CINCINNATI —

(The video above is from a previous story.)

It’s time to grab your ruby slippers and follow the yellow brick road!

The “Wizard of Oz” is returning to select theaters across the country in celebration of what would have been Judy Garland’s 100^thbirthday.

Fathom Events said these exclusive showings will feature a rarely seen musical number.

There will be a few showings across the Greater Cincinnati area, however tickets and seating will be limited.

Tickets are available for purchase ahead of time.

The movie will be showing in theaters on Sunday, June 5 and Monday, June 6.

For more information on showtimes and ticket prices, click here.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — For 36 years, Quatrefoil Library has been a center for books and archived magazines about the queer experience.

"The mission, I think then as now is to be a crossroads, to be a place where people connect and to be a place where people can explore and be exposed to new ideas or existing ideas that they might already be thinking about," said executive director Claude Peck.

It’s a place that believes in the power of books for folks to see themselves in and connect to a community that they might otherwise not have. With this belief, the current culture war is something that worries Peck.

"It's a concern and things seem to be accelerating," he said.

According to PEN America, between July 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, 1,586 books were banned in 86 school districts across 26 states, including Minnesota where Quatrefoil is located. Most of the books had to do with race and LGBTQ topics.

"Books were an important part of my coming out process and so for me to be able to think about like, what was missing then and what is probably missing now. And can I write that?" said Rachel Gold, who is an associate professor and author of young adult books about queer characters.

"Representation is immensely important in young adult because it's this identity formation stage," they said.

Rachel says that they believe these bans come from fear. They believe that stories are one of the safest ways for teens to see themselves as they figure out their identity or for people to learn about others.

"Learning about LGBTQ lives is not going to turn anybody gay, but it is going to allow for broader, interesting, productive, and fulfilling work and friend relationships for the whole rest of your life," they said.

Just like Gold saw a gap in representation in literature, Rebecca Lawerence saw a gap in the telling of queer history. Lawrence started telling queer history, a series of gatherings for these stories to be passed down.

"There's like anger and also just hilarity that they think that that will keep us from knowing who we are or keep us from being who we are," they said.

Limiting exposure to queer literature won’t erase their community, but they believe barriers to access are harmful.

"Having stories to reflect yourself is extremely validating. It's a way to understand yourself and be like, okay, that's not exactly my story, but I can understand this. Like that's how we build empathy," Lawrence said.

When a new LGBTQ book is banned, Quatrefoil makes it a point to have it available.

"My parents hated my Frank Zappa album when I first bought it and I liked it twice as much as a result, so you gotta be careful of that to," joked Peck.

While conversations about excluding books in libraries continue, advocates for more available literature hope people consider the benefits of representation.

"People just need to be aware that this wisdom comes from all kinds of sources and that it's a changing world," said Peck.

Social media video was trailing a far-right Twitter influencer who sought to disrupt an LGBTQ pride event in Arlington, Texas Sunday. With her, a Dallas Fort Worth chapter of The Proud Boys.

They're a well-documented violent fascist gang that's also in the spotlight of the Congressional committee investigating the January 6 assault on the Capitol to overturn the presidential election.

"This latest stuff, where you have these radicalized groups that, you know, seem to delight in the cruelty — That's new," said Rafael McDonnell, communications manager at The Resource Center. 

LGBTQ advocacy groups in north Texas are alarmed by the recent harassment and disinformation campaigns of far-right social media influencers during Pride Month that is also attracting white nationalist groups.

"And I think that is, in part, fueled by some of the governmental response to LGBTQ folks, whether it's Governor DeSantis in Florida and 'Don't Say Gay' and some of the stuff," McDonnell continued. "And then Gov. Abbott here in Texas, you know, coming after the health care of transgender children."

On June 11, Idaho authorities intercepted 31 members of Patriot Front, a fascist white nationalist group that seeks to create a "whites-only America."

According to documents, an eyewitness said members gathered like "a little army." Police say they wanted to violently disrupt a pride event in the city of Couer d'Alene. 

David Cunningham, a sociologist, and expert on white supremacist and white nationalist groups says whether it's Patriot Front or The Proud Boys, both groups are showing up with conservative influencers to recruit more people into extremism. 

"As we saw this past weekend, showing up at public events to kind of promote ideas, but to do so in a way that is quite menacing, intimidating by design, and terroristic when you see it in the context that we saw it in in Idaho," he said. "And what I think we're seeing is a whole range of issues that are have been traditionally part of that white supremacist ecosystem, which are really about — they're framed in terms of reducing the power, visibility, and presence of, quote-unquote, traditional and right for white Americans."

In court records obtained by Newsy and Scripps sister station KSTU in Salt Lake City, Patriot Front members appeared prepared to cause mayhem. They came armed with "unusually long flag poles," a smoke grenade, and "metal shields."

Almost all carried small devices to record video and fashioned their own body armor using shin guards or putting hardened plastic in their ball caps. 

In a propaganda video posted on alternative social platforms prior to their arrests in Idaho, members appear spurred on by their leader, training with shields in a mock riot. Sparverius, which monitors extremist groups, says this is evidence Patriot Front prepared for violence.  

"I think underlying that, we see a theme continuous current as well of the threat of mass violence, of the threat of domestic terrorism attached to this. And so, you know, this, this is a really tenuous and fragile time, because I think the movement is simultaneously both of these kinds of things," Cunningham said.

Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

A Florida law banning transgender youth from getting medical treatment is temporarily on hold after a surprise decision Tuesday by a federal judge.

The ruling comes amid a bevy of legislation sweeping state houses this year restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Meanwhile LGBTQ+ communities and their allies are organizing Pride events and calling for pushback against what they say are discriminatory laws.

Here's a look at the latest developments:

___

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA?

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

"Gender identity is real," Judge Robert Hinkle said, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

In the video player above: Human Rights Campaign declares a national state of emergency in the U.S. for LGBTQ+ community

Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment.

The lawsuit brought by the three children's parents challenges the law Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before he announced a run for president.

The judge's decision focuses on the use of GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. The litigation focuses on language involving minors and doesn't address other wording that makes it difficult to nearly impossible for adults to receive or continue gender-affirming care.

___

LOUISIANA'S RESTRICTIONS

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in Louisiana has passed in the Senate and is heading to the governor's desk.

The measure would prohibit hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for minors.

The House, which has already passed it, is expected to approve some amendments before the bill goes before Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes it.

Edwards has not said whether he would veto the legislation. If he does, lawmakers could convene a veto session to try to override his decision.

Last session, the governor chose not to block a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women and girls sports competitions in Louisiana, although he successfully vetoed a similar measure the year before.

Louisiana legislators are also expected to give final passage to two other anti-LGTBQ+ measures — a "Don't Say Gay" bill and one restricting pronoun usage.

___

AN LGTBQ+ 'EMERGENCY'

The Human Rights Campaign has declared a " state of emergency " for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., calling on people in government and the business community to fight for equal rights.

"We need champions right now," HRC President Kelley Robinson said.

The campaign released a guidebook for LGBTQ+ Americans to help them navigate laws it deems discriminatory in certain states. It includes a "know your rights" information section and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

The nation's largest organization devoted to LGBTQ+ rights said travel advisories aren't enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

___

FLAG FLAP IN MISSISSIPPI

Some residents are protesting after the Veterans Administration flew an LGBTQ+ pride flag at Mississippi's Biloxi National Cemetery.

All the Republicans in the state's congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding the VA remove the flag. The delegation's only Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson, did not sign it.

The rainbow flag was added to a lineup of several U.S. flags last week to mark June as Pride Month.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough McDonough has authorized flying the pride flag at all VA facilities throughout June, as he has done in previous years.

The VA said in a statement that it's flying the flag to show its commitment "to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors."

___

WHERE TRANSGENDER BANS STAND NATIONALLY

Hundreds of bills have been proposed restricting the rights of transgender people, and LGBTQ+ advocates say they've seen a record number of such measures in statehouses.

In addition to Florida, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia.

Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and Oklahoma has agreed to not enforce its ban while opponents seek a temporary court order blocking it.

Every major doctors' group, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the care for youth when administered appropriately.

Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Chances are, you’ve seen the memes already, poking fun at major corporations cashing in on Pride. 

By June 1, the rainbow flag was everywhere. Part of that is due to the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community.

Newsy's Bianca Facchinei reached out to the Capital Pride Alliance to hear about the reaction. 

“I've sensed very much genuine interest to do more and to do better and to be advocates for us," said Ryan Bos, executive director of the Capital Pride Alliance.

But the flip side has more to do with the bottom line, according to one consumer expert. 

“When you look at the Pride community, it actually represents about $3.7 trillion of spending power," said Lisa Miller, founder of Lisa W. Miller & Associates.

In one way, it’s a win-win. The community gets more visibility, and businesses get to advertise. 

“Acceptance for a minoritized group happens in any number of ways, and one of those ways is actually part and parcel to sort of consumerism," said Michael Bronski, Professor of the Practice in Media and Advertising at Harvard University and author of A Queer History of the United States of Young People.

The financial incentives of having a float in the parade are clear, but so is the “pinkwashing.”

That’s a term advocates use to describe marketing tactics that appear to support but are really only motivated by profits.

Hence all those sarcastic memes.

That’s why it’s important for businesses who sponsor Pride events to demonstrate that they’re fully invested by donating to nonprofits or committing to inclusive work environments. 

“Your engagement and support can't just start and stop with that check," Bos said.

But, experts point out that corporate involvement in politics is nothing new. We saw similar efforts during the Black Lives Matter protests last year and in the lead-up to the presidential election. 

Bianca Facchinei with Newsy first reported this story.

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Sarah Noffsinger in Virginia has been busy for the past few days, packaging gifts to people she’s never met before. She includes a handwritten card signed with love before sealing the bags and boxes.

“I want people to feel like they weren’t ‘othered,’ I guess,” said Noffsinger.

Noffsinger runs the Gender Affirming Clothing Care Package Program out of her Norfolk home for the Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia (TAP VA). The website launched June 1 on the first day of Pride Month.

“Sometimes [transgender people] have to wear clothing that doesn’t align with their gender identity or gender expression, and that can be really dysphoric for a lot of people,” she explained.

Transgender people throughout Virginia can get free clothing that makes them feel comfortable in their own bodies through the new program.

“We want people to pick out clothes that they are going to feel comfortable in and confident in so that they can knock out that job interview or feel confident enough to come out to their friends and family or something like that,” said Noffsinger.

People can browse the online catalog and pick one to three items they like, and Noffsinger will ship them off - completely free of charge.

The program started with 100 pieces of clothing. Three days and 44 orders later, they’re down to eight items.

“Even newly ‘out’ trans people, they... you kind of have to redo your whole closet, which can be a very expensive and also emotionally tasking process to try and clothes and stuff like that,” said Noffsinger.

All the clothing is donated from Nomads Clothing Exchange, a Norfolk consignment store, and community members donated packaging and shipping supplies.

The program temporarily closes on June 10 and will reopen July 1 with new items.

“It feels good knowing that somebody is going to get a package, and like, open it up and feel like super excited about it, and put on a shirt or pants, and just like feel good about who they are, and feel confident in the body that they’re in because the clothing that they’re wearing fits well,” she said.

It’s a small but meaningful gesture to help more people feel proud to be seen.

TAP VA has a free clothing closet located in Portsmouth. People who are interested in shopping at that location should contact TransactivistVA@gmail.com for details.

TAP VA has an Amazon Wish List for supplies to support the program. The nonprofit is also accepting donations through their Give OUT Day fundraiser that ends on June 30 and their website.

This story was originally published by Kofo Lasaki at WTKR.

The month of June is Pride month, dedicated to the members of the LGBTQ+ community. As you celebrate this year, don't forget about your transgender friends, family and community members.Pink, blue and white are the colors that make up the Transgender Pride flag. Read on to hear about the history of the now iconic flag and what the colors on it actually mean.What is the history of the flag? Navy veteran and transgender woman, Monica Helms created the Transgender Pride flag in 1999. She told the Daily Beast in 2017 that the idea for the flag just "came to " one morning as she woke up. "Not a dream," she clarified, calling it more of a "divine intervention." "When you wake up and you’re still sort of groggy and everything but you’re starting to think and your mind is starting to fill with images — that’s when it came to me."Monica brought the flag with her to the 2000 Phoenix Pride parade, where she flew it for the first time. That original flag was acquired by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2014.How did it gain popularity?When Monica brought the flag to Phoenix Pride in 2000, many were immediately interested in the design. "This was for me and if nobody had embraced it, it still would have been OK for me. It would have been my flag," she told the Daily Beast. "But then, people started seeing it and they thought the pattern was great and they liked the reason for the colors and it just took off." Monica continued to take the flag to various parades and events and eventually, the design caught on. "The speed with which the flag’s usage spared never fails to surprise me, and every time I see it, or a photo of it, flying above a historic town hall or building I am filled with pride," she said in her 2019 memoir "More Than Just A Flag."What do the colors mean? Monica purposefully designed the flag so that, no matter how you hold it, it looks the same. "This symbolizes us trying to find correctness in our own lives," she said, according to Pride.As for the colors, those have a lot of meaning as well. "The light blue is the traditional color for baby boys, pink is for girls, and the white in the middle is for those who are transitioning, those who feel they have a neutral gender or no gender, and those who are intersexed," Monica explained.