ARE WE THERE YET?

2025 in Review, Part 1

By Nancy Ford

Ah, tradition. It’s a concept viewed by some as tired, unexciting and uninspired. Others consider tradition as safe, welcoming, and cozy as your favorite comforter.
Personally, I proudly stake my tent in the camp of traditionalists. Call me crazy (I’ve been called worse), but I like my Novembers cold, dark, and smelling like turkey. Offer me a plate of tofurkey on Thanksgiving and I will cut a bitch.

Similarly, I like my Decembers colder, darker, and cloaked in amazement that we actually achieved another full trip around the sun. And what a trip it was.

On one hand, Stephen Colbert got axed, and so did the East Wing of the White House.

When Diane Keaton, Jane Goodall, Ozzy Osbourne, Robert Redford, and June Lockhart passed, many of us felt like we’d lost personal friends. And when a major voice in the ultra-right movement was unexpectedly silenced, it became up to the individual to decide whether that silence is a pro or a con for civilization.

On the lighter side, we got a new Pope who seems like a pretty nice, regular guy. Jimmy Kimmel’s back on the air. Greta Thunberg survived — of course, she did — after being kidnapped and tortured by the Israeli military.

Oh, and a couple of little gatherings called “No Kings” got a bit of attention.

What a year, indeed.

So it is in the spirit of end-of-year tradition that What a World revisits some of the more notable utterances that made this annus both horribilis as well as mirabilis. Sit back, pour yourself a tall glass of Willie’s Remedy, and enjoy!

JANUARY

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE)

“I’m thrilled to be named a Deputy Whip for Policy in
the 119th Congress, advising House Democratic Leadership on policy priorities and plans for our caucus. Just as I was in the State Senate, I remain focused on lowering the cost of housing, health care, childcare, and helping.” Via LGBTQNation.com
—Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first transgender person elected to Congress

FEBRUARY

Stonewall protests / NPR.org

“This decision to erase the word ‘transgender’ is a deliberate attempt to erase our history and marginalize the very people who paved the way for many victories we have achieved as a community.”

—Stonewall Inn and the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative in a statement to the press, responding to The National Park Service’s Stonewall Uprising website’s deletion of any mention of transgender people. The page was updated to remove the “T” from the previously used acronym “LGBTQ+” — now, referring to the community as either “LGB” or “LGBQ.” References to the word “queer” have also been removed. Via NPR.org

MARCH

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton / TexasTribune.org

“There are only two sexes, and that is determined
not by feelings or ‘gender theory’ but by biology at conception. Radical left-wing judges do not have jurisdiction to order agencies to violate the law nor do they have the authority to overrule reality.”

—Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, writing in an opinion that trans Texans can’t use court orders to change sex on driver’s licenses, birth certificates and similar documents. Paxton further stated state agencies should retroactively correct these changes they’ve made over the years based on these court orders. As attorney general, Paxton does not have the authority to tell other state agencies what to do, but this opinion could be cited in future executive or legislative action. Via TexasTribune.org

APRIL

Jo Jo Siwa / LGBTQNation.com

“I’m switching letters! “I feel, like, so queer, do you know what I mean?” I think that’s the thing, I’ve always told myself I’m a Lesbian, and I think … I’ve realized: ‘Oh, I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer,’ and I think that’s really cool. F**k the L. I’m going to the Q! That’s what I love about sexuality.”
—Media influencer Jo Jo Siwa, via LGBTQNation.com

MAY
“We were expecting a more modest turnout. The signs they held up were reproductions of the original signs from 1965. It’s important now more than ever to foreground queer history. The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement didn’t start with just the 1969 Stonewall riots, and the Rainbow History Project wants to make sure an earlier protest is not forgotten.”
—Emma Cieslik, a volunteer with the Rainbow History Project, commenting on a well-attended April reenactment of a 1965 demonstration against antigay discrimination, especially by the federal government, in front of the White House. Cieslik added that attacks on LGBTQ+ rights continue, coming from the White House, Congress and state legislatures. Via Advocate.com

JUNE

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker / TexasTribune.org.


“I’m running for Harris County Judge to keep our county safe, affordable and thriving. I’m running to fight the chaos that is hurting our seniors, families, and small businesses. I’m running to fight for US… Donald Trump is throwing millions of Americans off healthcare to fund tax cuts for billionaires — and gutting FEMA, which pays for our local response to hurricanes, flooding, and major disasters.”
—Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, in a press statement. Via TexasTribune.org.

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