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# 🪞 Seeing myself in Republicans’ hate
- URL: https://www.thebarbedwire.com/seeing-myself-in-republicans-hate-2/
- Published: 2026-10-26T15:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-26T15:15:59.000Z
- Description: What do you do when the attack ads look like you?
- Author: Kit O'Connell
- Tags: Big & Bright Newsletter, Queer Texas

❎ Welcome back to Big & Bright 🌈 ⭐, my queer stars! Early voting has begun as Spooky Season reaches its apex. The combination feels surreal this year as we face a [monstrous](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/banned-books-and-the-monster-inside-2/) wave of anti-trans propaganda. 

🔔 Reminder: this is one of [two Texas newsletters](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/newsletters/) offered by *The Barbed Wire,* and we’ll be covering the midterms in both. Next week, look for a special issue of Big & Bright 🌈 ⭐ 👏 plus more in [Wild Texas](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/tag/wild-texas-newsletter/)! [Subscribe to both](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/newsletters/) and share them with your friends! 

Supported by The ACLU of Texas

A special thanks to The ACLU of Texas for underwriting our queer Texas coverage. All essays, reporting, and analysis is, as always, editorially independent.

🎃 Horror movies are comforting to me because I know who the bad guys are: blood-thirsty flesh-eating killers. In real life, I opened up my mail to find a flyer that read “James Talarico is for they/them.” The image of the Senate candidate, marching in an AI-generated Pride parade with gender-ambiguous people, is meant to strike fear in voters. But all I see is myself, reflected back.

🔥 That Republicans villainize me every time I open my mail box or turn on my TV, and [some Democrats](https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/aoc-rebukes-anti-trans-democrats?ref=thebarbedwire.com) echo their talking points, is a stark reminder that LGBTQ+ rights are under threat in America. Regardless of who wins in November, we’ll be forced to fight off the GOP agenda while holding the opposition party’s feet to the fire.

⚕️ This week’s Big Story is about how we care for each other during an ongoing health crisis while our government puts roadblocks in our way. [A new plan from Texas](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/can-texas-fight-hiv-in-the-trump-era/), created in partnership with community orgs, sets out to [cut new HIV cases in half by 2031](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/can-texas-fight-hiv-in-the-trump-era/). But can we defeat AIDS while simultaneously fighting fascist federal attacks on bodily autonomy and medical science?

🏳️‍🌈 Republicans cast us as villains, while pundits claim LGBTQ+ rights are elitist or unconnected to the working class. But what we need is ultimately the same as everyone: housing, food, jobs, and healthcare we can afford. 

👀 Read on for the full story on the plan to fight HIV in Texas, plus all the latest in queer politics and culture ... 

 ⚠️ P.S. Remember, you can [vote early in Texas](https://www.votetexas.gov/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) until October 30! The ACLU of Texas issued this special [voting guide for trans Texans](https://www.instagram.com/p/DepOkZ8F7jl/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

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## **Steers & Queers 🐂**

*What we’re writing and reading in Texas.* 

🏳️‍⚧️ The biggest story this week is the wave of electoral advertising fraudulently targeting the [Transgender Education Network of Texas](https://transtexas.org/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) (TENT). Starting October 12, [Texans received text messages](https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/transgender-texas-fake-mailers-texts?ref=thebarbedwire.com) which falsely appeared to come from TENT. These were followed just days later by [physical mailers](https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/transgender-student-guide-sent-to-texans-by-wyoming-llc/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) from a [Wyoming](https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/texas-transgender-student-union-llc-pamphlets-investigation/287-5b128f52-ecfa-4cc4-85db-bfbac4b634e4?ref=thebarbedwire.com)\-based [shell corporation](https://www.chron.com/culture/article/texas-transgender-student-mailers-22485995.php?ref=thebarbedwire.com) called the “[Texas Transgender Student Union](https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/austin-nonprofits-affected-by-anti-transgender-outrage-over-mystery-mailer-texts/?ref=thebarbedwire.com),” which used more plagiarized images and info from TENT. 

🙅‍♀️ The effect on TENT’s reputation and ability to serve trans Texans has been devastating, as Mimi Marziani, legal counsel for the nonprofit, explained in a special press briefing on Thursday. “Voters are legitimately confused about this,” she said. “It has caused division and strife.” 

⚖️ TENT hired security for their workers, pulled down their website, and canceled a statewide tour, while [Austin’s OutYouth](https://www.outyouth.org/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) has also [temporarily shut down](https://www.chron.com/culture/article/texas-transgender-mailers-lgbtq-nonprofit-22487812.php?ref=thebarbedwire.com) due to [threats](https://www.outyouth.org/mailer?ref=thebarbedwire.com). Marziani said TENT is [exploring legal options](https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/texas-trans-tent-impersonation-petition?ref=thebarbedwire.com) to find out who’s responsible and prevent further damage, while [district attorneys are starting to investigate](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/22/texas-transgender-pamphlet-da-investigation/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) and state lawmakers are [responding to the incident](https://bsky.app/profile/stevanzetti.bsky.social/post/3myipo3y3g22d?ref=thebarbedwire.com). 

🌈 In other news, staff at *OutSmart* interviewed [six LGBTQ+ candidates](https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2026/10/out-for-change-2026-lgbtq-candidates/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) running for state or local office in and around Bayou City: state Reps. [Ann Johnson](https://annjohnson.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) and [Jolanda Jones](https://www.jolandajones.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com), plus [Michelle Palmer](https://palmerfortexased.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com), [Chris Ehlinger](https://chrisehlinger.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com), [Jourdyn Wilson](https://www.facebook.com/p/Jourdyn-Wilson-for-HCAD-Director-PLACE-2-61592402647798/) and [Jesus Nieto](https://www.nieto4hcad.com/meet-jesus?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

🧙‍♀️ Why is there a huge turnout predicted for the midterms? [Ted Cruz explained](https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/ted-cruz-transgender-witches?ref=thebarbedwire.com): “If you’re a left-wing transgender witch, you hate Donald Trump, and you’re going to show up. You’re energized.” To my fellow left-wing transgender witches, you heard the man: go vote!

🗣️ GOP fixation backfiring: Republican redditors say their kids are [asking more questions about trans people](https://www.them.us/politics/james-talarico-ads-transgender-term?ref=thebarbedwire.com) due to the nonstop propaganda.

🌱 Citing state law, Grand Prairie ISD [canceled *Little Shop of Horrors*](https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-morning-news/grand-prairie-isd-cancels-little-shop-of-horrors-after-girl-lands-lead-male-role/4090691/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) after a young woman was cast as the lead, Seymour, typically performed by a male actor. According to NBC 5 Dallas, the senior, Ana Mota, had previously played male roles in school showswithout incident.

🌊 In addition to suffering from anti-trans attacks, [OutYouth](https://www.outyouth.org/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) was forced out of its brick-and-mortar location by a water leak. Faefyx Collington of *LGBTQ Nation* reports they’re [determined to build back bigger and better](https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/10/the-oldest-lgbtq-nonprofit-in-texas-lost-its-home-base-its-building-a-bigger-better-one/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

📦 Gwen Howerton of *Chron* revealed that “[a treasure trove of Texas' LGBTQ+ history](https://www.chron.com/culture/article/heart-of-leather-houston-lgbtq-museum-22476696.php?ref=thebarbedwire.com)” is stuck in Houston-area storage units while the massive [Gulf Coast Archive and Museum](http://gcam.org/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) seeks out a permanent home. 

## **Stars & Stripes 🇺🇸**

*What’s happening in the rest of the gayborhood.* 

🏳️‍⚧️ As of October 23, candidates spent over $18 million on anti-trans digital ads, [according to the tracker](https://adtracker.lgbtqlegislation.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) created by civil rights attorney [Alejandra Caraballo](https://www.alejandracaraballo.com/?ref=thebarbedwire.com). In addition, local Nazi [Elon Musk is responsible](https://bsky.app/profile/thebulwark.com/post/3myb55nhv6u2e?ref=thebarbedwire.com) for [millions in pro-Republican advertising](https://www.the-express.com/news/politics/218323/elon-musk-texas-ken-paxton-funding?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

🍊 Meanwhile, the Orange-in-Chief [used an anti-trans slur while campaigning](https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/trump-south-carolina-transgender-slur?ref=thebarbedwire.com) for Republicans in South Carolina. 

🟠 Lewis Raven Wallace at *TransLash* released a deep-dive into how [student activists are resisting the Trump administration’s attacks](https://translash.org/wire/trump-vs-school-districts/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) on transgender student-affirming school districts.

🎥 In an upcoming documentary, [*The Closetocracy*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtnNq2lJkM&ref=thebarbedwire.com)*,* three male sex workers allege that [late Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex](https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/lindsey-graham-male-escorts-documentary?ref=thebarbedwire.com) while opposing LGBTQ+ rights in Congress. One was just 17-years-old at the time of their encounter.

🍸Not just [Texas](https://www.chron.com/culture/article/meta-texas-gay-bar-mistake-22460160.php?ref=thebarbedwire.com): Meta sites [continue to censor gay bars](https://www.them.us/news/anthem-orlando-meta-suspension?ref=thebarbedwire.com) nationwide according to Mathew Rodriguez at *Them*. 

🎤 Pop idol Olivia Rodrigo and sapphic siren [Chappell Roan](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTf5WrWyn/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) teamed up on [new single, “Expectations.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsZauX8gwxo&ref=thebarbedwire.com) and everyone’s [abuzz](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTf5crG94/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) over [Chappell’s lesbian-flavored verse](https://www.instagram.com/p/Der9ygtj3DC/?ref=thebarbedwire.com). 

## **Bright & Buzzy**📱

*Memes and more.* 

🐘 [Every Republican attack ad: James Talarico edition](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTfygkwvd/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

🌛 “[I'm a Gemini moon and a Capri Sun](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTfygQ4RU/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).”

🎵 [How Austin lip syncs](https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTfygnRNT/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

## **Shameless** [**Merch Plug**](https://thebarbedwire.com/shop/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) 🧢

🖤 If we could kick out the billionaires, the Roganites, and the hyper-conservative “University of Austin,” I’d happily [Make Austin Goth Again](https://shop.thebarbedwire.com/products/make-austin-goth-again?ref=thebarbedwire.com). It’s not political, but wearing this shirt makes a statement. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4e/33/4e33350c-149c-451f-b54d-ac6957d94879/content/images/2026/10/MAGA-Tee.png)

Reach out if you have tips, story ideas, or to tell me about favorite lost old-Austin places.

🌈 Stay big, bright, and bold,

Kit (They/Them), [kit@thebarbedwire.com](mailto:kit@thebarbedwire.com)

## **The Big Story** 🤳

### [Can Texas Fight HIV In The Trump Era?](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/can-texas-fight-hiv-in-the-trump-era/)

“I think that for many years we got comfortable, if I'm honest, because we just knew all the funding was going to come.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4e/33/4e33350c-149c-451f-b54d-ac6957d94879/content/images/2026/10/Road-Closed-1.jpg)

A new plan from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) calls for a 50 percent reduction in new HIV cases in Texas by 2031, and for faster diagnosis and treatment of people living with the disease. But the state and AIDS-services nonprofits face an uphill battle in an era of DOGE-inspired and authored cuts to federal funding, attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, and an ever-increasing number of uninsured Texans.

[Read more...](https://www.thebarbedwire.com/can-texas-fight-hiv-in-the-trump-era/)

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