The road from evangelical megachurch clergy to trans progressive election candidate is an unlikely journey, but it does happen! Joanna Whaley (she/her) is a former pastor at a Michigan evangelical megachurch, but actively undergoing “conversion therapy” for 15 years, during most of her time serving there. Joanna transitioned in 2022 and was forced to leave her church, but has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and outspoken critic of Christian nationalism, a world she was immersed in for most of her early millenial adult life.
Joanna was motivated to run after lots of encouragement from local leaders and community members, due to the fact that her current state representative, Tullio Liberati, was one of eight Democrats to vote last year for a Republican measure that would ban trans girls from school sports. Though Tullio is retiring at the end of his term, his older brother Frank decided to run to replace him. It did not turn out well for the Liberati brothers though, as Joanna defeated Frank by almost 25 percentage points. The core of Joanna’s platform is to get utilities in check, pass, single payer healthcare in the state of Michigan, and protect civil rights and freedom for all people. If elected in November, she will become the first trans woman elected to the Michigan legislature, quite a stunning turnaround from the current representation in her district.
Rachel Bochner has been growing, learning and evolving a whole life, as we all do. Her upcoming debut album “I Guess A Sure Thing Couldn’t Go Down Gently” drops on September 25 and details heartbreak, self-discovery and exploring her queer identity and the freedom that comes with that. Bochner wants her queer fans to feel heard and loved by her music, and she raises money and spreads community through her work with The Wild Honey Pie.
The Democratic Socialists are on the rise all over the country, including (unsurprisingly) progressive Oregon. In the Portland area, an anesthesiologist named Dr. Tammy Carpenter (she/her) is an unapologetic Democratic Socialists, having joined in 2016 during the presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders. Over her 20 years as an anesthesiologist she witnessed patients seeking treatment who couldn’t afford healthcare deductibles or healthcare plans themselves, watching patients drowning in debt. One of the three pillars of her campaign is universal healthcare, as well as taxing the rich and funding the people.
Sustainable tote bags redefine everyday fashion through reusable construction, considered material sourcing, and a long service life. Sustainable tote bags rely on fibers like organic cotton, hemp, recycled cotton, and recycled polyester, which lower dependence on virgin synthetics. Reinforced stitching, wide side gussets, and cotton webbing handles support loads of 20 to 30 pounds in a standard 15-inch shoulder tote. Repeated carrying replaces disposable plastic sacks at grocery chains, farmers' markets, and bookstores. Capacity turns a single bag into daily luggage for laptops, gym clothing, groceries, and books.
Music festival merch introduces fans to keepsakes, extending the festival experience beyond the final set. Music festival merch has evolved from simple souvenirs into fashionable apparel, accessories, and collectibles worn long after the last song plays. Graphic T-shirts, tote bags, canvas tote bags, hoodies, and hats form the core of festival merch collections, giving attendees a lasting connection to the lineup. Vintage-style patches, embroidered jackets, and enamel pins sit alongside classic tees, offering a distinct festival look. Limited edition drops, artist collaborations, and tour-exclusive prints add variety to merch tables, drawing crowds before headline sets begin.
Everybody has a skincare routine nowadays. Everyone’s desks and vanities are littered with product upon product of serums and creams meant to make us age in reverse or glow like the sun. In the constant noise and hurricane of social media promotion and online pop up ads, however, how can you trust what will actually be the healthiest choice for your skin and what is just a bucket of glitter. Here are some examples of brands that carry vegan, cruelty free and overall sustainable sunscreen options to add into your skincare routine.
Shaving your head can feel like a clean, confident reset, but the skin it reveals is often left out of the beauty conversation. Without hair as a buffer, tightness, irritation, and visible flakes can make a freshly shaved scalp feel anything but smooth.
Motherhood can be full of love, but it can also be challenging. You may feel happy one moment and angry, tired, or worried the next. Sleepless nights, household chores, work, and child care can test your patience.
What is the point of making national parks more accessible if they aren't sustainable? In 2025 alone, the United States National Park System recorded 323 million recreational visits. However, as visits increased, there weren't enough staff to sustain such a system. Since Trump took office, it was reported that by mid-2025 the administration had dismissed nearly 1,000 NPS employees as part of a wave of far-reaching federal layoffs, all under the promise of "saving money."
Finding a fragrance does not have to begin with a traditional men's or women's category. More fragrance enthusiasts are choosing scents based on notes, mood, and personal style instead. Genderless and unisex perfumes provide an opportunity to explore fragrance without limiting a composition to conventional ideas about who should wear it.
Hawaii is known for being one of the most progressive states in the country, but even there, progressives have had to fight their way into the state legislature to ensure equitable representation of all groups and to push progressive policies to move Hawaii forward and better the lives of everyone who lives there.
One such representative is Kim Coco Iwamoto (s/he, hir, hirs), the first transgender legislator in Hawaii’s history. After two terms on Hawaii’s Board of Education, she ran five consecutive elections before finally unseating Hawaii’s powerful House Speaker, Scott Saiki, who she challenged twice before. A Sansei, hir Japanese grandparents and great-grandparents worked on sugar cane plantations on the island of Kauai and cantaloupe farms in Imperial Valley, California. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and has a BA in creative writing from San Francisco State University and a juris doctor from the University of New Mexico. This accomplished surfer is passionate about increasing the gas tax to fund free public transportation across the state and imposing a tax on seasonal homes to help fund rent subsidies to make housing more affordable for the working class.
Fort Lee residents have access to several law firms that handle personal injury matters. Each firm may bring a different level of experience, style of representation, and approach to working with clients. Comparing these differences can help people narrow down their choices when looking for legal representation.
Not every injury leads to the same type of legal claim. The people involved, circumstances of the accident, available evidence, and applicable law can all affect the options available to an injured person. Looking at those details individually can provide a better starting point than assuming every case follows the same path.
Choosing a personal injury firm in Colorado is about more than picking a familiar name. The right fit can depend on the type of injury, the complexity of the claim, and how involved you want your attorney to be throughout the case. Outlaw Injury Attorneys, Jordan Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, and 5280 Injury Law each take a different approach to personal injury representation.
A personal injury claim can involve much more than filing paperwork. Medical treatment, insurance communications, lost income, and questions about who is responsible can all become part of the process. For people looking for legal representation after an accident, knowing which firms handle personal injury cases can make the search more manageable.
Workplace injuries can leave employees dealing with medical treatment, missed paychecks, insurance paperwork, and questions about what benefits they may be able to receive. The legal process can also become more involved when a claim is denied, the injury limits a person’s ability to work, or another party may share responsibility for the accident.
A low-waste lifestyle grows through practical habits that fit your daily routine. Clear goals and time frames make progress easier to see and easier to maintain. These seven challenges can help you reduce waste in measurable ways while creating low-waste habits that feel realistic and rewarding.
Ashanti Martinez (he/him) is a gay Afro-Latino millennial representative in Maryland’s House of Delegates. Active in politics from his early teenage years, Ashanti comes from a working-class family in Prince George’s County, a majority-Black county outside of Washington, DC. Ashanti attended Howard University, and is passionate about LGBTQ rights, universal healthcare, gun control, and the environment.
Expensive handbags, shoes, and clothes had taken a backseat to water during an era ruled by climate change; those who can afford the comfort of water, air conditioning, and a lifestyle unchallenged by the heat wave are now owning the new luxury.
Fashion is changing. More shoppers are asking where clothes come from, how long they last, and what happens when they are thrown away. Sustainable fashion is now about buying less and finding creative ways to make clothing useful, personal, and worth keeping.
