Should You Buy the S&P 500's Highest-Yielding Dividend Stocks Heading Into 2025?WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court seemed likely Wednesday to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices' decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which restrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender health care for minors. Supporters of transgender rights rally Wednesday outside the Supreme Court in Washington. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism over arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of transgender rights, questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should weigh in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states. "The Constitution leaves that question to the people's representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor," Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments. The court's three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers, but it's not clear that any conservatives will go along. People attend a rally March 31, 2023, as part of a Transgender Day of Visibility, near the Capitol in Washington. Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents ages 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school's Williams Institute. "Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn't protect them. It didn't protect women for whole centuries," Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967 Loving decision that legalized interracial marriage nationwide. Quoting from that decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that "the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature." ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio, left, and plaintiff Joaquin Carcano address reporters after a June 25, 2018, hearing in Winston-Salem, N.C., on their lawsuit challenging the law that replaced North Carolina's "bathroom bill." Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation's highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that's susceptible to discrimination. Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito's questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. "So it's not an immutable characteristic, is it?" Alito said. Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients' favor. There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court's marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like "Champion God's Design" and "Kids Health Matters," while the other side proclaimed "Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights" and "Freedom to be Ourselves." Four years ago, the court ruled in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that "sex plays an unmistakable role" in employers' decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate. Demonstrators against transgender rights protest Wednesday during a rally outside of the Supreme Court in Washington. The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same. Tennessee's law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state "decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors." She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban. Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association. For many trans and nonbinary people, bathrooms can be complicated places to navigate — a fact highlighted by in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is far from an outlier when it comes to failing to provide safe and equitable bathrooms for transgender people. According to the Movement Advancement Project, which tracks LGBTQ+ policy, prevents transgender people from safely or legally using public bathrooms. But data shows that even in states with trans-friendly policies, transgender and nonbinary people report high rates of harassment in public bathrooms. Advocates say everyday people can have a big impact in interrupting discrimination in gendered restrooms. shows how anyone can help prevent abuse. Sex-segregated restrooms have historically been a hostile space for Tat Bellamy-Walker, a Seattle-based journalist and Black gender-fluid trans person. In graduate school and at journalism internships, they had to go far out of their way to find all-gender single-stall restrooms they could use safely. "You never forget being told you don't belong in a restroom, you never forget not having a place to dispose of sanitary products if you're on your period in the men's bathroom," Bellamy-Walker said. "It's just clear you do not belong in public spaces." Allies can help tremendously by locating and pointing out gender-neutral bathrooms to friends or family who might need them. This is especially important for people planning events or parties. Make sure your space has safe bathrooms. Carrie Soto, a South Dakota parent of a transgender child, said she lives by the mantra "see something, say something." That means speaking up when there is bullying and harassment and volunteering to accompany a trans/nonbinary friend or family member when they have to head into a public bathroom. "Validate a trans person's fears and anxiety about the situation," Soto said. " If [my daughter] uses a gendered restroom and feels anxious, I go with." It may seem obvious, but transgender health advocate Jamison Green notes this step can really help trans people feel safe. Consider first that according to , 59 percent of trans people avoided using a public restroom due to fear of harassment. Data from said they were physically or verbally attacked while trying to use a bathroom, while 4 percent were denied access to a bathroom. "If you see someone who you clock as trans or nonbinary, just smile or pay them a non-provocative compliment. ... Wish them good day or good evening, and move on," Green said. "Of course that only goes for the women's room! In the men's room, talking is extremely rare." Green recommends that cisgender people offer a kind, silent nod. Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., allow residents to opt for "X" gender markers on their IDs in addition to selecting "M" or "F." Still, in every state, regardless of laws, most bathrooms in government buildings, schools, businesses, places of worship and cultural institutions are gendered. Advocates say people can help change this by simply asking businesses and building owners for more options to accommodate all genders. "Advocacy is the most important part of the fight for transgender rights," "And if employers adopt pro-trans policies proactively, instead of waiting for a transgender person to pave the way, there's much less chance of having problems down the line." The internet is full of rants not appropriate for a news article about people using the only single-stall gender-neutral bathrooms available not for safety but for ... well, pooping. As a result, gender-neutral bathrooms, especially in airports, are almost always occupied. There are many reasons why a cisgender person might need a single-occupancy bathroom (accessibility, illness, child care and, yes, even a little more privacy). Just like accessible stalls, it's a kindness to leave gender-neutral restrooms unoccupied when you don't need them. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.None
KTR dismisses allegations against him in Formula- E Car Race; Calls them ‘baseless’Potatoes are the most common vegetable found in kitchens after the holidays, but many people unknowingly store them incorrectly, shortening their shelf life. Vegetables are often stored together to save room, but Tiffany, a cook and founder of Imperfectly Happy , has explained that potatoes need to always be kept away from onions. Tiffany said: “It’s important not to store onions and potatoes together. Potatoes release moisture and gases that can cause onions to spoil faster. Always store these two vegetables separately for best results.” Onions also release ethylene gas, a natural plant-growing hormone that speeds up ripening and makes food more flavourful but also accelerates spoilage in certain other vegetables. Instead, ensure your potatoes stay fresh for longer by storing them in a basket far away from onions and then keeping them somewhere cool. Potatoes need to be kept somewhere that is not too cold as it will turn the starches inside them into sugars, which will cause them to become grainy. However, potatoes need to also be kept away from heat as it will cause them to lose moisture, which will promote rot and cause them to become rubbery. The ideal solution is to keep potatoes at room temperature in a cupboard, drawer or even a butler pantry in your kitchen as they also need to be kept away from light. Too much light can cause potatoes to begin to produce chlorophyll, which will cause them to turn green, begin sprouting as well as have an extremely bitter taste. It may seem like there is a lot potatoes need to be protected from to be stored properly but it is easy to keep them fresh as long as you keep them cool, dark and dry. Tiffany said: “Moisture is your enemy when storing potatoes. Store them in a dry environment and avoid washing them before storage. If the potatoes are dirty, gently brush off the dirt, but never rinse them until you’re ready to use them.” Potatoes should be kept away from onions and other ethylene-producing foods but can be stored with most other vegetables such as carrots, beets, and turnips. Once you have the perfect spot in your kitchen to store potatoes then keep them in an open container so there is no chance of moisture build up. Tiffany said: “Proper air circulation is critical to prevent mould or rot. Store potatoes in a burlap sack, mesh bag, or a basket that allows air to flow freely. Avoid storing them in plastic bags, which trap moisture and accelerate spoilage.” When potatoes are stored properly they can stay fresh for months rather than lasting a few weeks so you will know your cupboard is fully stocked so you do not have to worry about them rotting or turning mushy before their time.
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Pete Wicks gushed over his partner Jowita as he was axed from the hit BBC dancing show on Saturday night. The former TOWIE star just missed out on a place in the final. He had to dance off against Love Island star Tasha Ghouri for the last time in the competition. Judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse unanimously chose to save Tasha and send Pete and his partner Jowita home. Pete and Jowita have sparked romance rumours throughout the competition, and reignited them as they performed their Argentine Tango routine as they appeared to nearly kiss at the end of the routine. Right at the end of the performance, they pulled each other in close and positioned themselves as if they were about to lock lips and looked to be getting very close. Read more Fans questioned whether they had really locked lips on social media. It comes despite Pete seemingly being involved with I'm A Celeb contestant Maura Higgins before she left for Australia, after they were pictured kissing. Pete opened up on his feelings for Jowita on the results show and gushed: "There's a lot of things I'm going to take away from this but the most special thing is you. "You're one one of the most incredible people that I've ever met, not just as a dancer but as a person. You've been a ray of sunshine. You've helped me through things in the past three months that I didn't think I could do. And you made me believe in myself and that means more to me than anything." It comes after Maura revealed in the I'm A Celebrity jungle that she had been getting close to a famous face before the show. The Irish beauty, who first rose to fame on Love Island , was being quizzed by her fellow campmates about her love life. She revealed she had been dating someone important before flying out to Australia, and admitted she was missing them in the jungle and that things 'felt different' with him. She also gave her tough three-word opinion on her love, saying: "He's not an a******."Although Donald Trump's re-election win all but assured that all of his federal criminal trials will go away , he still faces an onslaught of civil trials related to his actions before, during and after the Jan. 6 insurrection . With the courts already ruling civil actions may proceed against Trump , Politico's Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney noted the once and future president is " not off the hook " when it comes to court dates. According to the report, "Trump is likely to be fighting eight civil lawsuits — from members of Congress and injured police officers — deep into his second term. They may be the last form of legal redress Trump faces for his role in spurring the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021." ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Dems consider whether Biden should ‘clear the slate’ and pardon Trump Joseph Sellers, an attorney representing multiple clients from both sides of the political aisle, explained, "These cases, unlike the criminal case, will not be affected by the election. Our clients suffered real injuries that entitle them to relief, but also I think are seeking some measure of accountability given President Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 events and the events leading up to it.” Noting the Trump and his army of lawyers are still awaiting a ruling on whether his presidential immunity will extend to civil suits, the report states an adverse ruling could leave him facing "tens of millions of dollars" to be paid out to the victims of the violence he allegedly incited. According to Sellers, "This is something that should be brought to trial during the second administration of President Trump," adding, "We’re not suggesting that the president be treated like any other defendant, but that should not stop the cases from proceeding to trial.” You can read more here.