The rise and fall of strongmen, and justice for a woman unbowed
NoneNoneClosing marks second significant acquisition from RA Capital's Raven incubator in 2024, and first acquisition of a company built by Raven from a technology platform in-licensed from a large pharmaceutical company BOSTON , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RA Capital Management, LP (RA Capital), a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies, today announced that AbbVie has closed its $1.4 billion acquisition of RA Capital's portfolio company Aliada Therapeutics. Aliada's lead investigational asset is ALIA-1758, an anti-pyroglutamate amyloid beta (3pE-Aβ) antibody, which is in development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. ALIA-1758 utilizes a novel blood-brain barrier-crossing technology that enhances delivery of targeted drugs into the central nervous system. Johnson & Johnson (through its venture capital arm, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.), RA Capital, and Raven (RA Capital's healthcare incubator) co-founded Aliada and co-led the series seed financing in 2021 to advance the MODELTM platform created by Johnson & Johnson scientists that was licensed to Aliada at its inception. "Congratulations to the Aliada and AbbVie teams and our fellow investors on the close of this transaction," said Joshua Resnick , MD, Senior Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board director at Aliada. "The acquisition of Aliada is the second significant acquisition of a Raven-grown company this year, joining Novartis' $1 billion upfront acquisition of radiopharmaceutical developer Mariana Oncology in May." "Delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier with a low-volume, subcutaneous injection would be revolutionary for treating Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders, and has long been a dream in the field," said Laura Tadvalkar , PhD, Managing Director at RA Capital Management and former board chair at Aliada. "We look forward to following ALIA-1758's progress through the clinic, as AbbVie advances this important medicine for Alzheimer's disease patients." About Raven Raven is RA Capital Management's healthcare incubator. Raven's experienced team of scientists, operators, and innovators bring deep sector expertise, insight and executional capabilities across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, and services. Raven builds companies: from originating and incubating new ideas to accelerating compelling innovations and rejuvenating promising assets. About RA Capital Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital's knowledge engine is guided by our TechAtlas internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital's company creation team, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 175 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management. The companies presented herein were selected to demonstrate a potential successful outcome of a company being incubated within our Raven incubator. They are not intended to represent a complete picture of RA Capital's portfolio, its exposures, risks or potential for positive or negative returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. SOURCE RA Capital Management, LP
Unprecedented Scope for Growth in Advanced Life Support ALS Training Manikins MarketSANTA CLARA — When Isaac Guerendo trots onto the field with the first team Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, he will equal the same number of starts he had in five years of college football. Hard to believe, but Guerendo started exactly one time, and it came in his final college game at Louisville. Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, Guerendo carried 23 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns and added five receptions in a 42-28 loss. In 40 other games at Wisconsin and Louisville, Guerendo played in a shared backfield –something he’s done with the 49ers this season behind Jordan Mason and Christian McCaffrey . With McCaffrey on injured reserve with a PCL strain and Mason to follow soon with a high ankle sprain, Guerendo should get his biggest workload since his last college game. “I’m excited, but really it’s whatever it takes to win,” Guerendo said Wednesday as the 49ers (5-7) began preparations to host the Bears (4-8). “Whatever the plan looks like is what we’ll bring.” Guerendo will be backed up by Patrick Taylor Jr., who was on the roster earlier this season when McCaffrey was dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, then re-signed to the practice squad. Taylor was promoted Tuesday, and the 49ers also made a waiver claim on former Jets running back Israel Abanikanda. “I think he’s ready to go,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He had some ups and downs but got better through everything. I think he’s ready for this.” Guerendo, 6-foot and 219 pounds, has 42 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a gaudy 5.9 yards per carry. His 15-yard run in the third quarter was the 49ers’ lone touchdown in a 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers traded up to get Guerendo in the fourth round, only to see him sidelined with a hamstring strain in his first training camp practice. A speedy wide receiver at Avon High School in Indiana who also ran track and played basketball, Guerendo carried 10 times for 99 yards with a long run of 76 against Seattle and 14 times for 85 yards against Dallas. At Wisconsin, Guerendo played behind Jonathan Taylor, now a star running back for the Indianapolis Colts. He split time as a graduate student at Louisville with Jawhar Jordan, who rushed for 1,128 yards while Guerendo had 810 yards on 132 carries and a 6.1-yard average. The good news is Guerendo’s body hasn’t taken on the normal amount of abuse for a running back. And Guerendo feels he’s up to the challenge after playing 12 games with old-school running backs coach Bobby Turner. “I always give credit to Coach T for preparing everybody like they’re going to be the starter, so that when moments do come, you’re ready for it,” Guerendo said. McCaffrey appeared to have finally gotten untracked against the Bills, gaining 53 yards on seven carries before getting tripped up on a 19-yard burst in the second quarter. But the tackle injured his knee, Mason injured his ankle, and Guerendo became the lead runner for a team that is sixth in the NFL in rushing. Over time, Guerendo has become accustomed to the speed of the NFL game. “I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it, if you’ve got the right stuff, you get more reps and the more you adjust to it. How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how you have to hit it full speed and can’t hesitate. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.” McCaffrey, meanwhile, took to social media in the form of a lengthy Instagram post to explain how he was feeling after his latest injury. He wrote of his love for football, how humbling it is and his desire to return. “This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours,” McCaffrey wrote. “You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I’m grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I’ll work smarter and harder to come back better from this.” For those who dream big, Shanahan said with a six-week time frame, McCaffrey could conceivably return if the 49ers reach the postseason. THE INJURY LIST Those who didn’t practice Wednesday included edge rusher Nick Bosa (hips, obliques), left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion), Mason (ankle) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle). Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) were limited. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has cleared concussion protocol after missing the Buffalo game. Hufanga joined Greenlaw as practicing during a 21-day window. Shanahan said it’s more likely Greenlaw would be activated before a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12 than against Chicago. HUFANGA AND THE CLUB After recovering from an ACL tear last season, Hufanga has played in just two games this season. First, he was felled by an ankle injury, and then a wrist injury that needed surgery. When activated, he’ll play with a protective club on his right hand. “I was still dealing with the ankle. I was about to get it re-wrapped and for some reason my hand wouldn’t open,” Hufanga said. Hufanga said he’ll try to use the protective device as a benefit rather than a detriment. “I had a good friend back in the day who played with a club who had three picks in one game, so you never know,” Hufanga said. MOORE FARES WELL Left tackle Jaylon Moore acquitted himself well for the second straight game in starting in place of Williams. “It was OK, but you can always get better and that’s what I’m focusing on — the things I can get better at,” Moore said. Tight end George Kittle noted last week that Moore was at left tackle all through training camp during Williams’ holdout, so it’s not like he hasn’t been with the first team. “It definitely did help, especially being comfortable with the group,” Moore said. “The quarterback’s cadence, the guy you’re next to, all the small stuff comes into play.”
Incentive programs meant to catalyze the adoption of greener, cleaner, low carbon technologies, such as we’ve seen with solar and EVs, and most recently e-bikes, can be effective if done right, but when a cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all approach is used, they can end up being not very cost-effective or efficient in moving the needle toward the desired outcome. A recent study analyzing the “consumer purchase response” to existing e-bike incentive programs suggests that these programs could be more equitable, cost-effective, and efficient if they begin with the end in mind. In essence, starting out with clear and well-defined goals for incentive programs is necessary for designing, funding, and implementing them with maximum effectiveness. The study, “ Consumer purchase response to e-bike incentives: Results from a nationwide stated preference study , ” was published in the journal ScienceDirect this past April, with the authors stating in its Abstract that it is “among the first to experimentally analyze prospective purchase behavior of e-bike consumers to assess price sensitivity, behavioral response to incentives, and consumer value of e-bike attributes.” “Purchase incentives offset the price of an e-bike for consumers, with the goal of increasing e-bike adoption and ownership. While programs initially offered incentives of $300 or less, amounts have progressively increased over time. The 2023 legislative cycle has seen a notable expansion in state- and province-level purchase assistance programs, as well as the re-introduction of a proposed federal tax credit known as the “E-BIKE” Act. Despite the growing funding allocated to e-bike purchase incentives, there is little evidence as to their cost-effectiveness or optimal design.” Some of the results of the study are pretty straightforward, and perhaps no-brainers: Point-of-purchase discounts are more cost-effective than rebates or tax credits for stimulating additional e-bike adoption Cost-effective e-bike incentives require equivalent amounts provided across standard and cargo e-bike types, and require the largest incentives be provided to those in the 200–300% FPL (Federal Poverty Level) income range However, one finding that really stood out was this (emphasis added): “[W]e find that even when e-bike incentive programs are designed cost-effectively, the costs per ton of CO2 reduced still far exceed those of alternatives or reasonable social costs of GHG emissions . We conclude that the argument for allocating public funds for e-bike incentive programs must be based on the co-benefits of e-bike travel and ownership, and not solely on GHG reduction. If you don’t have time (or access) to read the full text, an article published on GovTech about the study offers a great summary and some additional insights direct from the authors. For example, “it takes about $4,000 worth of incentives to induce that extra e-bike purchase,” which far exceeds the benefits gained by displacing carbon emissions due to the adoption of that e-bike. As we are likely to see a lot of political pushback on any and all government incentive programs for cleaner transport and energy in the US in coming years, using the findings of this study — and others like it that may follow — could be a key element in designing and funding effective programs in the near future. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit
Paul Schrader’s Favorite Works of Fiction
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If your last week of the year is anything like mine, it's all about munching on those Christmas leftovers while watching the Boxing Day Test and wading through the big pile of books Santa generously dropped down the chimney. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue This year, the tome that made the biggest thud as it landed under our Christmas tree was Australian Lustre: Places, spaces and things by Trent Mitchell. It's one of those books you can dip in and out of, like between a few lazy laps at Manuka Pool or body surfs at Broulee. And it's not because it has standalone chapters - rather because it's a photographic record of that annual holiday tradition for many: the road trip. However, Australian Lustre isn't a compilation of glossy, set-up shots that have been photoshopped to fill tourist brochures, cram influencers Instagram feeds or adorn those calendars that you scored for Christmas and are now already 50 per cent off at the mall. No, this is Australia through Trent Mitchell's eyes. And dare I say it, it's the real Australia. Photographer Trent Mitchell loves the ocean, but his latest book Australian Lustre he takes the reader on a road trip around Australia. Picture by Trent Mitchell Australian Lustre features more than 300 photographs of places Trent visited as kid or wanted to; and has since (re)visited on hundreds of road trips as an adult. Trent's insatiable ache for the road trip dates to Christmas holidays as a kid when his parents would load the family wagon and drive up the NSW coast to caravan parks. View + 6 Photos His wonderfully evocative memory of the Budgewoi caravan park on the Central Coast, published in the foreword, suggests he should write more to accompany his photos. "The caravan park was wedged between an enormous open sharky beach and a smelly stagnant lake that gave you pelican itch. Across the water, a power station loomed as the centrepiece to our sunset view. The air was thick with salt, glazing everything with a distinctive coastal patina. Most things would decay in the elements. Bikes and barbecues tended to go first. The hard sun and open space didn't help, yet the heat was perfect for fish and chips, bare feet and ice cream." Those childhood summers left an indelible impact on Trent. "During these never-ending holidays our family existed in a quintessentially Australian world, and the experiences were etched deep into the corners of my subconscious, truly informing the curiosity and passion that I carry with me on the road now," he reveals. Trent admits he pines for those simple summer days and loves pointing his camera to the past, "holding onto those cherished slices of time in hope to infuse the reflections and feelings into pictures". And boy does he do it well, leading us on a nostalgic journey through the holidays of not only his own childhood, but, if you grew up in Australia in the mid-to-late-1900s, probably yours too. His take on Big Things sums up his idiosyncratic style. Goulburn's Big Merino appears at its best angle - some kids gathered, gawking questionably at its posterior. Meanwhile, he captures the Big Prawn poking its garish head over the roof of a three-bedroom brick veneer house in a Ballina cul-de-sac on bin day. You won't see this view of Ballina's Big Prawn in the tourist brochures. Picture by Trent Mitchell "I'm always looking for an interesting point of view or something that has an unexpected look to it. With the prawn I was seeing how far away I could go with it still standing out without all the clutter around it," he explains. While Trent has a real zeal for outback outposts such as Coober Pedy - he admits he could "publish a whole book on that town" - plenty of coastal shots made their way into the book too, including former Gold Coast motels in various states of (dis)repair. He also has a thing about out-of-place Hills Hoists. Those with beach views, those adorned with just a Santa hat, a piece of tinsel and a pair of undies, to those abandoned in a parched desert landscape. Hills Hoist in Coober Pedy, South Australia. Picture by Trent Mitchell Trent says that when he arrives somewhere, "he wanders the backstreets to see what makes a place tick, not just drive down the main street - I go into the back streets, am curious, what's around that corner, check out all sorts of nooks and crannies." No doubt, that's how an unbalanced skateboarder attempting tricks in a deserted Aldi loading bay and a discarded giant yellow smiling golf ball abandoned in someone's driveway also ended up in the book. Fore! The things you see in people's driveways. Palm Beach, Queensland. Picture by Trent Mitchell While some road trips result in more Kodak moments than others, given he is on the road so much, sometimes Trent just happens to be in the right place and at the right time, such as when he visited the Big Koala at Dadswells Bridge in Victoria. "I was trying to work out how to best photograph it, when suddenly a caravan pulled up with the slogan 'home amongst the gum trees' splashed across its tailgate," he muses, adding, "It was perfect." The Big (Giant) Koala at Dadswells Bridge, Victoria. Picture by Trent Mitchell Trent is currently planning a six-month lap of the country for later this year with his own young family to add to Australian Lustre for a second edition. "It's easy photographing, as I don't have to plan anything," he says adding, "I just do it." Mmm. Sounds a bit like my next week relaxing on the couch. Australian Lustre: Places, spaces and things by Trent Mitchell quickly sold out. Picture by supplied. Although only published a month ago, Trent's book has already sold out, but he does have a waitlist for reprints and future editions. trentmitchell.com Long live the Desert Wave In this corresponding column last year, I wrote about the apparent demise of the "desert wave" - that friendly wave exchanged between passing motorists on country roads. Since then, I've received a constant stream of correspondence from readers reporting that, at least in remote areas, the wave is alive and well. "We recently did a trip from Canberra to Alice Springs, via Broken Hill, and back via the South Australian peninsulas," Marica Denman says. "We waved to everybody, and most waved back." Peter Longhurst, of Cooma, who has travelled "most of Australia over the past 17 years with a camper trailer on many dirt roads", confirms "the desert wave is still alive in all outback areas of the country". "Travelling with a camper trailer for 15 years and now a caravan, the wave between these drivers still exists, along with ute drivers with swags," reports Peter, adding, "the only drivers that do not wave are generally motorhome drivers". "I can only assume that they have rented their motorhomes and therefore think they are above the humble van and trailer travellers," he says. Meanwhile, Brian Macdonald, of Cook, suspects the desert wave is dying "because the closing speed between two vehicles is now over 200kmh meaning drivers are more intent on avoiding a head-on collision than acknowledging the other driver." Is the friendly desert wave still alive and well? Picture by Tim the Yowie Man That said, Brian believes you have a much higher chance of receiving a return wave if you are driving a similar vehicle. "I drive a VW van and often exchange the V (or peace) sign when with other VWs." Similarly, Maureen Bell reveals drivers of old Peugeots have a secret signal. "We wave, beep or flick high beam at other drivers of Pugs," reports Maureen, adding, "perhaps it's the attraction of membership of a minority." WHERE ON THE SOUTH COAST? Recognise this landmark building circa 1910? Picture supplied Rating: Medium-Hard Clue: Yes, it's still there. Not far from a beach pool. How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to tym@iinet.net.au The first correct email received after 10am, Saturday, December 28, wins a double pass to Dendy, the Home of Quality Cinema . Did you recognise this south coast beach? Picture by J Asche Last week: Congratulations to Judi Power Thomson, of Ainslie, who was first to identify last week's photo as Merry Beach, near Kioloa, taken from near the Snapper Point walking track. Judi just beat several readers including Gwenyth Bray, of Curtin; Ann Smith, of Curtin, and Ian Boyd, of Croobyar (near Milton), to the last prize for 2024. I'd love to see a rephotograph of the same spot now, so if you are near Merry Beach this summer, and happen to take a photo, please send it to me at the address at the end of this column. Penguin or Horseshoe: you decide Steve Leahy was perplexed by the "think outside 'the penguin" clue that accompanied the photo of Jerrabomberra Waterhole recently in this column's photo quiz. When I explained to Steve the clue related to the ACT border resembling a penguin (Jerrabomberra being in NSW), he was equally bemused. "I always thought the ACT looked like a kookaburra," he asserts. Steve has a point - there's a resemblance to both creatures. Did You Know: If former surveyor-general Charles Scrivener had his way we may have ended up with a horseshoe-shaped border that included the Queanbeyan and Molonglo River catchments instead of the Gudgenby, Naas and Paddys River catchments. The ACT was initially proposed to be a horseshoe shape, that included the Queanbeyan and Molonglo River catchments. Picture supplied Season's Greetings to all readers. Thank you for all the letters, emails and photos submitted throughout the year. As is tradition, this column won't be taking a break over the holiday season, so keep sending in those reports of quirky, mysterious and unusual sightings. CONTACT TIM: Email: tym@iinet.net.au or Twitter: @TimYowie or write c/- The Canberra Times , GPO Box 606, Civic, ACT, 2601 Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Tim the Yowie Man Tim the Yowie Man is a Canberra Times columnist, and an intrepid adventurer, mystery investigator, and cryptonaturalist. Tim the Yowie Man is a Canberra Times columnist, and an intrepid adventurer, mystery investigator, and cryptonaturalist. More from Canberra More details revealed of Geocon's plans for the Phillip Pool redevelopment 26m ago No comment s Trump wins the election and now liberals can't stand to watch the news 26m ago No comment s Voters across the world are resentful and angry and are lashing out 26m ago No comment s Red tape and fine print won't make the world a better place for not for profits 26m ago No comment s When a heartbreaking Christmas tradition was about to fall apart, the community stepped up 26m ago No comment s Thought that friendly 'Desert Wave' was dead? 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Chase Strangio stood before the Supreme Court on a cold December morning, the weight of history pressing against his shoulders. As the first openly transgender attorney to argue before the nation’s highest court, he carried not just legal briefs but the echoes of protests past – from the Stonewall uprising to the Compton Cafeteria riots, trans people have created a legacy of fighting for justice. Outside, hundreds of protesters pressed against police barricades, their chants rising above the marble columns. The demonstration was organized by Gender Liberation Movement (GLM) , a national collective that builds direct action, media, and policy interventions focused on bodily autonomy and self-determination in response to gender-based threats. “They want trans people to no longer exist,” said Eliel Cruz, co-founder of GLM. “And young people are the way to begin that kind of larger project.” The grassroots group has emerged as a significant force in coordinating nationwide protests against gender-based restrictions, combining street demonstrations with policy advocacy. As the Supreme Court heard arguments inside, GLM activists led chants demanding protection for transgender healthcare rights. The next day, 15 activists were arrested in a Capitol bathroom protest against new restrictions proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) – restrictions targeting even Congress’s first openly transgender member, Sarah McBride (D-Del.) . Among those detained were Raquel Willis, a Black transgender activist known for leading the historic Brooklyn Liberation March and her rallying cry “I believe in Black trans power,” and Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who served seven years in prison for leaking classified documents about civilian casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the bathroom restrictions in a statement, saying single-sex facilities in the Capitol are “reserved for individuals of that biological sex.” Supporters of similar state-level restrictions argue they protect women’s privacy rights. “Women deserve women-only spaces,” Johnson said to The Tennessean , echoing sentiments from conservative lawmakers who have introduced similar measures in state legislatures. The parallels to history are not lost on today’s movement leaders. As Republican-led states advance hundreds of bills restricting transgender rights and healthcare, activists move in lockstep with pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. But this time, the battleground isn’t just the city streets, but also the marble corridors of power, and the weapons are legal briefs instead of bricks. How LGBTQ+ activism made everything better for everyone LGBTQ+ activists have emerged as a cornerstone for civil rights movements in the United States. “We are part of every community considered from the point of view of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, and class,” said Chris Sanders, executive director at the Tennessee Equality Project (TNEP.) “So we are affected by all forms of discrimination.” Sanders highlighted historic figures like Pauli Murray , civil rights activist, lawyer, and co-founder of the National Organization for Women, who they say used both she/her and they/them pronouns ; Audre Lorde, a pioneer in Black feminism; and Bayard Rustin, a core architect of the historic March on Washington, who adapted civil disobedience tactics from organizers in India, which established an iconic strategy of the Civil Rights Era. The list goes on. Larry Kramer, a Jewish American and founder of ACT UP during the HIV/AIDS pandemic , influenced healthcare policymakers including Anthony Fauci , who referenced Kramer during COVID-19. Trans figures fought in several instances to protect the First Amendment right of peaceful assembly and the constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Such examples include Tamara Ching, a trans Asian American woman at the Compton Cafeteria uprising, and Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera at Stonewall, all three women mobilizing against police brutality. Meanwhile, Harry Weider , a hard of hearing child of Holocaust survivors with dwarfism, joined ACT UP and advocated for public housing. Kiyoshi Kuromiya, an openly gay Japanese American and survivor of World War II internment, marched with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Selma and served as his personal assistant . When King was assassinated, Kuromiya looked after King’s children . In 1970, Kuromiya served as the only openly gay panelist at the Black Panther Convention , representing the Gay Liberation Front Philadelphia chapter; that same year, Black Panther co-founder Huey P. Newton endorsed LGBTQ+ and women’s liberation movements . “The visibility and success of LGBTQ+ rights movements have sparked broader conversations about intersectionality, encouraging other marginalized groups to advocate for their rights,” said Manuel Hernández, who uses pronouns li/naya and he/they. Hernández serves as the executive director of ALMA Chicago , which since the AIDS epidemic has advocated for the fair treatment and equality of the Latinx LGBTQ+ community. “This ripple effect has made the fight for equality more comprehensive and interconnected.” Trans people are still left behind Despite broader LGBTQ+ gains, trans people find themselves excluded while being drastically impacted by modern political debates. While the recent election cycle ushered in the historic election of openly trans Sarah McBride to Congress , less than 1% of U.S. elected officials identify publicly as LGBTQ+. Since 2017, t he Victory Institute tracked a 6% decrease in elections of trans people amid increases in elections of other LGBTQ+ candidates. Representation in office continues to be dominated by cis white gay men. This underrepresentation leaves transgender people vulnerable to discrimination and political exploitation from both parties, advocates say. Blossom C. Brown, an Afro-Native trans activist based in Los Angeles, with appearances on the trans rights podcast Transparency and in viral content at Jubiliee’s Middle Ground debates, said, “We are the easiest community to be used for political points by politicians, including some Democrats.” In 2015, Jennicet Gutierrez, co-founder of trans Latine advocacy group Familia TQLM , confronted then President Barack Obama during a White House Pride Month reception about gender-based violence against trans women in ICE detention centers . Security removed her from the event, and media outlets described her actions as heckling. During her 2024 presidential run, Vice President Kamala Harris received endorsements from several major LGBTQ+ organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force . However, trans speakers were excluded from the 2024 Democratic National Convention. In 2018, then president Donald Trump referred to migrant caravans arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border as “hardened criminals.” Some of the earliest known caravans consisted primarily of transgender migrates, displaced by internal conflicts including U.S.-backed coups across Latin America and targeted by police due to gender identity, self-expression, and sexual orientation. In August 2017, the Transgender Law Center recorded the first known official migrant Rainbow Caravan , 11 of whom were trans and the rest LGB . The following year, several LGBTQ+ couples married at the border with Mexico before crossing over. Cruz also warned of parallel and potentially deadly consequences similar to the struggle for abortion rights. “We are going to have thousands and thousands of families and trans young people unable to access that care,” he said. “We’ll need to find either ways to get it illegally in their state, or they might have to flee.” Transgender people have begun leaving the United States. They have fled to New Zealand , France , the Netherlands, and other countries where immigration policies welcome trans asylum seekers. According to a 2023 report from Data for Progress , 41% of trans adults and 43% of trans people aged 18-24 have considered moving. Eight percent of trans adults, including those aged 18-24, have already left, alongside 9% of LGBTQ+ adults 65 or older. “The SCOTUS ruling will have a much more impact on the trans community than it will the LGBTQ community as a whole,” said Brown. “We must wake that up in this movement.” What’s at stake As the protests at the Supreme Court over healthcare for trans youth remain at the forefront of the debate, gender-affirming care also applies to cisgenderpeople. A Hastings Center report found that cisgender make up the majority of those seeking gender-affirming care . “These issues have systematically contributed to our detriment,” said Brown. “[S]ystemic oppression...tries to keep us as the ‘outsider.’ But truth is we are far from it!” In November 2024, TNEP and other groups successfully fought off a second conservative proposal in Tennessee’s Knox County campaign to “ protect child innocence ” by cutting funding to programs deemed sexually explicit. Opponents called it “ undefined,” while the four-page document defined prohibited content as “harmful to minors,” “matter,” “nudity,” “obscene,” “prurient interest,” and “sexual conduct.” Several nonprofits argued that such a vague resolution threatened services, such as programs that respond to and protect children from abuse . Critics called it a thinly disguised anti-drag initiative, which could have had drastic repercussions on the entire state. Thirty-five state constitutions still ban marriage equality . While federal courts overruled these bans in the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015, some legal experts worry the current court could overturn that decision as it did with abortion. Other SCOTUS rulings have undone LGBTQ+ efforts regarding universal human rights, including work and healthcare discrimination. In 2023, the Supreme Court sided with Lorie Smith, a wedding website designer, declaring that she could deny a gay couple services. However, the case centered on a straight man married to a woman who claimed that he never submitted a request . This ruling now means that anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, can be denied services. In July this year, the Biden administration was unable to enforce new rules affirming healthcare for trans U.S. citizens. The SCOTUS overturning of the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council ruling weakened federal enforcement of regulations and reduced the political authority of the Environmental Protection Agency, creating an unforeseen connection between trans rights and climate justice. In 2017, the same year as the Rainbow Caravan, the Trump administration ordered the end of the DACA program , which SCOTUS reversed in 2020 . Trump’s vows of mass deportation , partially which incorporated his twisting of the trans struggle to fit his agenda, could threaten the livelihood of many people essential to the U.S. economy, like the agriculture sector, which employs a 73% migrant workforce . What comes next As a common practice, activists center the needs of the most marginalized to create universal solutions. Cruz said that by addressing the needs of Black trans women, including disabled Black trans undocumented women with English as a second language, the rights and needs of all will be served. “This is true for all Americans,” he said. “It’s not some special thing that only Black trans people or queer trans people need.” Amid 574 anti-LGBTQ bills circulating across state legislatures and the resulting mental health crisis for trans youth, organizers plan to follow the trans legacy of activism and continue to pressure the Supreme Court to side with them through direct action. “We will never give up on our trans youth,” said Brown. “I have hope and faith that the LGBTQ community will respond with even more powerful mechanisms of change.” Sanders encouraged activists to show up for TNEP’s Zoom phone banks and “Day on the Hill” action to campaign for LGBTQ+ rights, which they will announce later. In Chicago, Hernández indicated that ALMA will mobilize through educating the wider community about transgender issues and collaborating with legal organizations like Equality Illinois . ALMA currently offers empowerment and economic mobility through programs like its Latinx LGBTQ+ Advocacy Leadership Institute. “Where possible, we’ll also explore ways to offer financial support to trans youth and families navigating new legal or medical challenges,” said Hernández. In New York City, Cruz called for increased volunteer and financial support of the Transgender Law Center and other trans-led legal efforts nationwide. “We’ve made America a better place by pushing for inclusivity,” said Brown. “Unfortunately there are groups who are threatened by this. Not our problem! We will continue the fight.” Rohan Zhou-Lee (They/Siya/祂(Tā)/Elle) is a queer/nonbinary Black Asian dancer, writer, and organizer. A 2023 Open City Fellow at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, they have written for Newsweek, Prism Reports, NextShark, and more . Siya is also the founder of the award-winning Blasian March , a Black-Asian-Blasian grassroots solidarity organization, and for their work has been featured on CNN , NBC Chicago , USA Today , WNYC , and more . Zhou-Lee has spoken on organizing, human rights , and other subjects at New York University, The University of Tokyo, the 2022 Unite and Enough Festivals in Zürich, Switzerland, Harvard University, and more. www.diaryofafirebird.comAstronaut Emily Calandrelli criticizes men who sexualized her reaction to seeing Earth