Free Republic

The U.S. House Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee held a hearing where leaders from NPR and PBS defended their work, which is partially federally funded. DOGE Subcommittee Chair Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., argued that abundance of news offered by the internet has made federal support for radio and television obsolete. “I know this because I represent a rural district where farmers listen to podcasts and internet based news while they drive their tractors. At the same time, NPR and PBS have increasingly become radical, left-wing echo chambers for a narrow audience of mostly wealthy, white, urban liberals and progressives...

A beloved Arizona yoga teacher who vanished after he set out for a would-be romantic meetup with a blind date last month has been found dead. The body of Marcus Freiberger, 45, was discovered at a rock quarry in Phoenix, about 6 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, on March 19 — nearly one month after the scheduled date, AZ Family reported, citing the Phoenix Police Department. His sister, Tina Hall, broke the news of her brother’s death on Tuesday in a heart-wrenching Facebook post. “It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus...

CV NEWS FEED // Progressive theological shifts may be contributing to the steep declines in both membership and finances that mainline Protestant denominations in the United States continue to face, according to a recent report from the Associated Press (AP). While circumstances vary, the March 14 AP News report highlighted a shared pattern among several groups: internal divisions and declining participation often follow moves toward more progressive positions on doctrine and culture. The United Methodist Church, for example, lost a quarter of its U.S. congregations amid debates over the ordination and marriage of LGBT individuals. Its denominational workforce has shrunk...

"Homophobia is alive and well still."Nathan Lane has been an esteemed star of stage and screen for many years now. That should mean he would at least be in contention for any role he set his eyes on, but things haven’t always been that easy. As an out gay man, Lane has faced rampant homophobia throughout his career, leading him to believe that “Hollywood figured out nothing when it comes to me,” as he shared in a new interview with Vanity Fair. “I’ve been able to, I think, shift the perception a bit about me, but there’s always going to...

BOSTON (AP) — When Ash Lazarus Orr went to renew his passport in early January, the transgender organizer figured it would be relatively routine. But more than two months on, Orr is waiting to get a new passport with a name change and a sex designation reflecting who he is. The delay has prevented him from traveling overseas to receive gender-affirming care this month in Ireland since he refuses to get a passport that lists an “inaccurate sex designation.” Orr blames the delay on President Donald Trump, who on the day he took office issued an executive order banning the...

After a handful of underwhelming relationships and dozens of disappointing first dates, Andrea Vorlicek recently called off the search for a husband. The 29-year-old always thought she’d have found her life partner by now. Instead, she’s house hunting solo and considering having kids on her own. “I’m financially self-sufficient enough to do these things myself,” said Vorlicek, a Boston-based accountant. “I’m willing to accept being single versus settling for someone who isn’t the right fit.” She sees her plans for an independent future as making the best of a lousy situation. “I don’t want to sit here and say I’m...

Several European countries have updated their travel advisories for transgender travelers seeking to enter the U.S. amid President Donald Trump’s “two-sexes” executive order and the administration’s immigration crackdown. Finland, Denmark, the U.K. and Germany are all urging cautionary planning for transgender people when traveling to the U.S. “When applying for an ESTA or visa to the United States, there are two gender designations to choose from: male or female,” the Danish travel advisory said on its website. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is the system that screens passengers before they travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver...

An Evangelical mission doctor has warned that millions of lives are at stake surrounding the potential dismantling of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as country music artists led by Amy Grant have called for the program's reauthorization. PEPFAR, launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush, is the largest global health initiative focused on a single disease, HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR has sent over $100 billion to more than 50 countries in the last two decades, providing antiretroviral therapy (ARVs) life-saving treatment and infrastructure support to regions most affected by the epidemic, particularly in Africa. However, recent aid...

A member of Oregon's Health Authority (OHA) on best practices and policies in mental health said they identify as a 'turtle' during a state panel meeting. JD Holt, who also goes by 'JD Terrapin' on Facebook, announced that they use 'they, them and turtle' for their preferred pronouns during a December meeting. 'Hello everybody, it's JD. I use they, them and turtle for my pronouns. I'm in the Springfield-Eugene area and I get to be part of the council,' Holt said during a virtual advisory council meeting. Holt is one of roughly two dozen 'consumers' on the OHA's Consumer Advisory...

--SNIP-- But there is a new class of violent trans activism, and it is waaaayyyyy out of control. Mass murders, sexual assaults, vandalism, and threats of or actual use of violence have become quite common, and are far outside the normal parameters of violent behavior in other population cohorts. These people don't just want to live their life with dignity; they want to hurt people.

A “non-binary” passenger has filed a lawsuit against European budget airline Ryanair for not offering gender-neutral title options when people book flights. The passenger, whose name and real gender have not been publicly released, was booking a flight from Gran Canaria to Germany in October 2021 when they noticed the only title options were “Herr” (Mr.), “Frau” (Mrs.), or “Fräulein” (Ms.). Nearly two years later, in July 2023, the passenger decided to sue the airline for “discrimination” and violating Germany’s General Equal Treatment Act. Germany is one of 18 countries that legally recognizes “nonbinary” as a gender identity, which forms...

President Trump on Saturday demanded a “full-throated” apology from Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) before his administration can settle its dispute with the state for defying his executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The University of Maine System (UMS) backed down earlier this week and promised to follow the executive order on transgender competition, but Trump suggested the dispute over federal funding won’t be resolved until Mills’ mea culpa. “While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor’s strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women’s sports while at the White House House...

Ben Gerrard had just sat down for Sunday lunch when he got a text from his friend Kurt that began to unravel a bizarre small-town crime spree. 'My pride flag got stolen last night, did yours?' Gerrard was out of town, so he checked his doorbell camera to see if the LGBTQ flag was still flying from the porch of his house in Chestertown, Maryland. His was gone too. Mystified, he wound his Ring doorbell footage back until 12.41am and caught the heist in action. The footage showed two teenagers run up the steps, unhook the flag, and sprint back...

The hate and intolerance inspired by Donald Trump’s second presidency found their way into Sacramento’s gay community last week and the result was a sad reflection of the divisions plaguing our country. Emotions were triggered by a red MAGA hat that is a symbol of Trump’s rise to power on the promise to “Make America Great Again.” For many gay people, the hat is a reminder of the intolerance members of the LGBTQ+ community have felt since Trump’s far-right movement took off nine years

Two years ago, Christian teacher Glawdys Leger told students during a religious studies lesson at Bishop Justus Church of England School that being LBTQ was sinful and that transgender people were “confused.” One would think such talk would not be out of place for a school that frequently and explicitly touts its Christian beliefs as making up its vision, ethos, and values. However, Leger was deemed guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by a professional conduct panel (PCP) and later terminated from her employment. She filed a lawsuit against the school for wrongful dismissal, hoping to overturn her firing, but the...

Some European countries, as well as Canada, are warning their citizens who travel to the United States to strictly follow the country's entry rules or risk detention as the Trump administration cracks down on immigration enforcement. Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland and Canada have revised their guidelines at a time when some travelers from these countries have been detained by immigration officials. Here is what to know about the advisories. Why are these countries issuing warnings? The heightened advisories come after citizens from European countries have been detained and deported by immigration officials while traveling to the United States....

To some longtime Bay Area residents, El Cerrito is just another bedroom community — the type of suburb with little to distinguish it beyond two BART stations, a large stock of midcentury modern homes and a relatively low crime rate. But in a metro area with one of the nation’s highest percentages of LGBTQ adults, few towns are more queer-friendly than this idyllic burg of about 25,000 just north of Berkeley. At a time when President Donald Trump is waging a culture war on LGBTQ rights, especially those of transgender people, El Cerrito has become a trailblazer in local queer...

An LGBTQ club in Sacramento, California, is banning all “MAGA-related attire” after a patron wore a “Make America Great Again” hat to the popular venue. The phrase and its acronym — especially when emblazoned on red baseball caps — have been popular among Donald Trump’s supporters since the president’s first term. Badlands owner TJ Bruce announced the new policy on the club’s Instagram page this week, saying the hat “led to discomfort among some patrons.” “We initially decided to ban all political attire to avoid further issues. However, after careful consideration, we’ve realized that a blanket ban is not the...

Tavish Forsyth, previously an associate artistic lead at the Washington National Opera’s Opera Institute, has been fired after releasing a nude video protesting changes being made at the Kennedy Center by President Trump and his point man Amb. Ric Grenell. In the YouTube video, Forsyth—who Kennedy Center sources tell The National Pulse was part of an education division which regularly engaged with students—performed a 35-minute spoken-word poem while nude. He was fired on Thursday afternoon.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Republican lawmakers have passed a measure to protect conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youths as part of a bill that also would outlaw the use of Medicaid funds to pay for gender-affirming health care for transgender Kentucky residents. The House vote occurred late Friday, less than an hour before the midnight deadline for the GOP-supermajority legislature to pass bills and retain its ability to override gubernatorial vetoes. The bill passed after the Senate version that prohibited the use of Medicaid was accepted by the House.