Hi there,

🫠 Oh, Mark Robinson. The North Carolina gubernatorial hopeful has said some disturbing and threatening things. On Thursday, a CNN report revealed he referred to himself as a "Black Nazi" and said he liked watching trans adult entertainment even though he's said bigoted, transphobic things in the past. He's known for saying outrageous things. In fact, we have a list here of some of those comments.

🏛️ President Joe Biden made history this week after a 12th queer judge was confirmed by the Senate. Mary Kay Costello, a military veteran and former assistant U.S. attorney, was confirmed as a federal judge on Tuesday. By a 52-41 vote, Costello was confirmed by the full Senate as a district court judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. With her confirmation, Biden surpassed former President Barack Obama’s total of 11 confirmed out judges. 🏛️

🚨 The Wyoming Board of Parole has denied a commutation petition filed by Russell Henderson, one of the two men convicted for the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a case that became a global symbol of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. After serving 25 years behind bars for the heinous crime, Henderson, 47, had sought a reduction of his sentence through the state’s commutation process. After a hearing, the board decided not to forward the petition to Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon for consideration.

Onward and upward,

Alex Cooper