Gabrielle Union Fights Tennessee Gov. Over ‘Fascist’ Ban on Gender-Affirming Health Care for Minors: ‘You’re In for a Rude Awakening’

WYPR.There are currently estimated to be around 24,000 transgender individuals in Maryland, nearly one-quarter of whom are enrolled in Medicaid.In 2022, about 100 people received gender-affirming care through Medicaid. The proposed bill is expected to increase that number by about 25 people per year.Maryland health officials say that if each of the estimated 125 people were to utilize every single new gender-affirming treatment under the bill — which is not possible, as some of those procedures or treatments contradict each other, it would increase Medicaid spending by $7.6 million, or 0.6% of the $11.7 billion Maryland spent on Medicaid expenditures in 2019.Opponents of the bill argue that the services that transgender patients can have covered by Medicaid are not provided for other Medicaid recipients.Additionally, cisgender Medicaid recipients aren’t eligible for coverage for services like dentures, home birth services, or treatment for eating disorders, reports Baltimore FOX affiliate WBFF.“It seems discriminatory to utilize Medicaid money for cosmetic surgeries and fertility services that aren’t offered to other people on Medicaid,” Del.

Maren Morris isn’t backing down.

rule, which prohibits minors from receiving hormone therapies, puberty-blocking drugs, or gender confirmation surgery, was adopted on March 16, based on guidance from the Florida Department of Health.The Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to adopt an identical rule later this month, and the state has already barred Medicaid from covering gender-affirming treatments for transgender adults wishing to transition.That guidance discourages transgender minors from transitioning — not only medically, but socially, warning medical practitioners that minors with gender dysphoria should not be allowed to present or dress in a manner that does not match their assigned sex at birth.But those restrictions are now leading some parents of transgender or nonbinary minors to consider fleeing Florida in order to ensure their children can present themselves as the gender with which they identify.One of those parents, Heather St. Amand, a Tampa Bay area resident whose lived in the state for nearly her entire life, says the state’s recent decisions targeting those who receive gender-affirming care is motivating her to leave the state, reports Tampa Bay area CBS affiliate WTSP.“For my daughter, if she hadn’t received gender-affirming care when she did, I don’t know that she would still be here,” St.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic “Love Rising” is looking to combat the deeply risible. Nashville-based musicians are coming together in a big way — a Bridgestone Arena-sized way — tonight for the show of that name, a benefit concert to raise awareness and funds for the LGBTQ community and its allies in the face of Tennessee legislation that is seen as targeting the rights of gay and trans people generally and drag performers specifically. The generously star-packed show is also being livestreamed internationally via the Veeps platform, with $14.99 tickets available here for a show that begins at 7:30 Nashville time, aka 8:30 ET/5:30 PT. The wide-ranging bill of rock, country, pop, indie and Americana performers includes Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Sheryl Crow, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Yola, Brittany Howard, Hozier, Adeem the Artist, Julien Baker, Joy Oladokun, Jake Wesley Rogers and Mya Byrne, along with co-organizer Allison Russell. Late additions to the show since it was first announced include a greater contingent of non-binary and, yes, drag artists from Tennessee on top of the nationally known names.

Zaya Wade is sharing what she's learned about beauty and self-love from her stepmom, Gabrielle Union. In a new interview with  magazine -- which marks the model's first-ever cover story -- Wade touched on the valuable lessons Union's taught her.«The lesson has changed over time, but more recently it’s that beauty is in yourself. It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to,» Wade shared. «She tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything.

Her biggest fans! Dwyane Wade‘s daughter Zaya Wade opened up about her “giant support system” and proud family while making her magazine cover debut.

at the Miu Miu show at Paris Fashion Week, the teenage daughter of former NBA player is the cover star for the Spring 2023 issue of . In her first-ever cover story, the 15-year-old talked about the best beauty and self-love advice she's received from her stepmom, actor “The lesson has changed over time, but more recently it’s that beauty is in yourself," she told Dazed. “It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to.

During the second set of their performance Monday night at The Basement East in Nashville, Yo La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan and James McNew donned drag outfits, The Tennessean reports. Though they didn’t openly mention the meaning behind their wardrobe change, it came amid nationwide public outcry over a new law signed into action by Tennessee governor Bill Lee earlier this month.

Gabrielle Union and husband Dwyane Wade just offered a masterclass in how to pose for photos!

The show must go on! Olivia Wilde, Jennifer Coolidge and Gabrielle Union were among the many stars who kept the party going at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party following the 95th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 12.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Transgender “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Gottmik is speaking out against the spread of legislation being pushed throughout the U.S. that bans drag queen performances as well as health care for trans people. “I actually can’t believe that we are turning back time like this,” she told me at Versace’s pre-Oscars fashion show on Thursday in West Hollywood. “But the queer community isn’t going anywhere. So no matter what you’re gonna try, we are here. And we’re going to be loud and proud. I think this is just a wake up call for all of us to be louder and prouder than we ever have been before.” Gottmik says she’s hopeful the queer community will prevail but that doesn’t mean she’s not worried. “The last round of bills has scared me a little bit and affected my mental health a little bit, to be honest,” she said. “But I just had to pick myself up and realize that we aren’t going anywhere. I’m so proud. Even in the car on the way to the Versace show today I was thinking about how cool it is that I’m a trans man able to dress in drag and go to the Versace show in Los Angeles. It’s just unbelievable.”

RuPaul says drag queens are “the Marines” of the queer movement (Photo: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)

Shannen Doherty has some questions for SAG-AFTRA president and "The Nanny" star Fran Drescher about their union’s health care plan. The "Charmed" star put her concerns on Instagram in a post accompanying a photo of her with an IV in her arm. In the caption she wrote, "@officialfrandrescher im curious for people like me who have worked since they were 10 and paid dues to @sagaftra how when we aren’t able to work for health reasons why our union abandons us.

Actress Shannen Doherty is in the middle of her cancer treatment, which she claims has been made more difficult without proper health insurance coverage.

The B-52s have shared a statement denouncing the “numerous bills that promote transphobia and discrimination” against transgender people and drag artists in the US.Last week, it was revealed that Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, had signed a law banning drag performances in front of children, passed alongside separate legislation to restrict gender affirming-healthcare for transgender youth.The statute is the first of its kind to be enacted in the US, with politicians in numerous other Republic-run states reportedly pushing for similar laws.The B-52s are the latest band to speak out against the legislation, sharing on Twitter: “Dear fellow citizens, We, The B-52’s, are deeply concerned about the numerous new bills that promote transphobia and discrimination against transgender individuals and drag artists, which have been introduced in the United States.“We strongly denounce these bills and stand in solidarity with out LGBTQ+ community.”Dear fellow citizens,We, The B-52’s, are deeply concerned about the numerous new bills that promote transphobia and discrimination against transgender individuals and drag artists, which have been introduced in the United States.

Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and Brittany Howard are set to perform at an LGBTQ+ benefit concert in Tennessee.The show entitled Love Rising, which has been organised by Isbell and Alison Russell, will take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on March 20.Other acts on the bill include Hozier, Brothers Osborne, Amanda Shires, Julien Baker, Joy Oladokun, Yola, Jake Wesley Rogers, and Mya Byrne.Tickets for the show are on sale now and can be purchased here. You can view the full line-up below.The concert was set up in the wake of Tennessee passing Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 9, two pieces of legislation that ban drag performances from taking place on public property, as well as in any location where minors can be present.“As a queer, intersectional artist and mother, raising my child in Nashville, it’s important to me to support these wonderful Tennessee LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisations, working so hard to build bridges, reduce harm and promote equality for all Tennesseans,” Russell said in a statement via Consequence.“LGBTQIA+ contributions and creativity are foundational to every genre of modern song and arts performance.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor RuPaul, the face of the “Drag Race” franchise, has responded to the recent wave of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers in the U.S. In an Instagram video on Wednesday, the Emmy winner called the bills “a classic distraction technique” and urged Americans to register to vote. “Hey, look over there! A classic distraction technique, distracting us away from the real issues that they were voted into office to focus on: jobs, healthcare, keeping our children safe from harm at their own school,” RuPaul said. “But we know that bullies are incompetent at solving real issues. They look for easy targets so they can give the impression of being effective. They think our love, our light, our laughter and our joy are signs of weakness. But they’re wrong because that is our strength.”

Paramore's Hayley Williams, plus Julien Baker, Brittany Howard, and Maren Morris are among the first names confirmed for Nashville's Love Rising, a live music event organized in response to Tennessee's ban on drag performances on public property. Other names confirmed for Love Rising include Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Brothers Osborne, Yola, Allison Russell, and more. The event takes place on March 20 with proceeds going toward LGBTQIA+ programs, services, and resources across Tennessee.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are showing their support! On Tuesday, the couple attended Miu Miu's Womenswear show as part of Paris Fashion Week to support Wade's daughter, Zaya, as she made her runway debut.Wade and Union coordinated in sleek black looks as they sat front row to watch 15-year-old Zaya's runway walk.In a video posted to Instagram, the duo beamed as Zaya made her way down the runway. The clip also shows Wade and Union greeting Zaya with hugs and congratulations after the show, before posing for pics with the teen.«She's arrived,» the couple captioned their post.A post shared by dwyanewade (@dwyanewade)Zaya's runway debut came the month after a Los Angeles judge granted her official name and gender change request, which Zaya's mother, Siohvaughn Funches', previously filed an objection to.When ET spoke to Wade and Union following the judge's ruling, they shared how the teen celebrated the court win.«Last night, she was so happy and we were just like *sings* 'Say my name, say my name, 'cause to some people it just feels like paperwork but to her it's her truth and it's her reality and we support that,» Union said.

Zaya Wade has made her debut on the runway!