| | | | Editor's note:Today's edition of our Monday Lily Lines newsletter will be our last Monday newsletter. Starting next week, we will send the newsletter on Thursdays only. You can expect a combination of our carefully curated lead stories and a roundup of gender and identity coverage. Our team takes pride in handpicking stories that will inform, captivate and surprise you — and that won't change. You can still look forward to finding our most popular features — including comics, good news, and regrams — all bundled in one newsletter. Thanks for subscribing and supporting our team. We hope you enjoy the new Lily Lines. 🖤 | |  | | When children's book author Kyle Lukoff began writing "Call Me Max," it was a dare, of sorts. Writing as a wave of book banning hit the United States — bans mostly focused on stories told by LGBTQ people and people of color — Lukoff paid attention to the criticisms being raised by parents, lawmakers and conservative advocates. They argued that the books contained offensive language or age-inappropriate sexual content. One story about a transgender girl, written by a friend of Lukoff's, received complaints because it contained a reference to "dirty magazines." So Lukoff, a trans man, aimed to write a book that was as safe and "basic" as possible — "bulletproof," as he wrote in a recent Jezebel article. "I wanted to force people to say the quiet part out loud. To say, 'We don't like this book because it's about a trans person,' and not give them any other excuses," Lukoff said. The stakes have never been higher for trans people in the United States. Trans rights are being rolled back around the country, and some trans creators are facing fervent backlash against their work. At the same time, trans artists, writers and performers have more opportunities, and audiences are connecting with more nuanced portrayals of trans people than ever before. Trans filmmakers are showing their movies at Sundance, trans musicians are winning Grammys, and trans writers are best-selling authors. Popular video games such as "The Sims 4" allow players to create trans characters. Increasing visibility, while seen as a reflection of increasing acceptance and understanding of trans communities, has come with increased vulnerability. We spoke to trans storytellers and performers about how they are wrestling with the power — and limitations — of trans representation. | | | | | Three need-to-know stories | | | (Bebeto Matthews/AP; Washignton Post illustration) | 01.E. Jean Carroll, a writer who has accused Donald Trump of raping her nearly three decades ago, testified Wednesday in searing detail about what she says was a brutal assault carried out by the future president of the United States. Taking the stand as part of her lawsuit against Trump, Carroll laid out the core of her case against him: Trump violently attacked her, Carroll said, leaving her emotionally scarred. And when she publicly accused him decades later, Carroll said, Trump's denials caused her further torment. 02.Women will be allowed to vote at a key meeting for Catholics, the Synod of Bishops, for the first time in October after a decision by Pope Francis. The pope's changes were announced Wednesday through the Vatican's news website. They represent a "significant crack in the stained glass ceiling," Kate McElwee, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference, said in a news release. 03.A last-minute appeal filed Wednesday by lawyers for Elizabeth Holmes will keep her out of prison at least a little longer. The disgraced founder of defunct blood-testing start-up Theranos was originally scheduled to report to prison Thursday to begin an 11-year sentence following her conviction on wire fraud charges. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday automatically stayed her surrender date until the court can rule on Holmes's late bid to stay out prison while she fights her conviction. | | | | | | | A story to make you smile | |  | | The evening of senior prom, a student at Nashville Christian School stood in the parking lot outside the venue, holding a sign that read, "They wouldn't let me in because I'm in a suit." B Hayes, who uses the pronouns they/he, was prohibited from entering the high school prom last month due to a dress code violation. Hayes showed up in a black suit rather than a dress. In an Instagram post on April 23, they explained that they were turned away at the door. "my name is B Hayes. im 18 years old and i've been attending Nashville Christian School for 13 years. my senior prom was today and i wasn't allowed in the doors because i was wearing a suit," Hayes wrote. The post quickly started to spread in the local community and beyond. "It just absolutely broke my heart that a high school student was not able to attend their prom," said Van Mol, who owns a live-music venue in Nashville, with her husband Derek. So they brainstormed ideas and decided to offer up their venue to host a private prom — hoping to give Hayes a chance to celebrate the milestone. Van Mol posted about their plan on social media to solicit some support, and almost immediately, people and small businesses began reaching out, offering to pitch in. Messages poured in from florists, photo booth companies, designers, restaurants and photographers, among others. The prom for Hayes is planned for May 6, and R&B artist Tone Stith has signed on to do a private performance. "Knowing that not only the Nashville community is behind me but people all over the country are supporting the issue is incredible to see," Hayes said in an email. "I hope the awareness can bring about positive change and that more students in the future feel strong enough to stand up for freedom of expression." Read more from Sydney Page. | | | | | But before we part, here's someone to know | | | (Carolyn Van Houten/ The Washington Post) | Janay KingsberryStyle reporter, The Washington PostWhat's your favorite story you've written lately?
My recent profile of drag queen icon Kevin Aviance was such a fun interview and writing process. His career has seen a major resurgence since Beyoncé sampled him on "Renaissance," and he had so many fun and wild stories to tell about running around D.C. in the '90s. I wish I could have shared them all! What was something you learned in the process?
It gave me a better understanding of how the LGBTQ community has influenced nightlife and clubbing culture — especially through music, dance and fashion. Queer performers really blazed a trail for everyone to feel more comfortable with their self-expression and individuality. And Kevin worked with some of the biggest entertainers in the world who understood that — from Madonna and Janet Jackson to Whitney Houston and, now, Beyoncé. How do you like to unwind after publishing a big story like this?
I love playing a soothing video game. I recently got back into "Animal Crossing" after more than a year and a half of neglecting my island. It was full of overgrown weeds and critters, but it's been very relaxing to clean up and slowly rebuild it. I'm also excited about the upcoming Zelda release. The previous installment "Breath of the Wild" is the most beautiful game I've ever played. Sometimes I log on to just watch the sun set over Hyrule. | | | | | | | | | |
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