A recent training for trans candidates by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute had 53 applicants for just 12 spots.
VPales/Shutterstock
As the Trump administration continues waging an unprecedented war on transgender people in every facet of American society, local school boards have continued to serve as crucial battlegrounds. In the face of escalating attacks on LGBTQ+ students and teachers, curricula, books, and diversity initiatives, queer leaders are not retreating. They are stepping up to serve and lead in some of the most embattled public institutions in America.
In California, for Culver City school board president Triston Ezidore, the battle is not abstract. Elected in 2022 at just 22 years old, Ezidore quickly saw how national talking points about vaccines, “critical race theory,” and transgender youth filtered into even his West Los Angeles community.
“I’ve been on the board for three years, president this year, gonna start my fourth year in December,” he told The Advocate. “I’m directly a product of the election where I think we saw that shift of Moms for Liberty and people with just extremist views running to change a bunch of things at our school board level. Even in West LA, even in a blue state of California, we see the difference.”
Ezidore said that after Trump returned to power, the rhetoric intensified. “There are people who, you know, watch Fox News or look at Truth Social and regurgitate that information as if that is a fact, and are asking for us to make our schools battlegrounds instead of safe places for kids to learn,” he explained.
When the administration threatened to withhold federal funds unless California complied with its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Ezidore said his district had to consider the impact on Title IX enforcement, adult education, and services for English learners. “We were already universally experiencing budget deficits because of the loss of the one-time COVID dollars,” he said. “We then are now having to reimagine what schools would look like if we had a complete loss of federal funding, which is very unfortunate because at the end of the day, that means we can’t serve our students who really have the most needs.”
Ezidore described his greatest frustration: policymakers who treat education as a political pawn without facing the consequences. “There are a lot of people who know nothing about education who are having a large say in education, and it’s really, really detrimental,” he said.
That trickle-down, he added, now includes a surge in ICE enforcement around schools. “Our students are very much feeling the rhetoric that’s coming out of Washington,” Ezidore said. “It’s no longer just in interviews on MSNBC. It’s very much trickling down into how our communities are feeling.”
In Minnesota, Ellie Krug, a transgender 69-year-old attorney, author, and advocate, serves on a school board in a politically mixed exurban county. While her district has so far avoided the fiercest attacks, Krug said she remains braced for change.
“Trans folks generally, we’re a small minority,” Krug told The Advocate. “Many trans women don’t pass. I mean, you’ve got six-foot-two, broad-shoulder people, you’ve got Ellie Krug with this [masculine] voice. And now, society has been conditioned to look for us. And much of society has been conditioned to think that somehow we are a threat.”
When she ran in 2022, Krug knocked on more than a thousand doors. “I figured I was going to be attacked right away, because I’m transgender,” she recalled. “And I didn’t get attacked. I can count on one hand the number of times I got a negative reaction, and I never got at least blatantly a negative reaction to me being transgender.”
Instead, she focused on conversation. “My approach is not to scream or yell, but to say, let’s have a conversation,” Krug said. “Come on, we’re all trying to survive the human condition.”
Still, she knows the political climate could change quickly. “We are two elections away from becoming Iowa,” she warned, pointing to the possibility of a Republican governor and legislature in Minnesota. “When we have fear involved, people say and do dumb things.”
For Elliot Imse, executive director of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, which invests in getting LGBTQ+ people involved in political office through training support, the trend is clear: LGBTQ+ people are running for school boards and local races in record numbers despite heightened hostility.
“Right now we have around 110 out LGBTQ+ school board members across the country,” Imse told The Advocate. “They are on the front lines of defending LGBTQ students and people, and moving forward progressive policies when possible. We know that when these LGBTQ+ school board members are in the room, it changes the policy debates, it changes the hearts and minds of parents and their legislative colleagues.”
But the risks are real. Victory Institute’s research shows that more than seven in ten LGBTQ+ candidates experienced anti-LGBTQ+ attacks during their campaigns, and 15 percent faced them weekly. Imse said the group now trains candidates not only in messaging but also in safety. “We are spending more time talking about defending against anti-LGBTQ attacks and effectively pivoting back to the issues that are most important,” he explained.
Demand is surging. A recent training for trans candidates had 53 applicants for just 12 spots. “The demand is there,” Imse said. “They’re absolutely motivated to run as a way to counter the hatred that we’re seeing.”
These local fights are unfolding as the federal government sharpens its posture. In February, the Department of Education launched the “End DEI portal,” a website soliciting reports of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools. Until a federal court enjoined its use, the portal allowed parents and community members to submit complaints that the administration said could be used to identify potential civil rights investigations. The portal has displayed an error message since May, effectively halting its operation.
By September, the department had rolled out the America 250 Civics Coalition, partnering with organizations such as Hillsdale College, Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty, and the America First Policy Institute. USA Todayreports that more than 40 groups have joined the coalition, which the administration claims is an effort to improve civic education; however, critics warn that it's an effort to embed conservative ideology into classrooms ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The administration’s directives on DEI have left districts in a bind: many rely on federal funding that supports low-income and minority students, yet complying with the new restrictions could require dismantling programs that protect those same students. The New York Timesreports that some districts are now weighing whether refusing federal funds entirely would be less damaging than rolling back DEI.
This moment echoes the backlash cycles of recent years. As The Advocate reported in 2023, Moms for Liberty suffered widespread defeats in school board races across the country, a sign that voters in many communities rejected book bans and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. However, as Ezidore observed, the group has since become entrenched in local politics. “They want their person in the White House, but they also want their people at the local level to make sure that there’s no one pushing back against some of these extreme asks and these extreme agendas,” he said.
Krug, who describes herself as a “hopeless idealist,” said she feels compelled to run again in 2026 despite the personal toll. “It is critical, critical that people take some risks,” she said. “I don’t necessarily want to run, since I’ll be 70, but I feel compelled to run for a school board, to stand for all students, to stand for policies that are inclusive, because in the end, it’s about making students feel that they matter, that they are worth investing in, that they are worth being on this earth.”
She encouraged people who find themselves compelled to get involved to do so.
Ezidore shared some advice on that front. “First and foremost, I would say show up. I think that way too many people don’t take that very first step to show up and vote. Whether we vote or not, people still get elected and decisions are still being made.”
Imse echoed that message, urging people to stop “doom-scrolling” and instead engage locally. “More than half of elected offices in the U.S. go uncontested,” he said. “There are always opportunities in your community to run for office and have a voice.”
As the Trump administration escalates its attacks on LGBTQ+ people, the response from queer school board members and candidates reflects a simple truth: representation itself is resistance.
A recent training for trans candidates by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute had 53 applicants for just 12 spots.
VPales/Shutterstock
As the Trump administration continues waging an unprecedented war on transgender people in every facet of American society, local school boards have continued to serve as crucial battlegrounds. In the face of escalating attacks on LGBTQ+ students and teachers, curricula, books, and diversity initiatives, queer leaders are not retreating. They are stepping up to serve and lead in some of the most embattled public institutions in America.
In California, for Culver City school board president Triston Ezidore, the battle is not abstract. Elected in 2022 at just 22 years old, Ezidore quickly saw how national talking points about vaccines, “critical race theory,” and transgender youth filtered into even his West Los Angeles community.
“I’ve been on the board for three years, president this year, gonna start my fourth year in December,” he told The Advocate. “I’m directly a product of the election where I think we saw that shift of Moms for Liberty and people with just extremist views running to change a bunch of things at our school board level. Even in West LA, even in a blue state of California, we see the difference.”
Ezidore said that after Trump returned to power, the rhetoric intensified. “There are people who, you know, watch Fox News or look at Truth Social and regurgitate that information as if that is a fact, and are asking for us to make our schools battlegrounds instead of safe places for kids to learn,” he explained.
When the administration threatened to withhold federal funds unless California complied with its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Ezidore said his district had to consider the impact on Title IX enforcement, adult education, and services for English learners. “We were already universally experiencing budget deficits because of the loss of the one-time COVID dollars,” he said. “We then are now having to reimagine what schools would look like if we had a complete loss of federal funding, which is very unfortunate because at the end of the day, that means we can’t serve our students who really have the most needs.”
Ezidore described his greatest frustration: policymakers who treat education as a political pawn without facing the consequences. “There are a lot of people who know nothing about education who are having a large say in education, and it’s really, really detrimental,” he said.
That trickle-down, he added, now includes a surge in ICE enforcement around schools. “Our students are very much feeling the rhetoric that’s coming out of Washington,” Ezidore said. “It’s no longer just in interviews on MSNBC. It’s very much trickling down into how our communities are feeling.”
In Minnesota, Ellie Krug, a transgender 69-year-old attorney, author, and advocate, serves on a school board in a politically mixed exurban county. While her district has so far avoided the fiercest attacks, Krug said she remains braced for change.
“Trans folks generally, we’re a small minority,” Krug told The Advocate. “Many trans women don’t pass. I mean, you’ve got six-foot-two, broad-shoulder people, you’ve got Ellie Krug with this [masculine] voice. And now, society has been conditioned to look for us. And much of society has been conditioned to think that somehow we are a threat.”
When she ran in 2022, Krug knocked on more than a thousand doors. “I figured I was going to be attacked right away, because I’m transgender,” she recalled. “And I didn’t get attacked. I can count on one hand the number of times I got a negative reaction, and I never got at least blatantly a negative reaction to me being transgender.”
Instead, she focused on conversation. “My approach is not to scream or yell, but to say, let’s have a conversation,” Krug said. “Come on, we’re all trying to survive the human condition.”
Still, she knows the political climate could change quickly. “We are two elections away from becoming Iowa,” she warned, pointing to the possibility of a Republican governor and legislature in Minnesota. “When we have fear involved, people say and do dumb things.”
For Elliot Imse, executive director of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, which invests in getting LGBTQ+ people involved in political office through training support, the trend is clear: LGBTQ+ people are running for school boards and local races in record numbers despite heightened hostility.
“Right now we have around 110 out LGBTQ+ school board members across the country,” Imse told The Advocate. “They are on the front lines of defending LGBTQ students and people, and moving forward progressive policies when possible. We know that when these LGBTQ+ school board members are in the room, it changes the policy debates, it changes the hearts and minds of parents and their legislative colleagues.”
But the risks are real. Victory Institute’s research shows that more than seven in ten LGBTQ+ candidates experienced anti-LGBTQ+ attacks during their campaigns, and 15 percent faced them weekly. Imse said the group now trains candidates not only in messaging but also in safety. “We are spending more time talking about defending against anti-LGBTQ attacks and effectively pivoting back to the issues that are most important,” he explained.
Demand is surging. A recent training for trans candidates had 53 applicants for just 12 spots. “The demand is there,” Imse said. “They’re absolutely motivated to run as a way to counter the hatred that we’re seeing.”
These local fights are unfolding as the federal government sharpens its posture. In February, the Department of Education launched the “End DEI portal,” a website soliciting reports of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools. Until a federal court enjoined its use, the portal allowed parents and community members to submit complaints that the administration said could be used to identify potential civil rights investigations. The portal has displayed an error message since May, effectively halting its operation.
By September, the department had rolled out the America 250 Civics Coalition, partnering with organizations such as Hillsdale College, Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty, and the America First Policy Institute. USA Todayreports that more than 40 groups have joined the coalition, which the administration claims is an effort to improve civic education; however, critics warn that it's an effort to embed conservative ideology into classrooms ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The administration’s directives on DEI have left districts in a bind: many rely on federal funding that supports low-income and minority students, yet complying with the new restrictions could require dismantling programs that protect those same students. The New York Timesreports that some districts are now weighing whether refusing federal funds entirely would be less damaging than rolling back DEI.
This moment echoes the backlash cycles of recent years. As The Advocate reported in 2023, Moms for Liberty suffered widespread defeats in school board races across the country, a sign that voters in many communities rejected book bans and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. However, as Ezidore observed, the group has since become entrenched in local politics. “They want their person in the White House, but they also want their people at the local level to make sure that there’s no one pushing back against some of these extreme asks and these extreme agendas,” he said.
Krug, who describes herself as a “hopeless idealist,” said she feels compelled to run again in 2026 despite the personal toll. “It is critical, critical that people take some risks,” she said. “I don’t necessarily want to run, since I’ll be 70, but I feel compelled to run for a school board, to stand for all students, to stand for policies that are inclusive, because in the end, it’s about making students feel that they matter, that they are worth investing in, that they are worth being on this earth.”
She encouraged people who find themselves compelled to get involved to do so.
Ezidore shared some advice on that front. “First and foremost, I would say show up. I think that way too many people don’t take that very first step to show up and vote. Whether we vote or not, people still get elected and decisions are still being made.”
Imse echoed that message, urging people to stop “doom-scrolling” and instead engage locally. “More than half of elected offices in the U.S. go uncontested,” he said. “There are always opportunities in your community to run for office and have a voice.”
As the Trump administration escalates its attacks on LGBTQ+ people, the response from queer school board members and candidates reflects a simple truth: representation itself is resistance.
With a government shutdown looming, Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride turned to satire, releasing a video that skewered her Republican colleagues for being nowhere to be found as funding negotiations stalled.
“We’re barreling towards a shutdown. All my Democratic colleagues are here. I’m going to go search for my Republican colleagues,” McBride declared, striding through the marble corridors of Congress with her phone camera rolling.
The first-term Democrat poked around empty committee rooms, peeked behind curtains, and even checked inside a fireplace. “Are there any Republicans in here? Hello? Republicans? No,” she deadpanned. On the Capitol’s private subway, she quipped, “No Republicans on the train.”
Next, she’s standing on a broken escalator. “Does anyone know how to fix this thing?” she asked, as the video cut to a photo of the President, who, just days earlier, along with Melania Trump, was stranded on a stalled escalator at the United Nations General Assembly. Trump has since alleged “triple sabotage” of his appearance there after a White House-run teleprompter and an audio feed appeared to have technical difficulties.
McBride, the first out transgender person elected to Congress, has made humor a signature of her digital presence.
McBride eventually ran into DemocraticFlorida U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who joined the act. “I’ve been looking too,” Frost told her. “They’re nowhere to be found.” McBride ended the clip with a pointed line: “We’re 12 hours away from a government shutdown, and Republicans are nowhere to be seen. They’re not serious about keeping this government open.”
The video highlights a serious reality: Without congressional action, the federal government is set to run out of money at midnight. According to ABC News, millions of Americans could feel the effects almost immediately. Up to four million federal employees would either be furloughed or forced to work without pay, including TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and active-duty military personnel. Federal contractors, including security guards and custodians, would be left without work or guaranteed back pay.
Programs that provide lifelines to vulnerable families would also begin to buckle. Funding for the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program could dry up within days, leaving low-income families without assistance. While Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits would continue, the services that process claims, replace cards, or verify eligibility would slow, leaving recipients in limbo. Even the courts, although partially shielded, would face delays and staffing shortages if the shutdown were to drag on.
This kind of disruption is not new. The last government shutdown occurred in late 2018 and stretched into early 2019 under Trump’s first term, lasting 35 days—the longest in U.S. history. That impasse began over Trump’s demand for border wall funding and resulted in roughly $11 billion in lost economic output, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It was the second shutdown of his presidency; an earlier funding lapse in January 2018 lasted three days before lawmakers struck a short-term deal. Both episodes inflicted widespread uncertainty, from shuttered national parks to delayed paychecks for federal workers, and today’s looming crisis threatens to repeat that history.
Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican, has delayed House votes, effectively stalling negotiations, while Republicans have largely departed Washington. In the Senate, where Republicans are also in control, negotiations have also seemingly stalled, with Sen. John Thune, the Senate majority leader from South Dakota, accusing Democrats of acting in bad faith. Trump has publicly said the government will “probably” shut down, repeating a false claim that Democrats want to extend Medicare to undocumented immigrants. In reality, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel; California Attorney General Rob Bonta; New York Attorney General Letitia James
Courtesy Pictured; Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock; lev radin/Shutterstock
Nine Democratic state Attorneys General have vowed to do "whatever it takes" to defend the rights of transgender youth as the school year begins.
A new video campaign from the National Women's Law Center features Rob Bonta (California), Anthony Brown (Maryland), Andrea Campbell (Massachusetts), Charity Clark (Vermont), Keith Ellison (Minnesota), Letitia James (New York), Kathy Jennings (Delaware), Dana Nessel (Michigan), and Dan Rayfield (Oregon) each stating "I promise to fight for trans students."
"We will continue to hold this federal administration accountable, fighting to protect your rights, to protect access to health care, and so much more," the AGs take turns reciting. "When it comes to keeping trans youth safe, we will do whatever it takes. We are protecting our hospitals and clinics to provide the care that you may need. We won't look away if students are facing hostile learning environments, and we will hold schools accountable under our state laws."
"As the school year starts, we want you to remember: You belong here. You inspire us. And we do love you," they conclude. "So, have a great school year and know that you've got some people who have your back."
Donald Trump signed an executive order attempting to ban gender-affirming care for people under 19 shortly after taking office, which a federal judge blocked in February after finding that it is likely unconstitutional. Twelve states filed a separate lawsuit in August, asserting that the care is legally protected under their laws and the order violates states’ rights guaranteed by the 10th Amendment.
Despite the care being protected under state laws, providers in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and more have discontinued their programs, citing the Trump administration's threats. After University of Michigan Health stopped providing gender-affirming care for youth, Nessel warned it to reconsider or her office would be "considering all of our options" for legal action.
“There is broad support throughout the nation to resist the administration’s attacks on trans students,” Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “These young people — our children — continue to be bullied by the administration and other extremists in ways that threaten their education and even their existence."
"Even as Donald Trump has rolled back civil rights enforcement, many states are stepping up to hold schools accountable and ensure every child can learn in an environment free from discrimination," she continued. "Students need to know there are people who have their back and will never stop fighting for their right to learn in safety and dignity.”
Mary Trump believes her uncle's signature on a card to Jeffrey Epstein is authentic.
Matthew Horwood/Getty Images; Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
The out lesbian niece of Donald Trump has no doubts that it's his signature on an alleged raunchy birthday card sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
Democrats recently revealed the card, which the Wall Street Journalfirst reported on in July but did not show, after Trump and officials in his administration continually called it a "hoax." Mary Trump has since weighed in, stating she believes the card to be authentic.
“That’s definitely his signature,” she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Just saying.”
— (@)
Trump allegedly sent the card to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, according to the WSJ report. It includes a hand-drawn sketch of a naked woman with Trump’s signature placed along her pubic area to mimic hair, with text stating that the two share “certain things in common" and wishing Epstein “another wonderful secret."
The card features an imaginary conversation between the two men written in third person. It reads as such:
“Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything,” the note began. Donald: Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is. Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Trump: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Trump filed a lawsuit against WSJ, as well as its parent company News Corp and owner Rupert Murdoch — who also owns Fox News — after the outlet published the article. The lawsuit, filed in southern Florida, seeks more than $20 billion in damages for defamation.
The White House has repeatedly denied the card's authenticity, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt most recently saying that "it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it."
Epstein died in jail in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking conspiracy. He had long been accused of sexually abusing underage girls, with allegations that his prominent friends had been involved as well. His longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her complicity in child sex trafficking.
Even though Trump has claimed to be “not a fan” of Epstein, the two men with frequently photographed together in the 1980s and ’90s. Trump told New York Magazine in 2002, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."