by Joe Siegel and Fred Kuhr

The flurry of executive orders targeting the transgender community by the current White House administration has resulted in widespread coverage LGBTQ media. In fact, editors and publishers of LGBTQ media are making a point to highlight the trans community, believing the intense coverage of trans issues is warranted in this new political age

Collin Kelley, editor of Atlanta-based Georgia Voice, made this point clearly in an April 2025 editorial headlined, “Supporting the trans community is more vital now than ever.”

“As with all the bills and executive orders aimed at trans people, it’s legislation in search of a problem,” wrote Kelley. “Conservatives continue to use the trans community as a tool of fearmongering and distraction while carrying out drastic cuts in the CDC’s workforce, gambling with the lives of those living with HIV, and smack-talking about invading Greenland.”

OutSFL, based in Wilton Manors, Fla., recently announced a new op-ed series in order to “elevate trans voices.”

“At a time when transgender people face increasing hostility and marginalization, this series aims to foster education, empathy, and allyship through personal narratives and lived experiences,” the newspaper wrote in its announcement. 

The initiative is sponsored by The Our Fund Foundation, also based in South Florida.

“The Our Fund Foundation is proud to sponsor this op-ed series amplifying transgender voices at a time when understanding and empathy are more critical than ever,” said David Jobin, president and CEO of The Our Fund Foundation. “In the wake of a divisive election cycle that scapegoated transgender people for political gain, it’s vital that our LGBTQ community stands united. Our focus isn’t on manufactured controversies like high school sports, pronouns, or bathrooms — it’s on saving lives, fostering dignity, and building a more informed and compassionate South Florida. This series is about listening, learning, and refusing to let anyone in our community be left behind.”

Added Jobin, “The sad truth of the matter is that most people, including the LGBQ community, do not know or appreciate the daily reality of the transgender community and the issues and challenges they face. This understanding is vital to fully support the Trans community. Our Fund’s educational project working through a collaboration with OutSFL is designed to close that education gap. It deserves our support.”

This message of support is pervasive across the LGBTQ media industry.

Tammye Nash, managing editor of the Dallas Voice, told Press Pass Q, “Trans issues are certainly even more important than ever these days, since the Trump administration and right-wingers at all level — especially here in Texas in state government — are targeting the community so much.”

In Washington, D.C., Metro Weekly’s July 25, 2025, issue featured a cover story with the headline, “Trans Power.” Inside, an interview with Tyler Heck, executive director of the Christopher Street Project, focused on bringing “urgency and strategy to the fight for transgender rights.”

Added Ken Schneck, editor of the Buckeye Flame, based in suburban Cleveland, “The Buckeye Flame is committed to covering LGBTQ+ Ohio news as it is happening. This has indeed resulted in an increase in coverage of trans-related legislation because our Ohio lawmakers seem fixated on legislating trans Ohioans out of public life. We in no way separate out the letters for coverage, and truly hope other newsrooms are doing the same.”

Cynthia Laird, news editor of San Francisco-based Bay Area Reporter, noted that coverage of the trans community has certainly increased since Trump took office in January.

“In this second Trump term, the trans community has been under relentless attack, which warrants additional coverage as allies have stepped forward in the state legislature and at the city level and trans people themselves speak out,” said Laird. “San Francisco also has a dedicated Office of Transgender Initiatives and the Transgender Cultural District, which we have covered since they started several years ago.”

Laird said that one goal of the newspaper “is to make sure there is at least one trans voice quoted in each article. While it is not always possible, particularly with breaking news sometimes, we do make an effort to see that the community being affected by the federal changes is represented in our coverage. These can be trans attorneys, appointed officials, youth with parents’ permission if under 16, unless they are speaking at a public event, such as a news conference, and other community members.”

Dallas Voice’s Nash believes the assault on trans rights is only the beginning of the right-wing’s crusade against the LGBTQ community.

“Right now, transgender people have huge targets on their backs; the right-wing sees them as the most vulnerable part of the LGBTQ community, so they are being made a scapegoat,” Nash said. “Even in our own community, there are LGB people who refuse to accept that trans folk are part of this community. They think the right-wing will go after the trans people and will leave the rest of us alone — which is total BS. ‘First they came for the trans folk ….’ But they’ll be coming for all the other letters in LGBTQ soon.”

IN THE NEWS
Volume 27
Issue 6