Kate Nash releases pro-transgender song attacking TERFs like JK Rowling

Kate Nash has released a protest song titled GERM, which directly condemns transphobia and misogyny in the UK. She is clearly addressing the toxic hate of British “gender critical” TERFs (i.e. so-called “trans-exclusionary radical feminists” like JK Rowling.)

“Girl listen up, You’re not radical,” she sings. “Exclusionary, regressive, misogynist. Germ! Germ! Nah, you’re not at rad at all.”

The song responds to a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defines women by biological sex, excluding transgender women. Human Rights Watch has warned that this decision could endanger transgender individuals in the country.

In GERM, Nash challenges anti-trans narratives, including concerns about bathroom safety and women’s sports. She highlights statistics on violence against women committed by cisgender men and the rise in anti-trans hate crimes.

She sings: “I feel no threat from any trans person that might be in the toilets.”

Following the ruling, Nash joined other British artists in expressing solidarity with the trans community. She will premiere GERM live with The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Mighty Hoopla Festival in London on May 31st.

You can read more about it here.

You can watch the lyric video here.

The Transgender Saints of Medieval Christianity

During early medieval Europe, three saints—St. Eugenia, St. Euphrosyne, and St. Marinos—became widely known for defying gender norms. Each was born as a woman but chose to cut their hair and adopt male identities to enter monasteries.

Sarah Barringer has written an interesting article on Medieval Christian transgender men over at Counter Punch.

Among them we find Eugenia, originally a pagan, who sought Christianity and became an abbot.

Euphrosyne avoided an unwanted marriage by joining a monastery, where he lived the rest of his life.

Marinos, formerly Marina, renounced womanhood to live as a man with his father in a monastery.

Their stories circulated in popular medieval manuscripts. Eugenia’s tale appeared in Ælfric’s Lives of Saints and The Golden Legend, widely read texts in Old English and Latin. Euphrosyne’s story was preserved in Latin, Middle English, and Old French. Marinos’ life was recorded in at least ten languages.

For illiterate audiences, these manuscripts were read aloud in churches during saint’s day celebrations, ensuring their enduring legacy.

Joseph of Schönau, born female, joined a Cistercian monastery in Germany in the late 12th century. On his deathbed, he recounted his life story, including a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as a child and his arduous return to Europe after his father’s death. Upon reaching his birthplace of Cologne, Joseph entered monastic life as a man, viewing his survival as divine intervention.

In a 2021 collection of essays about transgender and queer saints in the medieval period, scholars Alicia Spencer-Hall and Blake Gutt argue that medieval Christianity saw transness as holy.

Read the article here.

US LGBTQ adults see more acceptance for lesbian, gay and bisexual people than for non-binary or transgender people

A new Pew Research Center report examines the experiences of LGBTQ Americans today, focusing on social acceptance, discrimination, and identity. It highlights that while most LGBTQ adults see growing acceptance for gay and lesbian individuals, fewer believe the same for transgender and nonbinary people.

The study, based on a survey of 3,959 LGBTQ adults, explores how the 2015 Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage influenced public attitudes.

Key findings include that majorities of LGBTQ adults expect acceptance to continue increasing, with religious and political representation seen as important factors.

However, discrimination remains a concern, particularly for transgender individuals, who report higher rates of mistreatment in healthcare and employment.

The report also discusses coming out experiences, the importance of LGBTQ identity, and connections within the community. Overall, it presents a nuanced view of progress and challenges faced by LGBTQ Americans today.

Note how visibility reduces the ability of bigots to dehumanize lesbian and gay people. More people know gay people than trans people. If you know someone who is L, G, B, T etc. it is harder to hate them.

You can read the full report here.

Most LGBTQ+ adults feel Americans don’t accept transgender people, Pew poll finds

Sir Ian McKellen will open Shakespeare play with trans and nonbinary cast

Sir Ian McKellen (known as Gandalf) will open a historic production of Twelfth Night, featuring an all-trans and non-binary cast.

The one-night-only rehearsed reading, staged by the theatre group Trans What You Will, will take place at The Space Theatre in London on July 25, 2025, and will be livestreamed globally. All profits will go to the UK-based trans charity Not A Phase.

The production reimagines Shakespeare’s gender-fluid classic through a trans lens, emphasizing themes of mistaken identity, cross-dressing, and shifting gender roles.

Director Phoebe Kemp describes the reading as an act of joy, solidarity, and protest, celebrating trans and non-binary artists at a time when trans representation is under threat.

‘Twelfth Night already toys with gender and performance—it feels like Shakespeare wrote it for us,’ they tell Metro.

The event is scheduled ahead of London Trans+ Pride.

Trans people in Thailand see great progress

Thailand has emerged as a leader in transgender rights, fostering a culture of compromise that has enabled significant progress.

Unlike the U.S., where trans rights face increasing restrictions, Thailand has taken steps to expand access to gender-affirming care. Earlier this year, the Thai government allocated nearly $4.8 million to provide free hormone therapy for thousands of transgender individuals, a move that faced little public opposition.

Over at NZZ Andreas Babst notes that while transgender rights have become a contentious issue in the West, the deeply conservative Thai government is making strides in areas such as transgender health care.

The country’s long-standing acceptance of gender diversity is rooted in its cultural recognition of the kathoey, a third gender category. While trans people still face legal barriers—such as the inability to change their gender on official documents—social acceptance has grown, particularly in Bangkok.

Trans individuals navigate daily life with relative ease, and businesses are increasingly hiring trans professionals beyond traditional industries like beauty and entertainment.

Activists like Natthineethiti Phinyapincha and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit have played key roles in advancing trans rights, advocating for workplace inclusion and legal reforms.

Thailand’s approach to LGBTQ+ rights is pragmatic, often framed in economic terms to appeal to policymakers.

With plans to host WorldPride, activists see an opportunity to push for further progress.

Read the article here: “In Thailand, a culture of compromise has boosted transgender rights”

Photo: Contestants on stage at the Miss Tiffany’s Universe pageant in Pattaya. Lauren Decicca / Getty.

Quilt installation in Washington DC celebrates transgender people

The Freedom to Be Monument, a 9,000-square-foot quilt installation on the National Mall, showcases messages of transgender pride and defiance.

Organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the project invited trans individuals and allies to create quilt panels expressing their vision of freedom.

The installation coincides with WorldPride, an international LGBTQ+ festival, and comes amid escalating anti-trans policies from the Trump administration, including bans on gender-affirming care and restrictions on trans military service.

Speakers at the event, including Peppermint, a drag performer and ACLU Artist Ambassador, emphasized the resilience and joy of trans communities.

The quilt draws inspiration from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was first displayed in 1987 to honor lives lost to HIV/AIDS. We hope the installation will serve as a powerful statement against political attacks on trans rights.

More here:

Art installation on National Mall shares trans voices of hope, defiance (archived here)

Massive quilt celebrating transgender Americans to be unveiled on the National Mall — in photos

Half of trans Americans have moved or consider moving to more trans-affirming locations

A recent study by the Williams Institute examines how anti-transgender policies and public opinion are influencing travel and relocation decisions among transgender individuals.

Based on a survey of 302 transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adults conducted in December 2024, the report highlights significant concerns about safety and discrimination following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Nearly half of respondents (48%) have either moved or are considering moving to more trans-affirming locations, citing hostile political climates and restrictive laws as primary reasons.

45% desire to move out of the US.

Additionally, 30% reported traveling less frequently due to concerns about anti-trans sentiment, while 70% expressed reluctance to visit states perceived as less supportive of transgender rights.

Economic barriers, including relocation costs, employment challenges, and housing insecurity, prevent many from moving despite their desire to do so.

The report underscores the mental and physical health impacts of these pressures, urging policymakers and communities to address the growing need for safe and inclusive spaces.

More here.

Full report here.

Photo: Getty

Liev Schreiber Talks About Trans Daughter Kai

Variety reports on actor Liev Schreiber opening up about his daughter Kai, who is transgender.

Schreiber shares that Kai never explicitly came out but was always true to herself, with the key moment being when she asked for a pronoun change:

“But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us to change her pronouns. To be honest with you, it didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long.”

He reflects on Kai’s growing presence in the trans community, particularly in fashion, having debuted for Valentino.

He talks about the political challenges facing trans people, including Trump’s ban on transgender service members, but remains hopeful. He advises parents of trans children to be patient, recognizing that raising teenagers—trans or not—can be challenging.

Nicola Coughlan defends trans women against British transphobes

Nicola Coughlan, star of Derry Girls and Bridgerton, has strongly criticized the UK Supreme Court ruling that legally defines women by biological sex.

She expressed frustration over people celebrating the removal of trans rights, stating that the only times she has felt threatened were by cisgender men, not trans women.

Speaking at Canneseries, Coughlan dismissed claims that trans women pose a danger in bathrooms, calling such fears baseless. She urged people to show true allyship beyond symbolic gestures like attending Pride events.

Coughlan has actively supported trans and non-binary communities, matching donations to the UK charity Not a Phase, which was at risk of shutting down due to lost corporate sponsorships. Her fundraising efforts helped raise £60,000 to keep the charity operational.

She also criticized the upcoming Harry Potter TV reboot, distancing herself from J.K. Rowling’s views on trans rights.

Sunday World has more.

How to sign Transgender in British Sign Language 🏳️‍⚧️

Adel (adelonova) shows you how to sign transgender in the British sign language over at Instagram.

Here’s a discussion of the sign for transgender in the American Sign Language: