President Biden has criticized anti-trans legislation as “just cruel,” singling out recent developments in Florida in particular as “close to sinful” and suggesting that the federal government needs to legislate to protect transgender rights nationally, the Washington Post reports.

Said Biden: “What’s going on in Florida is, as my mother would say, close to sinful. I mean, it’s just terrible what they’re doing.”

“Tennessee Republican lawmakers on Wednesday advanced legislation that would prevent transgender people from changing their driver’s licenses and birth certificates, a move that officials warn could cost the state millions in federal funding,” the AP reports.

“If enacted, the proposal would define male and female in state law and base people’s legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth. A handful of Republican-led states have introduced similar bills — including Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma — as GOP lawmakers have put transgender issues at the forefront of their legislative agenda.”

Charlie Sykes: “By now, we know that the GOP is losing the culture war over abortion. Polls continue to show strong opposition to the kind of sweeping bans that are passing in red state legislatures.”

“But what about the trans issue? Why is Donald Trump doubling down on draconian proposals which would prohibit federal agencies from promoting ‘the concept of sex and gender transition at any age’ and mandate that the government recognize “male and female,” as assigned at birth, as the only genders…”

“Trump knows that the trans issue excites his base — especially the Christian Right.”

David Byler: “And some of his anti-trans positions might prove popular with elements of the wider electorate, which has recently become less open to transgender rights.”

Gallup: “After showing perceptible increases in 2020 and 2021, U.S. adults’ identification as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual held steady in 2022, at 7.2%.”

“The current percentage is double what it was when Gallup first measured LGBT identification a decade ago.”

“The House passed legislation Thursday that enshrines federal protections for marriages of same-sex and interracial couples,” NBC News reports.

“The vote of 258-169 sends the Respect for Marriage Act to President Joe Biden, who has championed the bill and is expected to sign it into law. It comes after the Senate passed the same bill last week by a vote of 61-36.”

“The House is set to give final approval Thursday to legislation protecting same-sex marriages in federal law, a monumental step in a decadeslong battle for nationwide recognition of such unions that reflects a stunning turnaround in societal attitudes,” the AP reports.

Washington Post: House to pass same-sex marriage bill in one of Pelosi’s last acts as speaker.

“The Senate on Tuesday passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine marriage equality into federal law, granting protections to same-sex and interracial couples,” the Washington Post reports.

“The bill passed in a 61-36 vote. The bill includes a bipartisan amendment that clarifies protections for religious liberties, and will now return to the House for another vote before it can go to President Biden to sign into law.”

New York Times: “Richard Fierro was at a table in Club Q with his wife, daughter and friends on Saturday, watching a drag show, when the sudden flash of gunfire ripped across the nightclub and instincts forged during four combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan instantly kicked in. Fight back, he told himself, protect your people.”

Said Fierro: “I don’t know exactly what I did, I just went into combat mode. I just know I have to kill this guy before he kills us.”

“It was Mr. Fierro’s first time at a drag show, and he was digging it. He had spent 15 years in the Army, and now relished his role as a civilian and a father, watching one of his daughter’s old high-school friends perform.”

He added: “These kids want to live that way, want to have a good time, have at it. I’m happy about it because that is what I fought for, so they can do whatever they hell they want.”

Ben Shapiro slammed the Senate vote to advance the right to same-sex marriage: “If you vote for the idea that society has an obligation to recognize male-male or female-female dyads in the same way that society has to recognize male-female, you should not be in the Republican Party.”

Charlie Sykes: “In theory, that means that at least a dozen Republican Senators — and probably several dozen House Republicans — ought to be excommunicated. And, under the Shapiro Rule, several million Republican-leaning voters also ought to be shown the door, which seems an odd strategy for a political party struggling to figure out how to win elections.”

“But maybe, just maybe, that’s part of the GOP’s problem.”

“The Senate on Wednesday voted to start debate on legislation that would codify same-sex marriage protections, paving the way for it to pass by the end of the week,” The Hill reports.

“Senators voted 62-37 to advance the measure, with 12 Republicans joining with every Democrat. Lawmakers are expected to vote once again tomorrow to invoke cloture, setting up a final vote by the end of the week.”

“Democrats will put the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act up for a vote this week just days after the midterms,” Semafor reports.

“Earlier this month, Semafor reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer intended to pass the Respect for Marriage Act by year’s end and that it was expected to have enough votes. This legislation, which has already passed the House of Representatives with 47 Republicans joining Democrats, would federalize same sex marriage recognition and protection if the Supreme Court reverses itself on same sex marriage rights.”