Legislation meant to protect minors on social media platforms could be voted on in Washington this week. But some in New Mexico's LGBTQ community worry it could also target them.

The Kids Online Safety Act bill has received bipartisan support, even though one author -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who consistently votes against gay rights -- has suggested it could be used to steer kids away from seeing transgender content online.

Elijah Valdez, community organizer with Equality New Mexico, said the bill's vague language is concerning.

"I think the overall bill may have good intentions, but it also has significant harm that can be brought to it with the current way it's written," he said. "Oddly enough, the act is currently attached to a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill up before the Senate. A revised version of the act narrows the ability to weaponize the legislation by an attorney general, but the ACLU says it's still 'internet censorship' that could harm the communities it claims to protect.

The Kids' Online Safety Act would establish a "duty of care" for covered platforms, which means they'd be mandated to "exercise reasonable care" to reduce harm to children. LGBTQ and reproductive rights groups say that phrase, "duty of care," means a future Federal Trade Commission could still use the act to pressure platforms to filter controversial topics such as transgender issues and abortion -- claiming such content could lead to anxiety or depression or other mental-health issues.

Valdez said he had the opposite experience.

"I grew up as a queer, trans youth in a rural community, where the internet was really what I needed to access -- really life-saving information around gender-affirming care and what it means to be LGBTQ," he said.

Late last year, parents of transgender kids sent a letter urging the U.S. Senate to oppose the Kids Online Safety Act, saying internet restrictions would cut off children from "life-saving online resources and community."

Jackson Lewis, 19, is ready and eager to sit on the nonpartisan Canyons School Board in the south end of Salt Lake Valley. Lewis, who is gay, is also the youngest elected official in Utah. He said winning was a surreal moment, and he will ensure the student perspective is included in education policy discussions and decisions.

Lewis said he's been contacted by folks across his district who are thrilled with his victory and added he's even received messages from people globally who have been paying attention to the recent election, especially in conservative and traditionally 'red' Utah.

"As a gay man, it means a lot to me and it means a lot to the queer students in the district and in Canyons, but even I've spoken to members of the football team, I've spoken to members of the debate team, right? They are all excited about the fact that someone this young, right, is going to be occupying this seat and representing student interests on this board," he said.

The lifelong resident of Midvale and a Hillcrest High School graduate says he is a proud product of the state's public school system and understands the value it holds. Lewis promised to address issues such as chronic absenteeism, increasing teacher pay, and promised to be a "loud" opponent to future book bans.

During Utah's most recent legislative session, House Bill 29 passed and allows parents to challenge books they deem to have "sensitive materials."

Lewis said while he did garner support from younger voters, he also made a conscious effort to connect with older folks who might have been a bit more apprehensive about electing a younger person to office. But he says he found their reception and support to be welcoming and invigorating.

Regardless of who you are or who you voted for, Lewis encourages everyone to get informed and involved.

"You don't have to run for office if you don't want to, if you don't have the time or energy to put into it but just get involved. Know who your elected officials are and make sure that they know who you are too," he continued.

Lewis added that can look like attending local party conventions and meetings, or getting involved at the community level with events of various kinds. He contends Utahns will feel less alone and more connected to their communities during a time of high polarization.


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A New Mexico, LGBTQ civil rights group says a debunked claim by the Trump-Vance presidential campaign that "sex changes" are taking place in schools is being repeated by some state candidates.

Trump has regularly promoted claims that educators are "grooming" or "indoctrinating" children to become gay or transgender.

Equality New Mexico Executive Director Marshall Martinez said the fear tactic also is being used by a handful of Republican New Mexico candidates, who frame transphobic messaging as support for women.

"Regardless of the political stance that people have on trans folks and the issues they face," said Martinez, "when these lies are told in our communities, it hurts the trans people in that community."

Republican former member of Congress Yvette Herrell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez - D-Las Cruces - has been accused of using coded anti-transgender rhetoric.

She has denied the allegation, stating that "pro-woman" is not anti-LGBTQ.

But Herrell previously voted against bipartisan legislation to protect marriage equality, and supported an abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest.

Martinez said that research done by Equality New Mexico found 53% of state residents have a close personal relationship with someone who is transgender.

"When these politicians or candidates are spreading lies about surgeries," said Martinez, "and about forcing young people to become trans or pushing an agenda, what they're doing is attacking those close personal relationships we all have."

There is no evidence that gender-affirming surgery has ever occurred at a public school in the U.S, or that a school has sent a student to receive the surgery elsewhere.

Already about half of U.S. states ban transition-related surgery for minors - and where it's legal, it's still very rare.

Transgender young people who experience discrimination have been linked to suicidal ideation and self-harm.

OutNebraska's Prairie Pride Film Festival returns for its 14th year this week.

Johnny Redd, communications manager for OutNebraska, said the festival was started because of a lack of cultural events in the Midwest focused on LGBTQ+ stories. Festival changes this year include adding two additional locations and more fiction films.

Redd noted storytelling through films is both entertaining and one of the most impactful ways to shed light on issues.

"Facts and logic can only go so far, and sometimes just being receptive to a story can really be impactful," Redd explained. "We really love the idea of film as an agent of social change and empowerment, and also just celebration and seeing ourselves on the big screen."

The film festival will be in Lincoln on Oct. 17, followed by Hastings and Omaha on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, respectively. Redd believes one documentary, "Seat 31," will resonate with Nebraskans because of its parallels to the contentious 2023 Nebraska legislative session. It features Zooey Zephyr, Montana's first openly transgender state legislator, who was censured for her outspoken opposition to a ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Seat 31 shows what the film's publicity describes as Zephyr's "shocking, funny and joyous" experiences on the bench she makes her "office" after being barred from the floor of the Montana House. Redd called the story timely, saying wounds still linger in Nebraska from the passage of Legislative Bill 574.

"I think it's a very inspiring story," Redd emphasized. "She still wanted to be able to do her job, even if she wasn't allowed on the legislative floor. I think this will be pretty healing, to see a story from another state that went through something very similar to us."

As of 2020, there are more than 270 LGBTQ+ film festivals worldwide.