Ep. 280: LGBTQ+ News: Idaho Bathroom Bill DNA Tests, Pete Buttigieg & Pride Month

SHOW NOTES Story 1: Idaho DNA Bathroom Bill Idaho's House Bill 752, signed by Governor Brad Little, makes it a crime for transgender people to use public restrooms that match their gender identity, with first offenses punishable as a misdemeanor and repeat offenses as a felony. A federal court hearing on a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Lambda Legal on behalf of six transgender Idahoans revealed that the state's Solicitor General suggested DNA testing — potentially without consent — as an enforcement mechanism. The federal judge is considering whether to temporarily block the law before it takes effect July 1st. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Idaho Capital Sun, PinkNews, ACLU of Idaho. Story 2: Pete Buttigieg 2028 Out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled as the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's Liberty and Justice dinner on July 12th — a high-profile event that has historically served as a launching pad for presidential candidates. Buttigieg has declined to run for Senate or governor in Michigan, keeping his path to a 2028 presidential bid open. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Des Moines Register, The Advocate. Story 3: Cleveland Clinic DOJ Detransition Settlement The Cleveland Clinic reached a settlement with the Department of Justice, committing $2 million to detransition services and paying just over $300,000 to resolve billing allegations. The settlement makes Cleveland Clinic the second major health system to cut such a deal after Texas Children's Hospital. Trans advocates including TransOhio called it performative and said there is no increased clinical need for detransition services. Sources: Signal Cleveland/Buckeye Flame, LGBTQ Nation, The Hill. Story 4: Queer Businesses & Minneapolis ICE Raids Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation that ran through Minnesota from December 2025 through February 2026, cost the city of Minneapolis an estimated $700 million and resulted in three deaths, including two U.S. citizens. Queer-owned businesses and activists became central to resistance and mutual aid networks throughout the operation. Sources: LGBTQ Nation, Truthout, Sahan Journal. Story 5: Jake Lang Arrested Jake Lang, a Florida Republican U.S. Senate candidate and pardoned January 6th rioter, was arrested in Dallas on a $1 million bond for making terroristic threats. Lang allegedly stated that if the jury in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial did not return a guilty verdict, he "would take care of it himself." Sources: LGBTQ Nation, The New Republic. Story 6: Black Pride Colorado / Denver Black Pride Colorado's annual celebration runs through this weekend in Denver, featuring ballroom events, drag performances, house music, and a cookout with trans activist and TV personality T.S. Madison. Organizers say the celebration is more important than ever, with over 500 anti-queer bills currently active across the country. Sources: CBS Colorado. Hosted by Zach Randles-Friedmanhttps://www.listenupgirl.com/Follow me at https://www.instagram.com/therealzachre/Podcast music: https://dillonderosa.com/ Thank you Dillion!!!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.