Sam Ames

It's still just under the wire of TDOV - but SCOTUS made sure this wasn't like any other TDOV. I thought some perspective on Chiles v. Salazar from someone who spent their spryest years in the fight to end conversion therapy might be useful. sames.substack.com/p/the-supreme-…

Thank you so much to @Mama_Dragons for having me back on the In the Den podcast. This time, we talk about when these anti-trans policies really started, what the ID law in KS means for where we're going, and how we will get through it. (And we will.) tinyurl.com/5xjyfc4w

I want to just note that this is from the @washingtonpost opinion section Jeff Bezos declared will only publish pieces about “personal liberties and free markets." This is not satire. It is also, however unintentionally, hilarious that it is not satire. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/…

On Monday night, SCOTUS issued an order indicating they may be inclined to side with policies that force teachers to out LGBTQI+ students. Forced outing is something kind of hard to talk about. So it felt like maybe we should talk about it. sames.substack.com/parents-rights…

New Substack is up! We're talking about the sexiest thing in LGBTQI+ civil rights right now: federal administrative rulemaking. I know. Hotter than Heated Rivalry. But the comment period on 3 proposed anti-trans rules is about to close and you can help. sames.substack.com/make-them-look…

To paraphrase Dread Pirate Roberts, anyone who tells you they know what’s going to happen at SCOTUS is selling something. That goes double for bloggers. With this in mind, I’m becoming a blogger. Welcome to my Substack. Let's talk BPJ/Hecox oral arguments. sames.substack.com/p/this-is-how-…

Last month, HHS put out a report on gender-affirming care that reads like a list of logical fallacies. @Adrianshanker & I published a piece in @Newsweek on the consequences of misrepresenting evidence, & the real science behind healthcare for trans youth. tinyurl.com/3ryx2tbu

The wonderful folks at the National SOGIE Center adapted part of a piece I wrote for Transgender Day of Visibility into a gorgeous video. It was a genuine honor to be part of this: youtube.com/watch?v=ZOzoD3… Here's the full text, with more on TDOR & ritual: substack.com/home/post/p-17…

Trans Day of Remembrance was born in 1999 from a group of friends in Boston, & the simple act of saying their lost beloved's name out loud. Tonight we say the names of 69 new beloveds, & from our grief reclaim their power. For more on the roots of TDOR: sames.substack.com/p/in-our-own-n…

9 major faith denominations just released a statement supporting trans & intersex people, calling violation of our rights a betrayal of religious values. Faith communities can be complex for LGBTQI communities. But today, I’m proud to be a member of both. tinyurl.com/3kkpvhk9

For 10 years, the Mormon mothers at Mama Dragons have been one of my favorite examples of what happens when people of faith choose the message over the messenger - and, in nearly every religion, the message is love. This week, I got to join their podcast. tinyurl.com/4rc7whc5

Had the privilege of joining Justice By Design this week to talk SCOTUS, Skrmetti, and sorry-you-can’t-actually-legislate-trans-people-out-of-existence. Thank you to the brilliant Kimberly Atkins Stohr for thinking I’m cool enough to hang out with her. m.youtube.com/watch?si=IalRI…

There's a livestream running today where advocates, artists, & elected officials are sending messages of hope to LGBTQ kids. I'm doing a piece at 3:30, but rn Judy & Dennis Shepard are giving me life w/this gem: "They are louder, but they aren't brighter." tinyurl.com/mubcd5sf

The scene outside the main Education Department building this morning as workers cleared out their offices (as captured by my talented colleague Josh Morgan):

thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq… Finalized Biden Title IX regulations add protections for transgender students

“Walking into a classroom should be an act of hope, not an act of bravery, but every day you choose to show up as your true self, you make this world a more brave, more honest, and more free place. In your gift for seeing things as they could be, I see the promise of America.”

In a move that could affect how schools handle book challenges, the federal government has concluded that a Georgia school district’s removal of titles with Black and LGBTQ characters may have created a “hostile environment” for students, potentially violating their civil rights. wapo.st/3BNHWS0

On #TransgenderDayofVisibility, and every day, we must show our transgender students that we see them and support them. I'm working with families, educators, and students to ensure that our schools are welcoming & affirming places to learn.

Bittersweetly excited to announce that Sunday was my last day as Director of Gov’t Affairs with the incredible Advocacy Team at @TheTrevorProject. Today is my first day serving as Chief of Staff for the Dep’t of Education Office of Civil Rights. Honored doesn’t begin to cover it.