Two bills to be heard this week could affect GLBT

It is time for GLBT people to pull double duty as two bills that could affect the GLBT community will be heard this week.

Rep. Joey Hensley (R) last week chose not to present his bill banning anyone but straight married couples from using embryo donation as a way to have a child. He rescheduled the bill for 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31 . 

A companion bill brought by Sen. Diane Black (R) was placed on notice to be heard Wednesday, April 1, at 8 a.m. 

The bill would allow only straight, married couples to "adopt" an embryo for transfer to the "adoptive" birth mother.  Passage of this legislation would mean that single women and gay and lesbian couples would be banned from using in vitro.

"This can get pretty complex and personal given the number of reasons why one chooses in vitro as a way to have a child," said Tennessee Equality Project President Christopher Sanders. "It's as different as every individual or couple as to why they want to conceive. What's scary about the bill is that it cuts off these options for a lot of people, straight and gay."

If the Embryo Ban Bill passes, it would cost the state around $56,000, Sanders said. 

"This may not sound like much, but it is a whole lot in a year when budget cuts are the norm," Sanders said.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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Photo by Pexels

Abortion Rights

Sponsored by Planned Parenthood

Abortion is not just a women's issue. Reproductive rights, including abortion, affects everyone, including queer people. Our involvement in the fight for abortion rights is both crucial and interconnected to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Here are five reasons why LGBTQ+ communities are involved in abortion rights.

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