The Breakdown: Proposed Rule Would Strip Transgender Protections at Homeless Shelters

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The One Big Thing

Dept. of HUD Proposes Rule That Would Strip Transgender Protections at Homeless Shelters

On Wednesday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a law that would weaken protections for transgender people experiencing homelessness. If written into law, the rule would allow federally funded shelters to deny people admission on religious grounds or force transgender women to share bathrooms and sleeping quarters with men. In a press release, the National Center for Transgender Equality called the proposal a “heartless attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society.” According to a 2017 report, LGBTQ+ young adults had a 120% higher risk of reporting homelessness compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth. This move is just the latest in a history of discrimination and violence towards transgender individuals. Astonishingly, the average life expectancy of a transgender woman is between 30 and 35. Always remember, trans rights are human rights.

(Pop) Culture Shock

Taraji P. Henson To Testify Before Congress On Black Youth Suicide

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, Empire star Taraji P. Henson is proving that advocacy needs to happen all the time. It was recently announced that she will testify before the newly formed Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide on June 7 to discuss the increasing suicide rate among Black youth. In the past 25 years, suicide rates among Black children aged 5-11 has increased, while the rate among white children in this time has decreased. In addition to testifying, Henson will also be in DC to kick off her inaugural “Can We Talk?” conference and benefit dinner, which aims to raise $500,000 to help people enter into professional therapy. Now that is how you walk the walk.

The Good News Is...

Google Creates Artificial Intelligence That Can Detect Lung Cancer

Researchers from Google and several medical centers have recently announced that they’ve developed computers that are better than doctors at detecting lung cancer in CT scans. After testing over 6,700 with known diagnoses, the system reported fewer false positives and false negatives than doctors did. While there is still more research to do before the technology can be implemented, researchers are confident this will be a huge step forward for patients. This isn’t Google’s only foray into developing better medical technology, as they also announced an algorithm that detects eye disease in people with diabetes.

That's What She Said

“The music industry needs more women and nonbinary people in power. We need more diversity among record label execs, radio execs, festival organizers, and magazine editors. I think things are getting better, but slowly.”

-Abbey Carbonneau, founder of Book More Women, whose mission is fixing the gender imbalance at music festivals.

Quick Hitters

Why aren’t more people talking about… how segregation is partly responsible for asthma and pollution in California cities?

Meanwhile, in India... Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his divisive nationalist policies, secured another five-year term with a resounding general election victory. (Fun fact: more than 600 million people voted, making this the largest election in world history.)

My heroes today are… the STEM students who built custom electric cars for kids with disabilities (for free!).

I’m obsessed with… I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Imagine a show that took Saturday Night Live’s weirdest sketches and perfected them. This is the show you’d have.