Michael Helquist
@mhelquistwriter.bsky.social
Activist, historian, author, "Marie Equi: Radical Politics & Outlaw Passions," Stonewall Honor Book for bio of 1900s lesbian doctor & activist., worked for CDC WHO, served as director of AIDSCOM.
#women'shistory, #LGBTQ, #AIDS #gayhistory #memoir #USAID
#women'shistory, #LGBTQ, #AIDS #gayhistory #memoir #USAID
Pinned
Notice:
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
Hello Portland! Not so "war ravaged" after all, according to a federal judge with her permanent ruling against Federal ICE agents in Oregon's major city.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Judge Permanently Blocks National Guard Deployments to Portland for ICE Protests
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Hello Portland! Not so "war ravaged" after all, according to a federal judge with her permanent ruling against Federal ICE agents in Oregon's major city.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/u...
Notice:
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
November 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Notice:
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
"Due to the Democrat-led shutdown, updates to information on this website may be limited or delayed. Mission-critical activities of CMS will continue as the Trump Administration works to reopen the government for the American people."
Federal website for Medicare/Medicaid Services.
"We are here to be the change that we have always wanted to see," Harold Phillips, MRP, CEO of National Minority AIDS Council. From The Body (Oct 27, 2025) by Ace Robinson, MPH, MHL. New leadership for AIDS organizations holds promise for today's battles for equity.
www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
This Moment Calls for a New Brand of Heroes in HIV—And They’ve Arrived
We’re watching a tide of rapidly diversifying HIV leadership. And it’s coming at a time when the stakes have never been higher—and the political situation may have never been more challenging—for the ...
www.thebody.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 AM
"We are here to be the change that we have always wanted to see," Harold Phillips, MRP, CEO of National Minority AIDS Council. From The Body (Oct 27, 2025) by Ace Robinson, MPH, MHL. New leadership for AIDS organizations holds promise for today's battles for equity.
www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
"This spring, as Brown University was under intense pressure from the Trump administration, it shuttered Choices, the university’s 30-year-old high school social studies curriculum, overseen by its history department."
New York Times, October 26, 2025
A 30 yr old curriculum no longer acceptable.
New York Times, October 26, 2025
A 30 yr old curriculum no longer acceptable.
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
"This spring, as Brown University was under intense pressure from the Trump administration, it shuttered Choices, the university’s 30-year-old high school social studies curriculum, overseen by its history department."
New York Times, October 26, 2025
A 30 yr old curriculum no longer acceptable.
New York Times, October 26, 2025
A 30 yr old curriculum no longer acceptable.
"In a September poll, more than half of the teachers who responded said that political pressure had caused them to modify their curriculums or classroom discussions, a sharp increase from March." NYTimes, 10/26/25
Massive erasure underway in the United States, to our shame.
Massive erasure underway in the United States, to our shame.
October 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
"In a September poll, more than half of the teachers who responded said that political pressure had caused them to modify their curriculums or classroom discussions, a sharp increase from March." NYTimes, 10/26/25
Massive erasure underway in the United States, to our shame.
Massive erasure underway in the United States, to our shame.
South Carolina, take a bow, if you must. This summer the state took the lead among all states for the most book ban operations. The surge in book censorship isn't really about protecting children.
South Carolina leads the nation in book bans. Here's what we can (and must) do about it.
open.substack.com/pub/separati...
open.substack.com/pub/separati...
From the Epicenter of Book Banning
SC now leads the nation in state-mandated book bans
open.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
South Carolina, take a bow, if you must. This summer the state took the lead among all states for the most book ban operations. The surge in book censorship isn't really about protecting children.
a GLBTQ History Month hero, perserving our history, countering erasure attempts on our lives.
it's here!
october is LGBT history month. to celebrate, i talked to jd doyle, the amatuer historian whose massive website chronicles houston queer history (20,000 pages worth!!!)
www.chron.com/cultur...
october is LGBT history month. to celebrate, i talked to jd doyle, the amatuer historian whose massive website chronicles houston queer history (20,000 pages worth!!!)
www.chron.com/cultur...
October 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
a GLBTQ History Month hero, perserving our history, countering erasure attempts on our lives.
Reposted by Michael Helquist
A selection of life-altering books beloved or enjoyed by The Emperor of Solitude across the decades of a long life and in the many incarnations of the #LateImperialLibrary.
🫅🏾📚🤓📖📝🗝🚪🌳🌍
📚💙 📚🖋 873
August is #WomensMonth in South Africa to commemorate the Women's March of #9August1956
🫅🏾📚🤓📖📝🗝🚪🌳🌍
📚💙 📚🖋 873
August is #WomensMonth in South Africa to commemorate the Women's March of #9August1956
August 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A selection of life-altering books beloved or enjoyed by The Emperor of Solitude across the decades of a long life and in the many incarnations of the #LateImperialLibrary.
🫅🏾📚🤓📖📝🗝🚪🌳🌍
📚💙 📚🖋 873
August is #WomensMonth in South Africa to commemorate the Women's March of #9August1956
🫅🏾📚🤓📖📝🗝🚪🌳🌍
📚💙 📚🖋 873
August is #WomensMonth in South Africa to commemorate the Women's March of #9August1956
How they do spin the story once it blows up in their faces. Benjamin Carr, your misspeaking and dodging speak for themselves. Too much blowback for you, it seems, after firing Jimmy Kimmel. Seems the public is more effective in protest than you anticipated. #freespeech #JimmyKimmel #Disney #ABC
September 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
How they do spin the story once it blows up in their faces. Benjamin Carr, your misspeaking and dodging speak for themselves. Too much blowback for you, it seems, after firing Jimmy Kimmel. Seems the public is more effective in protest than you anticipated. #freespeech #JimmyKimmel #Disney #ABC
"...the time is now, and the stakes could not be higher at this moment due to the potential deletion of global HIV funding: “It’s really important to see, in the next two years, that we don’t slip back too far,” she said, “because that would be a wasted 40 years of work.”
Some hope for AIDS/PEPFAR.
Some hope for AIDS/PEPFAR.
September 19, 2025 at 12:59 AM
"...the time is now, and the stakes could not be higher at this moment due to the potential deletion of global HIV funding: “It’s really important to see, in the next two years, that we don’t slip back too far,” she said, “because that would be a wasted 40 years of work.”
Some hope for AIDS/PEPFAR.
Some hope for AIDS/PEPFAR.
Why do you think we need horror writers in the books not bans movement?
Here is the text of my keynote from the Bram Stoker Awards ceremony. It was a rant masquerading as a keynote. And in pure Becky fashion it is also a call to action.
Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read:
raforall.blogspot.com/2025/06/why-...
Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read:
raforall.blogspot.com/2025/06/why-...
Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read
Below is the text ion my Keynote address at the 2025 Bram Stoker AwardsⓇ . Given on June 14th in Stamford, Connecticut. You can watch the ...
raforall.blogspot.com
September 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Why do you think we need horror writers in the books not bans movement?
Give it up for Oregon, my home state, trying to protect Oregonians from the insidiouis effect of book bans. #oregon #bookbans #libraries #freedomtoread #booksnotbans
Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to protect access to library materials written by diverse authors or that include themes of race, gender or sexual orientation.
via @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ban-...
via @oregoncapitalchronicle.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ban-...
A ban on book bans: Oregon bill would protect access to library materials
Oregon lawmakers are taking steps to protect access to library materials written by diverse authors or that include themes of race, gender or sexual orientation.
www.newsfromthestates.com
September 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Give it up for Oregon, my home state, trying to protect Oregonians from the insidiouis effect of book bans. #oregon #bookbans #libraries #freedomtoread #booksnotbans
Reposted by Michael Helquist
AI is a significant disruptor for authors and the publishing industry as a whole. Author Thad McIlroy will join us to discuss his book THE AI REVOLUTION IN BOOK PUBLISHING and the ever-evolving trends surrounding AI.
Register FREE: authorsguild.org/event/the-ai...
Register FREE: authorsguild.org/event/the-ai...
The AI Revolution in Book Publishing - The Authors Guild
Aside from the ongoing concerns about the impact of AI on authors and the writing profession, the technology is undeniably a major disruptor across the publishing industry itself. Author Thad McIlroy,...
authorsguild.org
September 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
AI is a significant disruptor for authors and the publishing industry as a whole. Author Thad McIlroy will join us to discuss his book THE AI REVOLUTION IN BOOK PUBLISHING and the ever-evolving trends surrounding AI.
Register FREE: authorsguild.org/event/the-ai...
Register FREE: authorsguild.org/event/the-ai...
None of the news from the Senate hearing re: RFK jr. is encouraging. The damage is being done, has been done.
#CDC #RFKjr #vaccines #covid
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...
#CDC #RFKjr #vaccines #covid
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...
Opinion | A Small but Telling Moment in Kennedy’s Hearing
www.nytimes.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:50 AM
None of the news from the Senate hearing re: RFK jr. is encouraging. The damage is being done, has been done.
#CDC #RFKjr #vaccines #covid
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...
#CDC #RFKjr #vaccines #covid
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/04/o...
Reposted by Michael Helquist
I can't imagine anything more wonderful than an audiobook of Armistead Maupin's iconic "Tales of the City" performed by Frances McDormand with an introduction written and read by @maddow.msnbc.com
August 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I can't imagine anything more wonderful than an audiobook of Armistead Maupin's iconic "Tales of the City" performed by Frances McDormand with an introduction written and read by @maddow.msnbc.com
August 31, 2025 at 5:51 PM
For scientists, Bluesky more beneficial than X/Twitter.
Bluesky has been suggested as a good alternative to Twitter, but the phenomenon of academics switching social media platforms has not previously been studied.
Bluesky has been suggested as a good alternative to Twitter, but the phenomenon of academics switching social media platforms has not previously been studied.
August 29, 2025 at 5:55 AM
For scientists, Bluesky more beneficial than X/Twitter.
Bluesky has been suggested as a good alternative to Twitter, but the phenomenon of academics switching social media platforms has not previously been studied.
Bluesky has been suggested as a good alternative to Twitter, but the phenomenon of academics switching social media platforms has not previously been studied.
Project 2026: Restore the government, Evict the demolition crew. RFK Jr. is a good place to start.
Please amplify Sen. Patty Murray's comments. Unless you're cool with all this, and haven't had enough yet.
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murr...
Senator Murray Calls for Immediate Firing of RFK Jr., Commends CDC Director Monarez’s Stand for Science and Public Health - Senator Patty Murray
Senator Murray: “If there are any adults left in the White House, it’s well past time they face reality… We cannot let RFK Jr. burn what’s left of the CDC and our other critical health agencies to the...
www.murray.senate.gov
August 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Project 2026: Restore the government, Evict the demolition crew. RFK Jr. is a good place to start.
Reposted by Michael Helquist
In several states, including Missouri, Oregon, and Vermont, candidates are running for secretary of state this fall who have embraced false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. They’ve proposed taking drastic actions such as ending mail-in voting. boltsmag.org/electio...
Your Guide to All 12 States Choosing Their Next Elections Chief in November
Candidates are debating how easy to make mail voting and direct democracy. And in some states, election deniers are still bidding to take over the system.
boltsmag.org
September 27, 2024 at 12:00 AM
In several states, including Missouri, Oregon, and Vermont, candidates are running for secretary of state this fall who have embraced false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. They’ve proposed taking drastic actions such as ending mail-in voting. boltsmag.org/electio...
Reposted by Michael Helquist
With Trump threatening our city's LGBTQ+ community, New Yorkers need a mayor unafraid to stand up for them.
Proud to receive the endorsement of @jimowlesclub.bsky.social, @sdnyc.bsky.social, and Lambda Independent—three clubs that have led the fight for equality and justice.
Proud to receive the endorsement of @jimowlesclub.bsky.social, @sdnyc.bsky.social, and Lambda Independent—three clubs that have led the fight for equality and justice.
May 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
With Trump threatening our city's LGBTQ+ community, New Yorkers need a mayor unafraid to stand up for them.
Proud to receive the endorsement of @jimowlesclub.bsky.social, @sdnyc.bsky.social, and Lambda Independent—three clubs that have led the fight for equality and justice.
Proud to receive the endorsement of @jimowlesclub.bsky.social, @sdnyc.bsky.social, and Lambda Independent—three clubs that have led the fight for equality and justice.
Reposted by Michael Helquist
Andrew Cuomo counts same-sex marriage among top accomplishments, but he’s not targeting LGBTQ+ voters ... He’s taken a Rose Garden approach to campaigning and limited his appearances, which has contributed to cutting out crucial Democratic clubs that help drive LGBTQ+ voters to polls. 1/2
Cuomo was a same-sex marriage champion. He’s not courting LGBTQ+ votes now.
The front-runner in the New York City mayoral primary snubbed LGBTQ+ political clubs, who shunned him in turn.
www.politico.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Andrew Cuomo counts same-sex marriage among top accomplishments, but he’s not targeting LGBTQ+ voters ... He’s taken a Rose Garden approach to campaigning and limited his appearances, which has contributed to cutting out crucial Democratic clubs that help drive LGBTQ+ voters to polls. 1/2
"Keeping our sense of humor, finding love, companionship, creating art and music and celebration are a necessary fuel to drive the resistance, to ultimately overcome," said ACT UP activist Sean Strub on mobilizing the LGBTQ community for acts of civil disobedience to demand structural change
Joyful resistance: what AIDS crisis activists can teach us about fighting the Trump administration right now | Pride
When the rights of the LGBTQ+ community are under attack, holding onto queer joy becomes an act of rebellion and a tool of resistance.
buff.ly
August 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM