Leading Off: Trump Adds Heaping Dose of Chaos, Contempt to Toxic Military Ban Stew
Bizarre maneuvers and social media taunts in Talbott v Trump. More countries issue travel warnings for U.S.-bound trans people. Protesters make noise in defiance of Hungary's Viktor Orbán — and we want to hear about your own noise. The top story lines as the week begins.
by Assigned Media
Smoke, mirrors and contempt for the courts are fueling the Trump administration’s campaign to ban trans people from the military. It will hit obstacles in federal court again this week in the case, Talbott v Trump, after the government engaged in a chaotic series of maneuvers on Friday and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, did a little extrajudicial grandstanding.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes had shot down Trump’s ban last week, calling it “soaked in animus” and unjustified in fact. Anticipating appeals, Reyes delayed her ruling from taking effect to allow the government to respond. Its bizarre reply on Friday, asking the judge to dissolve her own injunction without addressing her questions of fact, has made this the case to watch as hearings continue this week.
More international warnings: Denmark and Finland have both issued new advisories for U.S.-bound travelers that warn specifically of risks that trans and nonbinary people may encounter. “If the applicant’s current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry,” Finland’s page says. Denmark also cites an X designation as a potential flag.
Germany and the United Kingdom had also recently updated their advisories for U.S.-bound travel, noting more generally news reports of harsh treatment their citizens had faced when attempting to cross the border. Border restrictions already are deterring travel for international conferences, and World Pride, to be hosted in Washington, is just eight weeks away.
Protests bring change: Planning a protest? Assigned Media wants to publicize your event, wherever you are, no matter how small or large. Contact us with details at AssignedMediaProtests@gmail.com and we will help spread the word. We’ll be rolling out a regular feature to let people know what’s coming up and how they can take part.
Several thousand Hungarians took to the streets of Budapest this past week to protest the draconian ban on Pride, part of a campaign of repression by the far-right Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán. The LGBTQ+ community of Hungary has vowed not to let Orbán, an authoritarian and close ally of Vladimir Putin, take away the freedom of queer people in Hungary to assemble.
Protesting always matters, Riki Wilchins wrote eloquently last month in Assigned Media. She’ll have the last word this morning: “Maybe the biggest thing it changed was us: beginning to believe that perhaps trans people being visible could make a difference. You never know what a small act—like the recent protests at Stonewall Inn or outside NYU’s Langone Medical Center—will do. Or what the protests happening today across the country will accomplish.”
Assigned Media is your transgender news source.