Groundbreaking Victory for Privacy: Wisconsin Judge Seals Transgender Teen’s Name Change Records Amid New Legislation Push

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s public requirement for transgender people to publish their name changes in local newspapers has sparked significant concerns among the transgender community and their advocates. This process, they argue, inadvertently creates a risk by exposing them to potential discrimination and violence. The issue has been further complicated by a 2023 state appeals court ruling that required proof of potential physical harm, not just psychological, to grant a confidential name change. In 2022, a teenage boy in Madison made headlines when his family sought to officially change his name to reflect his male … Read more

Federal Judge Denies Fathers’ Request to Wear “XX” Wristbands at School Sports Events Amid Transgender Athlete Dispute

CONCORD, N.H. — In a recent court ruling, two fathers from Bow, New Hampshire, waging a legal battle against their local school district over transgender athletes’ participation in high school sports, were prohibited from wearing pink “XX” wristbands at athletic events. The wristbands represent female chromosomes, symbolizing the fathers’ stance that sports should be reserved for those biologically assigned female at birth. The men, Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote, brought their case to the federal court after being banned from school premises for sporting the wristbands during a September soccer game, which featured a transgender … Read more

Jury Selection Begins in Trial for 2022 Murder of Transgender Woman in Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the trial of a man charged with the murder of Fern Feather, a 29-year-old transgender woman, in Morrisville nearly three years ago. Seth Brunell, 46, is accused of fatally stabbing Feather in April 2022, a crime that has captured local attention due to its violent nature and the circumstances surrounding it. According to investigators, Feather had offered Brunell a ride after noticing him walking barefoot, having just been released from a mental health ward. Days after the kind gesture, police allege that Brunell attacked … Read more

Lansing Moves to Repeal Outdated Restroom Law, Boosting Transgender Rights Amid Wider Civil Support

Lansing, Michigan — During a recent public hearing in Lansing, a strong showing of support emerged for the repeal of a controversial restroom ordinance enacted in 1986, which criminalizes individuals for using restrooms that do not match their sex at birth. This law has been criticized for its negative impact on the transgender community. At the hearing held Monday, eight individuals voiced their support for the proposed repeal, alongside one virtual backer and a dozen written endorsements. According to Council member Brian T. Jackson, despite its current non-enforcement, the outdated ordinance still poses a symbolic … Read more