“On the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the Biden administration proposed sweeping changes to the landmark law that would bar schools, colleges and universities from discriminating against transgender students, a move that comes as the battle over transgender rights moves to the front lines of the culture war,” the Washington Post reports.

“The proposal would extend the protections of Title IX, which prohibits schools that get federal funds from discriminating on the basis of sex, to transgender students, compelling schools to accommodate and protect them.”

“A record number of LGBTQ candidates are running for all levels of office this year, motivated in part by red states passing scores of laws targeting LGBTQ people,” Axios reports.

“Even as an increasing share of Americans report familiarity with and tolerance for transgender people, most oppose allowing transgender female athletes to compete against other women at the professional, college and high school level,” according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.

A new Pew Research poll finds that 1.6% of the U.S. population identifies as transgender or nonbinary, the latter term being used to describe people who do not identify exclusively as male or female.

Among people younger than 30, about 5% said they are trans or nonbinary.

“Ohio House Republicans passed a bill late Tuesday that bans all transgender students from playing high school and college sports, and requires genital exams in any disputes,” the HuffPost reports.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) declared that an AR-15 is “a gun of choice for killing raccoons before they get to our chickens.”

A new Gallup poll finds 71% of Americans say they support legal same-sex marriage, which exceeds the previous high of 70% recorded in 2021 by one percentage point.

“Exxon Mobil Corp. plans to prohibit the LGBTQ-rights flag from being flown outside its offices during Pride month in June, prompting a furious backlash from Houston-based employees,” Bloomberg reports.

Washington Post: “The stream of shootings comes amid a grim backdrop of increased gun violence nationwide, and at a time when mayors, police chiefs and mediators working on the streets to curb the bloodshed were already reporting a disturbing shift. Grievances or minor slights that might have once led to fistfights, they said, were instead suddenly escalating to gunfire.”

“In some of the recent shootings that left numerous people dead or injured, officials said the gunfire appeared to be tied to disputes among people or groups gathered in public or crowded areas. But this violence underscored that shootings leaving several people injured or killed are up significantly compared with before the pandemic, and the ongoing toll has public officials and others fearful heading into the summer months.”

Washington Post: “Nationwide, GOP lawmakers have filed nearly two hundred state bills this year that seek to erode protections for transgender and gay youth or to restrict discussion of LGBTQ topics in public schools.”

“The explosion of legislation is in part the culmination of efforts by a trio of conservative organizations, which are helping state legislators write and promote the bills.”

“The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a free-speech case of a Colorado-based web designer who says she should not be forced to create websites for same-sex weddings under state law,” Axios reports.

“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appeared Monday to voice support for a controversial state bill that would ban certain discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom,” CNN reports.

“It’s the first time DeSantis has publicly signaled support for an effort by state Republican lawmakers to shut down certain conversations in schools about sexual orientation and gender identity. Though he didn’t directly say whether he would sign the bill if it reached his desk when asked about it Monday, DeSantis’ remarks appeared to strongly suggest he is supportive.”

“North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson again made disparaging remarks about LGBTQ+ people, this time at a Winston-Salem church, according to a video of the sermon made on Sunday,” the Raleigh News and Observer reports.

“Robinson, a Republican who is expected to run for governor in 2024, questioned the ‘purpose’ of being gay; said heterosexual couples are ‘superior’ to gay couples; and that he didn’t want to explain to his grandchildren why two men are kissing if they see that on television.”