D'Anne Witkowski
All stories by D'Anne Witkowski
The Republican Fixation on Trans Kids Makes All Kids Less Safe
On Oct. 15, 2026, Silver Rail Elementary in Oregon became the latest site of a mass school shooting. Though by the time this is published, it’s entirely possible another school will take the title of “latest,” bumping Silver Rail to the title of [...]Read more about The Republican Fixation on Trans Kids Makes All Kids Less Safe
Elon Musk Has All of the Money, None of the Juice
You’ve got to hand it to Elon Musk. He is both the richest man in the world and a total fucking loser.He’s living proof that money can’t buy you happiness, money can’t make people like you and money can’t make you cool.It can, however, allow you to [...]Read more about Elon Musk Has All of the Money, None of the Juice
Dennis Hastert, the 'Family Values' Speaker Who Molested Boys, Dies at 84
I have to admit, I had forgotten about Dennis Hastert. In fact, if you’d told me he’d already been dead for years, I would have accepted that without question. Or mourning.The former Republican speaker of the House died Oct. 3 at his home in Plano, [...]Read more about Dennis Hastert, the 'Family Values' Speaker Who Molested Boys, Dies at 84
Title IX Must Be Destroyed in the Name of Saving Women and Girls from Sports
The first time I heard the words “Title Nine” I was in junior high. It was the ’90s, and those two words together had no meaning to me. One could argue that my school should’ve been teaching middle schoolers about civil rights law. But don’t worry. I [...]Read more about Title IX Must Be Destroyed in the Name of Saving Women and Girls from Sports
Doing It For the Clicks: Boebertjuice Boebertjuice Boebertjuice
It's been a long time since I thought about Lauren Boebert. I think the last time she was on my radar was when she was giving Beetlejuice handies to some guy and then crying that she was acting out while going through a divorce and "simply [...]Read more about Doing It For the Clicks: Boebertjuice Boebertjuice Boebertjuice
Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur Shows She's Just As Anti-Trans As Her Opponent
Stop telling trans people they have to vote for anti-trans Democrats. Stop telling them they'll be responsible for the fall of democracy unless they do.I've been thinking a lot about something @nome.bsky.social posted to Bluesky on Sept. [...]Read more about Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur Shows She's Just As Anti-Trans As Her Opponent
Democrats Won’t Win by Giving in to Transphobia
I was at a concert recently and a person next to me was wearing a cross-body bag that read, “Speak Up for Your LGBTQ+ Friends.” This person appeared to be your average straight white guy. The fact is, straight guys, even those who consider themselves [...]Read more about Democrats Won’t Win by Giving in to Transphobia
Dolly Parton Spent Her Life Affirming Us. Trump Is Spending Her Death Centering Himself.
I want to say Dolly Parton was too good for this world, but I don’t think she’d agree with such a statement. But I think it’s fair to say she was better than most. After her death it seemed like no one had a single bad word to say about her.Unlike, [...]Read more about Dolly Parton Spent Her Life Affirming Us. Trump Is Spending Her Death Centering Himself.
Log Cabin Republicans Make It Official: They Hate Trans People
The Log Cabin Republicans is an absolutely worthless organization. Actually, they’re worse than worthless because they gleefully help to advance the Republican anti-queer agenda.So of course they’re anti-trans now. In an Aug. 20 piece published on [...]Read more about Log Cabin Republicans Make It Official: They Hate Trans People
When Family Ties Start to Choke, Sometimes You Need to Get Out the Knife
A recent New York Times opinion piece titled “Cutting Your Parents Off Isn’t the Answer” has resulted in a lot of chatter by people I follow on Bluesky about whether or not queer people who aren’t accepted by their parents or other family members [...]Read more about When Family Ties Start to Choke, Sometimes You Need to Get Out the Knife
Trump is About to be Down Bad With O’Donnell Derangement Syndrome
She’s back, baby! Rosie O’Donnell is back in the United States after moving to Ireland shortly after Trump was elected for the second stupid time. She was on the cover of People magazine, has a one-woman show called “Common Knowledge” that she’s [...]Read more about Trump is About to be Down Bad With O’Donnell Derangement Syndrome
Who Will Save Girls from the Ghouls Saving Girls’ Sports?
When I was in elementary school, my twin sister and I played in a youth soccer league. We were the only girls on an otherwise all-boys team. Now, I don’t know how or why this happened. I do not know if this was a league where boys and girls played [...]Read more about Who Will Save Girls from the Ghouls Saving Girls’ Sports?
Homophobia, Transphobia Hurt Vulnerable Kids the Most
When you’re a parent, there are a lot of potential nightmares. When they’re babies, you worry that they will suddenly stop breathing. When they’re school-age, you worry about school shootings. When they’re teenagers, you worry about car [...]Read more about Homophobia, Transphobia Hurt Vulnerable Kids the Most
Transgender Rights Are Not a Purity Test for Democrats
I have always voted for Democrats. This means that for much of my voting life, I’ve been voting for people who did not support my right to marry or adopt a child or to be protected from discrimination. Granted, I was voting against people who were [...]Read more about Transgender Rights Are Not a Purity Test for Democrats
Congratulations, You Have Outlived Lindsey Graham
U.S. Senator Graham (R-South Carolina) died of a hardened heart (no, seriously) on July 11 at age 71. He’d been in office since 1992, first as a state representative, then as a U.S. House member, and then, beginning in 2003, as senator.And look, I [...]Read more about Congratulations, You Have Outlived Lindsey Graham
Florida Congressmen Are Very Busy Doing Their Job of Targeting One Single Teenage Dancer
I just plugged “Is Riverdance Irish dancing” into a search engine. Turns out the answer is yes. Do you remember the Riverdance craze? In the late '90s, people could not get enough of this traditional (probably?) style of Irish dancing, often [...]Read more about Florida Congressmen Are Very Busy Doing Their Job of Targeting One Single Teenage Dancer
At 250 Years Young, the United States Is Still in Diapers
I recently had a post go viral on Bluesky. As I write this, it has close to 11,000 likes and has been shared nearly 2,400 times. This has never happened to me before. Apparently I struck a nerve. I also gained a number of new followers on Bluesky who [...]Read more about At 250 Years Young, the United States Is Still in Diapers
The Trump Administration Is Drowning in Corruption, Still Has Time to Hurt Trans Kids
Dear Reader,In an effort to thwart the rise of AI, I am choosing not to use a computer to write this week’s column. I am, instead, writing it by hand using both manmade and natural materials. You will notice various shades of green and a certain [...]Read more about The Trump Administration Is Drowning in Corruption, Still Has Time to Hurt Trans Kids
Hey UFC Fighter Guy, Leave Michelle Obama Out of This
In 2004, the band Modest Mouse released an album called “Good News for People Who Love Bad News.” I think of this album title every time I get any news about politics in the U.S.The lead-up to this country’s 250th anniversary has brought much misery [...]Read more about Hey UFC Fighter Guy, Leave Michelle Obama Out of This
Fascism Is Poison. Many Democrats Are Drinking It Anyway.
Happy Pride! A new poll shows that support for LGBTQ+ rights is dropping in the U.S. I’ve got to admit, that bums me out, but it’s also not a shock considering the sustained attack on queer people being carried out by the most powerful people in the [...]Read more about Fascism Is Poison. Many Democrats Are Drinking It Anyway.
Turning Point USA Will Show You Into Heaven by Making Your Life Hell
It's hard to believe that Charlie Kirk died only eight months ago. Honestly, it feels like years ago. It feels like yesterday. It feels like time is a cruel trick, a series of absolutely insane events perpetuated by a continually gaslighting [...]Read more about Turning Point USA Will Show You Into Heaven by Making Your Life Hell
Eight Dems Join Republicans in Effort to Give Trump More Power to Hurt Trans People
I’m writing this on June 1, 2026, the first day of Pride. Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ people and history and to demand full protection of LGBTQ+ people under the law. It’s also a great time for allies to be even more vocal about their [...]Read more about Eight Dems Join Republicans in Effort to Give Trump More Power to Hurt Trans People
Wait Until You Hear What This Billionaire in California Said About Trans Rights
I don’t like billionaires. I think having that much money while so many people suffer for lack of resources is immoral.That said, there’s one billionaire with whom I agree on at least one issue: trans athletes participating in high school [...]Read more about Wait Until You Hear What This Billionaire in California Said About Trans Rights
Conservatives Interfering with the College Mission to Make Everyone Gay
My teenage son has been watching the show “Ted” lately. A couple of years ago I watched the first “Ted” movie with him at his request. It was, um, not to my taste. I’m not a huge fan of blue humor, especially when it comes from a sentient teddy [...]Read more about Conservatives Interfering with the College Mission to Make Everyone Gay
Democrats Who Participate in Trans Oppression Are a Disgrace
If you are a Democrat who participates in the scapegoating and dehumanizing of transgender people, you are a disgrace, you should be ashamed of yourself, you should take all of the seats and shut all of the fucks up. Leave transgender people alone [...]Read more about Democrats Who Participate in Trans Oppression Are a Disgrace
Toxic Masculinity: It’s What’s For Dinner. Choke On It.
Fuck Ron DeSantis. I mean, not literally. But yeah, fuck that guy.While signing anti-DEI legislation that would let “individuals sue local governments that implement DEI programs,” Florida Gov. DeSantis said, “I would think with DEI the disfavored [...]Read more about Toxic Masculinity: It’s What’s For Dinner. Choke On It.
Judge Uses Legal Terms to Protect Trans Kids, Tell RFK Jr. to Eat Shit
“It’s a great day for transphobes to eat shit.” That’s the first thing I saw when I opened Bluesky today. It was posted by John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats. Darnielle was responding to an article by Erin Reed about a federal judge ruling against [...]Read more about Judge Uses Legal Terms to Protect Trans Kids, Tell RFK Jr. to Eat Shit
Trump Says He Doesn’t Know Pope Leo, Dismisses Him as Weak
I have a song stuck in my head. You know, by Mötley Crüe, big hit in 1989. At the end of the video a rich criminal's life literally goes up in flames."He's the one they call Dr. Jesus, he's the one that makes you feel all [...]Read more about Trump Says He Doesn’t Know Pope Leo, Dismisses Him as Weak
Happy Easter? Trump Finds the Reason for the Season
Did everyone have a happy Easter? Pretty important day for people who like hard boiled and/or chocolate eggs. Also Christians, I understand. No doubt our very authentically Christian president observed the day in a reflectful and respectful way.Or [...]Read more about Happy Easter? Trump Finds the Reason for the Season
The Conversion Therapy Buck Does Not Stop With the Supreme Court
It’s a windy day here in Michigan. As I write this, a transgender pride flag is whipping around wildly on my front porch. The flag keeps getting tangled up and so I periodically go out to unwind it because it’s Transgender Day of Visibility. I’ll be [...]Read more about The Conversion Therapy Buck Does Not Stop With the Supreme Court
America Needs Saving from Republicans, not Transgender People
There are plenty of things that America needs saving from. Things like fascism, war (currently with Iran, but who knows where the whims of our dear leader will have us bombing next), skyrocketing health care costs, environmental pollutants, gun [...]Read more about America Needs Saving from Republicans, not Transgender People
Trump Says Gays Should Be Grateful They’re Not Being Thrown Off of Buildings in the U.S.
A message to blood-thirsty, death-loving, human rights-hating conservatives: Stop using the gays to justify the war in Iran. Stop acting like we should be grateful or something.It’s long been a talking point of the anti-gay right that LGBTQ+ people [...]Read more about Trump Says Gays Should Be Grateful They’re Not Being Thrown Off of Buildings in the U.S.
Pete Hegseth: First Semi-Sentient Wad of Chewing Tobacco to Lead DoD
I’m going to go ahead and say something very controversial here that will probably make it impossible for me to ever run for public office as a member of any major political party: War is awful and bad and everyone who disagrees can go fuck [...]Read more about Pete Hegseth: First Semi-Sentient Wad of Chewing Tobacco to Lead DoD
Kansas Opens New Front in War on Transgender People
You don’t change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War if you’re not planning on going to war. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller and all of the other weak and pathetic fascists running the country absolutely [...]Read more about Kansas Opens New Front in War on Transgender People
Message to Democrats: Try to Understand, He’s a Magic Man
As I write this, the State of the Union Address is scheduled to start in a couple of hours. I am not going to watch it. For so many reasons. For one thing, I already know that the state of the union is VERY BAD. Who besides Kash Patel is having a [...]Read more about Message to Democrats: Try to Understand, He’s a Magic Man
Indifference to Fascism Is Not a Thing
I had a post go viral on Bluesky recently. At least, viral for me. When I left Twitter (which you should definitely do) for Bluesky (which you should do if you want), I had it in my mind that I would use Bluesky solely for heavy metal. Talking about [...]Read more about Indifference to Fascism Is Not a Thing
