reminder. (Credit: Instagram/Calvin Klein)

An ad from Calvin Klein on Mother's Day featuring a pregnant transgender man and his trans partner has sparked a wave of backlash on social media.

“Today, in support of women and mothers all over the world, we’re spotlighting the realities of new families," the company wrote in the caption of a Sunday Instagram post highlighting the campaign, which features three nontraditional families — including Brazilian reality stars Erika Fernandes and Roberto Bete.

“Erika Fernandes and Roberto Bete are expecting parents from Brazil. Roberto is due to give birth to his and Erika's son Noah any day now,” the caption continued alongside images that show Bete visibly pregnant, in Calvin Klein underwear, as his wife, wearing a CK sports bra and bottoms, clings to his arms at their bedside.

“We can reproduce biologically or from the heart…our place is to love and be loved,” the couple is quoted as saying in the ad.

Below, click through to see the ad as posted by Calvin Klein, in position No. 4:

The post has since gone viral, and while several users have praised the fashion brand for its inclusive messaging, a slew of transphobic comments quickly drowned them out. Many of them threatened to boycott the brand, attacking the ad as a “woke campaign.” One user even wrote, “Time to ditch you, Calvin Klein.”

Conservative talk show host Steven Crowder turned the ad into the butt of a joke, writing: "We have a huge baby formula shortage! The Left says men are the root of all problems, so it's only fair to blame pregnant men right? I wonder what Calvin Klein has to say about this. #calvinklein."

Calvin Klein has since released a statement defending its campaign, confirming that the company will always stand up against hate.

“We embrace this platform as an inclusive and respectful environment for individualism and self-expression,” the statement read. “At Calvin Klein, we tolerate everything except intolerance — any intolerant commentary will be removed, and any accounts issuing hateful statements may be blocked.”

While a number of online critics seem to find the idea of trans men having babies confusing, the truth is that trans and nonbinary people with uteruses can, and do, give birth.

Related video: Trans man gives birth to baby boy after surprise pregnancy

Yes, trans men can have babies

According to the Human Rights Campaign’s most recent survey, at least 20 millions adults in the United States could be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender — representing nearly 8% of the total adult population. Of that number, more than 1% (or over 2 million) identify as transgender. There is currently no data on how many transgender men give birth.

Dr. D Ojeda, senior national organizer at the National Center for Transgender Equality, which advocates to change policies and to increase acceptance of transgender people, says that trans men have an array of options when it comes to starting families, but due to their specific needs being vastly under-researched and underreported, that message often doesn't translate to society at large.

"We assume that because you're on testosterone, you can't get pregnant, when in reality there's a good chance you can," Ojeda, who uses they/them pronouns, tells Yahoo Life. (It should be noted that not all transgender men use testosterone, just as not all keep their uteruses.) Furthermore, due to the lack of education, they say trans men often gather false information about their own bodies and reproductive health.

"There are a lot of trans men, transmasculine, nonbinary people who actually pause their hormones so they can get pregnant," Ojeda explains, adding that this step is sometimes unnecessary and suggesting that trans men seeking pregnancy should always speak to their doctor before pausing their hormones.

Dr. Maddie Deutsch, associate professor of Clinical Family & Community Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and medical director for UCSF Transgender Care, elaborated on the topic further on UCSF's website in an overview about hormone therapy and the reproductive system.

"Testosterone may reduce your ability to become pregnant but it does not completely eliminate the risk of pregnancy," Deutsch wrote. "Transgender men can become pregnant while on testosterone, so if you remain sexually active with someone who is capable of producing sperm, you should always use a method of birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancy."

Adding to that point, Deutsch says that while on testosterone, a trans man's periods may change its normal cycle and that it may become difficult for ovaries to release eggs, depending on how long they have been on hormone therapy. In these cases, the piece points out, "you may need to consult with a fertility specialist and use special medications or techniques, such as in vitro fertilization, to become pregnant."

Of course, these treatments are not always covered by insurance, and can be expensive.
Why inclusivity matters

Ojeda, whose organization has placed pressure on health insurance companies to better cover the needs of trans folks through its latest campaign, Protect Trans Health, argues that when families like Fernandes and Bete are visible, it's an opportunity for trans people to know they're just as deserving to have a family as anyone else is.

"I applaud Calvin Klein for being that intentional because that language shift is so important," they say. "It could improve the way we view people, especially when it comes to access to health care and family planning."

Fernandes and Bete have since had their baby, documenting the birth and sharing the moment on their Instagrams.

"There's a lot of stigma that comes with being trans," Ojeda says in regards to family planning. "There's this assumption that we're anti-children or anti-family. I think that's part of the vitriol that has been perpetuated all the way from the attacks on gender affirming care … to abortion care."

Ojeda adds that the "urgency" for men in power to "control bodily autonomy," an idea that's been particularly present in recent days following the potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, doesn't just include women — but affects trans people and trans families as well.

"People see a family they've never met before, and never had an understanding of, and that makes them uncomfortable," they explain of the transphobia arising from the recent ad.

"What Calvin Klein is doing is amazing," they continue, explaining that a lot of trans people out there really do want to start a family but seldom feel empowered to do so — something they hope the ad can help change. "It's going to have a lot of positive impact, especially for health care and when it comes to reproductive services."