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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California groups fighting for equality and inclusivity in health care are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the state budget as is, leaving LGBTQ+ health care grants in place.

Newsom has until Friday to sign a balanced budget to close a $12 billion deficit.

Ariela Cuellar, senior communication specialist at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, a project of the nonprofit Health Access California, pressed Newsom to retain the funding.

"Now is the time for Gavin Newsom to really prove his allyship in supporting a budget that reflects funding for LGBTQ+ resources and community centers to improve our lives," Cuellar urged.

The Governor's May budget revision proposed $40 million in cuts to programs like the California Reducing Disparities Project, the Gender Health Equity Section and the Office of Health Equity, but lawmakers kept them in place. The programs provide mental health care, peer support and reproductive health services to the LGBTQ+ community.

Cuellar added she is optimistic the Governor will forgo his line-item veto power and preserve the funding, especially given the Trump administration's attacks on programs supporting gender identity.

"Funding LGBTQ orgs is still going to be a need, not only through this budget cycle but for years to come," Cuellar emphasized. "Especially as the federal administration continues to cut vital resources like the 988 LGBTQ suicide hotline."

California residents can submit comments about the budget online.

A new Indiana law takes effect July 1 banning transgender women and girls from playing on women's college sports teams, expanding the state's earlier K-12 restrictions passed in 2022.

The measure applies to all public colleges and universities, and any private school competing against a public institution. Supporters said the measure protects fairness in women's sports by requiring athletes to compete based on their sex assigned at birth.

Zoe O'Haillin-Berne, director of marketing and communications for the LGBTQ+ community support organization Indiana Youth Group, said the law harms students already at high risk.

"Laws like HB 1041 do more than restrict sports participation," O'Haillin-Berne pointed out. "They send a loud and resounding message that transgender youth do not belong in Indiana."

Opponents of the new law have said it is not backed by facts. O'Haillin-Berne added it distracts from the real challenges transgender students face on campus.

O'Haillin-Berne disputed widely-disseminated claims of "unfairness" when trans athletes compete in women's sports.

"1041 is built on the false claim that transgender girls are dominating women's sports," O'Haillin-Berne noted. "In reality, most transgender youth avoid sports altogether. They do this because of the scrutiny and bullying that they face on a day-to-day basis."

O'Haillin-Berne argued Indiana leaders should focus on making schools and campuses safer for all students, not more hostile.


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Amid concerns about the breakdown in protections for LGBTQ folks, a New Mexico advocacy group says resilience is needed to ensure their safety and freedom.

The state has been a leader in protecting and celebrating LGBTQ rights and inclusivity, dating back to 2003, said Layla Garcia, communications associate with Equality New Mexico. That's when the legislature passed a law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in such areas as employment, housing, and public accommodations.

She noted that those protections have been consistently strengthened over time, but said vigilance is needed now more than ever.

"With all of the attacks that we're seeing on queer and trans folks from hostile governments," said Garcia, "it's really important that we mobilize and keep people informed on things that are going to be impacting them."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that a Tennessee law prohibiting some medical treatments for transgender youths does not violate the U.S. Constitution -- ultimately shielding 20 other states with similar laws.

Because of its current laws, trans New Mexican youth and their parents don't need to worry about the recent ruling affecting their access to gender-affirming care.

At the same time, Garcia said these types of rulings can lead to difficulties in receiving medical care and encourage discrimination.

"We're already seeing the attempts at trans sports bans, and cuts to HIV and AIDS treatment and funding for those resources," said Garcia. "So, when things like this happen, even though we are protected, it just emboldens people, even here, to continue their attacks."

Equality New Mexico issued a statement following the high court's ruling in the U.S. vs Skrmetti case, noting that all major medical associations support gender-affirming care as evidence-based and a life-saving medical treatment.

The advocacy group has launched a campaign around data privacy and its impact on vulnerable communities.