Some old news and new news: Just over a month ago I was laid off from my job as a reporter for NBC Out, the LGBTQ+ section of NBC News Digital, along with all of the reporters and editors of NBC News' diversity verticals (NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, and NBC Latino). 1/

Teen Vogue was among my first big bylines. What I loved about it was that once I showed them I could report, editors from other sections of the website reached out with assignments. It was the first place that treated me like a strong reporter and not just a reporter for trans/queer stories.

I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day. certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.

What does our health care system look like? What does our social safety net look like? It looks like Marcus. At 61, he spends most nights riding the Chicago Red Line or looking for a park bench or bus stop, trying to find sleep. He recently finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

This past weekend, I went to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, which celebrated 50 years of gay rodeo. I grew up doing rodeo as a teen and felt like I'd never be able to go back because I came out as trans. This story felt like a homecoming. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

This past weekend, I went to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in Reno, which celebrated 50 years of gay rodeo. I grew up doing rodeo as a teen and felt like I'd never be able to go back because I came out as trans. This story felt like a homecoming. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

This week I spoke to kids and parents at DOD-operated schools about how the shutdown has canceled their sports games and homecoming dances. Seniors who are trying to get recruited to play sports in college are among those most affected. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

In 2017, a Republican speaker blocked Texas' bathroom bill over fears that the billl would face a north carolina-style backlash Almost a decade later, the bill sailed through with no opposition from Republicans and no real pushback from business leaders.

Texas to become the 20th state with a law restricting what bathrooms transgender people can use For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

Welp: Texas A&M President Mark Welch just stepped down after pressure from Republicans over a video of a professor who taught about transgender people in a children's literature class

If you are a parent of a kid you think might #ActuallyAutistic and don't want to get them screened because of RFK Jr., I'd love to talk with you for a piece. DM me or [email protected]. My Signal is emgarcia.85

NEW in @chron.com: Hundreds of LGBTQ+ books were found sitting in a surplus warehouse at Texas A&M University, and the university won't say why. As first reported by @joyurcaba.bsky.social, the books include a memoir by Matthew Shepard's mother and academic texts. www.chron.com/culture/arti...

These were the engravings on the bullet casings of Kirk's suspected killer: "Notices bulges OWO what's this?" (reference to a meme) "Hey fascist! Catch!" w/ arrow symbols Another had the lyrics of Italian folks song "Bella Ciao" "If you read this you are gay lmao" www.nbcnews.com/video/inscri...

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...

NYT on the alleged messages on the shooter's weapon:

This. A reputable news organization would not print this without providing additional detail. Again, we have a case of a major news organization abandoning basic journalistic standards when the reporting is about trans people.

NEW: A lawyer for former Texas A&M Professor Melissa McCoul, who was fired over a lesson related to gender identity, said her client "has appealed her termination and is exploring further legal action." For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

NEWS: The full Eleventh Circuit, in an 8-5 vote, held that an insurance policy excluding transgender gender-affirming surgical care does not facially violate Title VII b/c — following SCOTUS's Skrmetti reasoning — "it does not treat anyone differently based on a protected characteristic."

New York's LGBTQ film festival to provide free virtual screenings to Arizonans The Arizona Queer Film Access Initiative will allow Arizonans to access free LGBTQ films after a long-running Phoenix festival was canceled last month. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

Florida paints Pulse crosswalk black again after protesters colored it rainbow For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

NEW: More than 20 hospitals and health systems have temporarily or indefinitely rolled back trans care for minors and some young adults this year amid threats of federal investigations and cuts to government funding, an NBC News analysis found. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

UPDATE: A spokesperson for the NPS told me that the agency and the DOJ are pursuing administrative action against several Yosemite employees and possible criminal charges against several park visitors over displays on El Capitan since 2024.

NEW: I spoke to SJ Joslin, a park ranger and wildlife biologist who was fired by Yosemite National Park last week for helping to raise a transgender pride flag on the park's iconic El Capitan rock face. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

NEW: Anti-vaccine myths surged on social media ahead of last week's CDC shooting, as platforms such as X and Facebook have become much more permissive of vaccine-related false claims. www.nbcnews.com/tech/interne...

First NLGJA 2025 roll call: Who's going? I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water these days, and I'm so excited to see everyone. Message me if you'll be there! @nlgjaofficial.bsky.social

Minnesota teen says server forced her to prove her gender in restaurant bathroom The 18-year-old high school student alleged the server would not let her exit the Buffalo Wild Wings restroom until she unzipped her hoodie and showed she had breasts. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

‘I’ve been spat on’: gender non-conforming women tell of toilet abuse in aftermath of supreme court ruling

NEW: I spoke with Alyx, one of about a dozen trans service members in the Air Force who had their previously approved early retirements revoked this week. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

I hope everyone sees this story. Master Sergeant Logan Ireland, 15 years in, had an approved early retirement date for December & already began out-processing, even though he had rather remained in the military. Now, the Trump administration took even that back. www.advocate.com/news/air-for...

NYC opens first-in-the-nation homeless shelter for transgender people Ace’s Place will offer 150 beds and services including counseling, financial literacy workshops and a work-study program in the culinary arts. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

This is a really helpful analysis of what happens when the media doesn't verify basic facts like whether the person at the center of a supposed controversy is actually trans.

NEW: 16 states sue the Trump administration to block investigations into transgender care providers For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

Our Equality Map for Bathroom Bans and extensive insights from our Director of Policy Research are featured in a new piece by @joyurcaba.bsky.social at @nbcnews.com. ⬇️ See below to keep reading. 🔗 View our map here: bit.ly/3LOIUSw

More than 1 in 4 trans people live in states with bathroom bans, according to @mapresearch.bsky.social. Nearly 10 years after North Carolina’s HB 2 caused nationwide boycotts, 19 states have enacted similar restrictions. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

More children's hospitals are rolling back or shuttering their gender-affirming care programs for minors. If your family has been affected by these closures, I'd love to speak with you (including off the record initially if you'd prefer). DM or Signal joyurcaba.91 ctmirror.org/2025/07/23/c...

NEW: Artist Amy Sherald canceled her upcoming Smithsonian show amid discussions of removing a painting that shows a transgender woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty. With Tim Stelloh and Fiona Glisson for @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

Honored to win an NLGJA award for Excellence in Food Writing for this piece on queer food, alongside editor Isabela Espadas Barros Leal, who came up with the idea. It was a rare case where I got to write about joy, and it's peppered with fascinating queer history. www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

NEW: Florida's AG is investigating Vero Beach Vice Mayor Linda Moore for a drag event she held at her bar last month. However, the state's drag law is still blocked in court. The AG didn't specify what law she allegedly violated. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

Domestic violence and sexual assault organizations sue Trump administration over funding restrictions For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

988's LGBTQ youth service is officially down. From me and @brookesopelsa.bsky.social for @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...

Trans folks: This article answers all the key questions regarding when/how to get accurate passports under the temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration's passport policy. Thanks to @oriion.bsky.social for this reporting. 19thnews.org/2025/07/tran...

I have a new story out! It's about a woman transitioning and finding hope in ... Houston, Texas. I hope y'all will read it! www.washingtonpost.com/nation/inter...

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.

NEW: I spoke to Daniel Hamrick, the musician who played a song about a trans boy at the "Hetero Awesome Fest" last weekend. “I believe that anyone who’s out has a responsibility to be gay and loud for the people who have to be gay and quiet." For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

San Francisco bookstore stops selling J.K. Rowling titles due to 'Harry Potter' author's anti-trans views In a post on its Instagram account, the Booksmith team said Rowling’s new "women's fund" was the last straw. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

I'm looking to speak with trans folks who live in one of the 19 states that bans/restricts what bathrooms they can use in K-12 schools and government-owned spaces. DM or email [email protected] www.lgbtmap.org/equality-map...

I’ve seen lots of posts saying Canada has made a new LGBTQ suicide prevention line to help as the Trump admin cut contracts with LGBTQ counselors who provide 988 services to youth. That isn’t true. Those posts are sharing the @translifeline.org number. More: translifeline.org/clarifying-m...

Earlier this month, the Defense Department told transgender service members to choose whether they would voluntarily or involuntarily separate from the military. Four trans service members, now in the process of separating, said their decisions don't feel voluntary at all. nbcnews.to/3HOZKmc

NEW: I spoke to a trans teen, parent and a doctor who has been treating trans youth for more than a decade about the Supreme Court's ruling upholding Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-...

A 7-year-old's parents were arrested after he was killed by a car. Now they're speaking out from jail. A must-read by my colleague Curtis Bunn. For @nbcnews.com: www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/...