The Needle (News)
banner
news.theneedlenews.com.ap.brid.gy
The Needle (News)
@news.theneedlenews.com.ap.brid.gy
Culture and News: By and for transsexuals A digital-first, globally focused, and reader-supported trans newspaper.

🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://theneedlenews.com/, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
The bill is written so broadly as to restrict trans public presence in many contexts.
Arizona bill would use cover of drag show restrictions to ban trans people in public spaces
<p>By <strong>Jane Migliara Brigham</strong></p> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <p>A bill under consideration in the Arizona House would result in a de facto ban on trans expression in public life under the guise of banning minors from seeing drag performances.</p><p>The bill is stated to be in opposition to allowing children in view of drag shows. However, the definition of a drag show in this bill is so broad as to criminalize any form of transgender or gender non-conforming expression in any publicly viewable event. </p><p>The bill states that offenses under this bill are class 4 felonies, meaning that convictions would result in jail time for the offender.</p><p>The relevant text of the bill is as follows:</p><blockquote>1. "Drag show performance" means an in-person show or performance, with or without consideration, that includes any of the following:</blockquote><blockquote>(a) A person who uses clothing, makeup, costuming, prosthetics or other physical markers to present an exaggerated and stylized gender expression that differs from the person's biological sex or normal gender presentation.</blockquote><p>The most relevant words in this text are “differs from the person's biological sex”. This is nothing less than a catch all term to describe any form of expression associated with trans people. </p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-yellow kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/merry-winter-holidays"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Gold tier supporter, at $15 a month- you'll get access to all content! For a limited time, you can get half off your first three months!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/merry-winter-holidays" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Gold! </a> </div> </div> </div> <p>How strictly such rules would be enforced would depend on how broadly the legal system defines the performance. For example, if performance is taken in the colloquial sense of the word, then it would ban trans expression in any in-person performances where a minor might see it, restricting trans people from any stage where a child might see them.</p><p>If performance is taken to mean any form of expression, then it would mean any openly trans person could face felony prosecution for dressing as they please. This bill would then become a ban on trans people in public life.</p><p>While the Republican Party has a majority in both the House and the Senate, the state’s governor is a Democrat who will almost certainly veto the bill. In Arizona, a gubernatorial veto needs a two thirds majority in both the House and Senate to be overturned. As a result, the bill does not have a viable path to becoming a law during this legislative cycle.</p><p>The bill will be discussed by the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow at 9am local time (11am EST). I will will be covering the proceedings live HERE:</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for The Needle</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:44 AM
ASPS cites the Cass report and the HHS report to make its case 
First Major US Medical Association Opposes Trans Youth Healthcare, Changing Previous Position
<h3 id="the-american-society-of-plastic-surgeons-cites-the-hhs-and-cass-report-to-argue-against-trans-surgeries-for-anyone-under-19">The American Society of Plastic Surgeons Cites the HHS and Cass Report to argue against trans surgeries for anyone under 19.</h3><p>By <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/artemis/" rel="noreferrer">Artemis T. Douglas</a> &amp; <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/jane/" rel="noreferrer">Jane Migliara Brigham</a></p> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <hr /><p>The American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), has issued a statement opposing transsexual surgeries for minors and 18 year-olds, making ASPS the first (and as of yet only) major medical association to throw its weight behind opposing transition medicine. </p><p>In their statement, they explicitly cite the anti-trans misinformation of the Cass Report from the UK and the more recent HHS report from the US. They use these reports’ findings, despite the lack of quality in those reports, to falsely claim that <em>“high quality research”</em> is <em>“missing in this area of medicine”</em>. </p><p>It is telling that in the position statement, they don’t once write “transgender people” and exclusively use euphemisms such as <em>“people who identify as transgender”</em> and <em>“adolescents with gender dysphoria”</em>.</p><p>This sets up an explicit double standard whereby the same surgeries which are routinely done to cis children, such as mastectomies for gynecomastia is cis boys, are banned for similar trans children.</p><p>The move has since been <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/asps-gender-dysphoria-statement.html"><u>endorsed</u></a> by Mehmet Oz’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The HHS statement opens with,</p><blockquote>“U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership today issued statements commending the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for protecting children from harmful sex-rejecting procedures…”</blockquote><p>HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill is cited as stating <em>“Today marks another victory for biological truth in the Trump administration.”</em></p><p>Secretary Oz is cited as saying <em>“When the medical ethics textbooks of the future are written, they'll look back on sex-rejecting procedures for minors the way we look back on lobotomies.”</em> </p><p>Of course, those statements are revealing. The fact that HHS leadership is still using the euphemism <em>“sex-rejecting procedures”</em> to describe transition medicine is proof and a tacit admission that transsexuals do change sex. </p><p>If it was truly impossible to change sex, they wouldn’t need to ban the medicine that makes it possible.</p><p>Returning to the ASPS statement, ASPS claims that,</p><blockquote>“Relevant to ASPS’s position and understanding of the larger patient assessment process, both the Cass Review and the HHS report emphasize that the natural course of pediatric gender dysphoria remains poorly understood.”</blockquote><p>Of course, the Cass report is<a href="https://otr.anmfvic.asn.au/articles/gender-affirming-care-the-cass-review-is-not-an-example-of-robust-ethical-or-methodologically-sound-research-practices/"><u> pseudoscientific misinformation </u></a> at best, and its methodological and <a href="https://www.gendergp.com/blog/the-cass-review-fails-medical-law-and-ethics/"><u>other</u></a> problems have been heavily critiqued by <a href="https://law.yale.edu/sites/default/files/documents/integrity-project_cass-response.pdf"><u>practitioners</u></a> and trans rights orgs/<a href="https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/mermaids-response-to-the-cass-review-in-depth/"><u>advocates</u></a> alike, with one such critique in the references of the ASPS document. </p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-pink kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Platinum tier supporter, at $15 a month- you'll get access to all content AND credited as a supporter! For a limited time, you can get 60% off your first three months!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Platinum! </a> </div> </div> </div> <p>Another claim by ASPS regards the,</p><blockquote>“Irreversibility and long-term medical dependency. While breast reduction is also considered irreversible and carries the potential for harm (e.g., loss of nipple sensation, inability to breastfeed), it does not typically result in lifelong medical dependency or foreclose on broad future developmental pathways. In contrast, gender-related surgical interventions permanently shape sexual function, fertility, embodiment, and future.”</blockquote><p>This is ASPS stating that they are more worried about maintaining pure cissexual bodies that don’t need medicine than addressing and alleviating transsexual discomfort to improve transsexual health and well-being. Also, it’s certainly an interesting choice to focus on <em>“loss of nipple sensation”</em> and <em>“inability to breastfeed”</em> in the same sentence focused on <em>“sexual function, fertility, embodiment and future”</em> within a document supposedly focused on best practices for teenagers’ medical options. </p><p>Once again, the anti-trans movement is shaped around a weird obsession with the sexual capacity of children. </p><p>The ASPS position also states,</p><blockquote>“Respect for emerging adolescent autonomy is also cited as a rationale for the provision of care in the face of low certainty evidence. However, patient autonomy is more properly defined as the right of a patient to accept or refuse appropriate treatment; it does not create an obligation for a physician to provide interventions in the absence of a favorable risk–benefit profile, particularly in adolescent populations where decision-making capabilities are still developing.”</blockquote><p>This is ASPS setting up the standard to undermine the current best-practice in transition medicine: the informed consent model. Informed-consent is something advocates and activists alike have fought and bled for in the US, and are still fighting for in other countries, such as Ireland. It is also a case of supporting a lack of bodily autonomy and decision-making rights for younger people based on notions that they can’t make their own decisions, or at least not the right decisions.</p><p>Another part of the statement aligns with HHS and Congressional attempts to criminalize supporting transition medicine. Despite stating that they oppose criminalization for providers of medicine, they have no words on attempts to criminalize others involved in providing these procedures, such as parents and patients. </p><p>This absence of a position is notable, as <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/us-house-votes-to-ban-youth-hrt-potentially-leaving-thousands-of-kids-to-early-deaths/"><u>a recent federal bill</u></a> has a clause which could be used to criminalize the parents of children who receive transsexual medicine.</p><p>It is important to underline that the ASPS statement aligns with current White House policy and President Trump’s Executive Order regarding transition for minors. The ASPS position doesn’t only target those under 18, but those who are 19 and under. </p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide kg-style-accent" style="display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for The Needle</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#FFFFFF"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#FFFFFF"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#FFFFFF"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:31 PM
As candidate for Indiana House District 61, Lilliana Young has shown the right kind of leadership.
The Needle endorses Lilliana Young for Indiana House
<p>The past decade has shown that trans rights are only secure when trans people ourselves show up to defend them.  When we are absent, our rights are stripped.  When we are present, we have a fighting chance.</p><p>If we don’t show up ourselves, our rights are at the mercy of people to whom we are just another special interest group.  This is why we can’t afford to ignore the halls of power.  If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.</p><p>This is why we cannot allow the protection and expansion of our rights to be the sole domain of cis politicians.  We need trans officials on the frontlines of preserving trans dignity.</p><p>Lilliana Young of Indiana is just such a fighter.</p><p>As a community organizer, she connected the various trans women in the Indianapolis and Bloomington areas together, creating a refuge from the rampant transphobia that affects the area.  <em>The Needle</em> has spoken with people who used her group meetups as a lifeline, and we can attest to how important it has been.</p><p>As an activist, she has repeatedly fought back against the anti-trans laws in her state.  For years, she has been central to the fight against anti-trans bigotry and <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/indiana-senate-bill-182-will-attempt-to-legally-define-trans-people-as-non-existent/"><u>discrimination</u></a> in the area.    In <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/bill-defining-trans-people-out-of-legal-existence-to-be-voted-on-in-indiana/"><u>public hearing after public hearing</u></a>, she has been the fiery voice of trans dignity that the proceedings often lacked.  </p><p>In that work she has done what few others have been able to do, and she did so by being steadfast in her defense of trans people. An example is when she gave public comment during the committee hearing for Indiana’s SB 182. In Lilliana’s <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lillianayoung.bsky.social/post/3mcxc3ffzyc2q"><u>words</u></a>, <em>“The same Republicans who ignored the pleading mother, the crying father, the lifelong advocates and the intersex woman, absolutely paid attention to me.  I got under their skin. I made the devil blink.”</em></p><p>If elected, she will take this defence of our people’s dignity to the state legislature.  </p><p>As it stands, she is running in the primary against a centrist democrat who was <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana_House_of_Representatives_District_61"><u>first elected in 2002</u></a>.  Her opponent, Matt Pierce has sat on his hands because that is what is expected of democrats when they are in the minority, as they are in Indiana.  Lilliana Young will not sit on her hands.  She will defend us.</p><p>The district she is running to represent is in the solidly blue college town of Bloomington, home to the state’s primary public university.  If she wins in the primary, she will sail to victory in the general election, as the Republican Party often does not bother to run a candidate there.  There is no risk of her left wing positions being too extreme for the general election, because the only election that matters there is the Democratic Party primary.  Even if there was such a risk, it’s better to stand for something than to cave for anything. </p><p>For these reasons and more, <em>The Needle</em> is proud to give Lilliana Young our endorsement.  </p><p>She is up for election on May 5 in Indiana House District 61.  If you want to get involved, you can go to her campaign website <a href="https://youngfor61.com/#"><u>HERE</u></a>. Her website has details of how to donate, volunteer, or otherwise get involved in her campaign. </p>
theneedlenews.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:35 PM
This creative piece is by a guest contributor and published here as part of our ongoing efforts to highlight and build transgender and transsexual culture.
The Wolf and The Lamb
<h3 id="a-creative-piece-submitted-to-the-needle"><em>A creative piece submitted to The Needle. </em></h3><h3 id="as-with-all-pieces-in-our-creative-column-this-article-does-not-represent-the-views-of-the-needle"><strong>As with all pieces in our Creative column, this article does not represent the views of The Needle.</strong></h3><hr /><h2 id="the-wolf-and-the-lamb-by-briar-upshaw">The Wolf and The Lamb, By Briar Upshaw</h2><hr /><p>The shape spoke. “You ever hear the one about the wolf and the lamb?”<br />Her fangs and eyes shone in the minimal light that spilled in from the door. She<br />waited for a moment before continuing. “Lamb’s living in a nice fenced in farm<br />on the outskirts of the village, right near the woods. One day a wolf comes in<br />and slaughters some sheep. Then more, then more, even the farmer with his<br />shotgun can’t stop the attacks. The sheep tell the lamb that there’s nothing to be<br />done, that this is the way of the world, but the lamb disagrees.</p><p>Her form was tall and broad. She had a relaxed posture. “Breaks out one<br />day, goes up the mountain, and demands the wolf teach it how to be powerful<br />and ruthless and monstrous.” A flash of light from outside illuminated her<br />wedge-like muzzle. “Lamb trains for years, growing up to become this twisted<br />monster with horns like railroad spikes and jaws that could crush bones even if it<br />couldn’t digest the meat. Wolf tells the lamb that the training is done and they’re<br />going to go together to the sheep pen to hunt.”</p><p>Her uniform came into view. Old, without pins or flags, sewn and patched<br />until little beneath remained. “Lamb walks behind wolf. Wolf doesn’t so much as<br />turn around to see the lamb drive its horns into the big dog. Lamb slaughters<br />the wolf in front of all the sheep then says ‘I’ve saved you, we don’t have to live<br />in fear anymore.’ But the rest of the sheep are terrified. The lamb is a monster.<br />The lamb broke the laws of nature. They don’t even recognize their kin anymore.<br />The lamb walks off into the woods and that’s the last the sheep ever hear of it.<br />Soon enough, the ‘laws of nature’ return back to how they once were."</p><p>Ladd Waters, decorated counter-intelligence operative and veteran of<br />two wars, coughed and glared at her. His top half had not yet received the<br />message that his bottom half was exsanguinated on the floor of the boxcar.<br />“Now imagine that the sheep were able to recognize their kinship with the<br />one who went through hell trying to save them, that maybe she was a monster<br />but she was still as deserving of love and affection and community as the rest of<br />them.” Her eyes were alight, and shining with tears. “I don’t just destroy, I<br />deconstruct. And I live with people who can build something better from what I<br />do.” She took a step forward and growled the last words. “So there’s not a force<br />on this planet strong enough to stop me from protecting them.”</p><p>he train moved out from a copse of trees to reveal the warm buttery<br />skies of twilight. The sun was out of view and the purple and pink brushtrokes<br />over the clouds looked like fingers reaching out.</p><p>Seems I’ve been rambling a bit. Sorry about that.” She produced her gun<br />and pointed it at him. “Still, hell of a final view, huh?”</p><p>Her eyes moved across the skies. She didn’t bother to look at him while<br />pulling the trigger.</p><div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-accent"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text">💉Take Your Shot 💉 <br /><br />Tell your friends, enemies, and comrades to sign up for <a href="https://theneedle.news/gold" rel="noreferrer">Gold</a> or <a href="https://theneedle.news/platinum" rel="noreferrer">Platinum</a> so they can always access this and future Creative pieces published first at The Needle.</div></div><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for The Needle</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Details in the recent Epstein Files document a working relationship between the two which spanned nearly a decade.

By Jane Migliara Brigham & Artemis T. Douglas

Jess Ting, a plastic surgeon who is renowned for his work of performing vaginoplasties […]

[Original post on theneedlenews.com]
Jess Ting, Prolific Vaginoplasty Surgeon, performed plastic surgery for Jeffrey Epstein’s “girls”, brought young children to Epstein’s island
<h3 id="details-in-the-recent-epstein-files-document-a-working-relationship-between-the-two-which-spanned-nearly-a-decade">Details in the recent Epstein Files document a working relationship between the two which spanned nearly a decade.</h3><p>By <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/jane/" rel="noreferrer">Jane Migliara Brigham</a> &amp; <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/artemis/" rel="noreferrer">Artemis T. Douglas</a></p> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <hr /><p>Jess Ting, a plastic surgeon who is renowned for his work of performing vaginoplasties on trans patients, used his clinic to give plastic surgery to women and girls that Jeffrey Epstein or his team referred to as his <em>“girls”</em>, “assistant” or <em>“friend of Jeffrey's"</em>, according to recently released documents.</p><p>This was part of a working relationship between the two men which spanned for nearly a decade.  </p><p>Jess Ting’s name appears in (at least) 466 separate documents in the Epstein Files. Mount Sinai, the hospital from which he operates, appears in (at least) 1,093 separate documents.</p><p>At least this many documents were findable with the search term’s <em>“Jess Ting”</em> or <em>“Mount Sinai”</em>, as of the latest release, using the search function for the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein"><u>Epstein Files</u></a> on the DOJ website. More documents that don’t have embedded text exist in the overall release, so there is a possibility that there are more references to these terms in the files.</p><p>These show extensive professional contact between the pedophile financier and the plastic surgeon who has since switched specialities from general plastic surgery to vaginoplasty for trans people.</p><p>Now, Dr. Ting is one of the most famous surgeons for trans women’s vaginoplasties in the United States. </p><p>The files also show that in 2013, Dr. Ting and his family arranged to go to Epstein’s island and private residence in New York City. In both the island and NYC residence trips, Ting arranged to bring children along.</p><p>Dr Ting specifically called Epstein’s offer to visit the island “generous”. The offer specifically included that Ting would be <em>“brought to Jeffrey's island to play with his 'toys'”</em>. In that visit, Ting brought two unnamed 8 year olds and an unnamed 5 year old child along, according to the <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717029-efta02145015/"><u>emails</u></a> setting up the itinerary.</p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717029-efta02145015/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <hr /><p><strong>Professional Relationship</strong></p><p>It is not certain when the relationship between Dr. Ting and Epstein began. The earliest documents connecting them are from 2010, two years after <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5478620/jeffrey-epstein-crimes-timeline-legal-case"><u>Epstein was convicted</u></a> of soliciting prostitution from an underaged girl. In plainer terms, coercing a child to be sexually involved with him.</p><p>In these <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26727495-efta00758760/"><u>documents</u></a>, Epstein names and recommends Dr. Ting for a <em>“boob job”</em> to be performed on a girl who he claims is interested in getting one. He mentioned that Dr. Ting had just  performed the same on <em>“two of the girls”</em>, and recommended that this third girl get the same.</p><p>This indicates that the working relationship between the two had been going on for longer than is seen in the documents.</p><p>In 2011, an <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717043-efta00923308/"><u>email</u></a> sent to Epstein indicated that if the sender recommends someone to Dr. Ting, then <em>“He will fit her in right away”</em>. In other words, this redacted person who sent the email had enough sway with Dr. Ting to be able to get a person moved past the normal waitlist.</p><p>In 2012, Epstein sent an <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717018-2012-efta01894555-ting-standing-by-for-epstein-landing-doj-epstein-files/"><u>email</u></a> to his ex-girlfriend <a href="https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/2e193bdacbb44020a1459e5d3038a014-DWz6jF_2/%20'"><u>Eva Dubin</u></a> saying that he is <em>“flying to ny will land at 630.. [REDACTED NAME] fell off the atv and needs stitches in her forehead and an x-ray to insure no concussion..”</em>. The same day, Eva responds that <em>“Jess ting is standing by”</em> for when they land.  </p><p>In other words, Epstein had enough sway with Ting that he was willing to see a patient associated with Epstein at a moment's notice. </p><p>It should also be noted that stitches and an X-ray are the kinds of basic care that would not normally require a patient to be flown to another city to receive them, nor need a specific doctor to provide. </p><p>Seeing as Dr. Ting is a renowned plastic surgeon, such basic procedures would likely be outside his normal clinical scope. </p><p>In 2013, Epstein <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717028-efta01905602/"><u>donated</u></a> $50,000 to Dr. Ting’s then-ongoing cancer research, after Ting specifically <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717012-2013-efta02567204-ting-solicits-epstein-donation-for-cancer-research-doj-epstein-files/"><u>solicited</u></a> a donation from Epstein. </p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717012-2013-efta02567204-ting-solicits-epstein-donation-for-cancer-research-doj-epstein-files/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <p>Dr. Ting specifically requested that Mount Sinai waive the internal “<em>tax</em>” on donations, after which he said he would pick up the check in person.</p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717028-efta01905602/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <p>In November of that year, a redacted assistant to Epstein <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717024-efta02119568/"><u>requested</u></a> that Ting meet Epstein for an appointment. No reason was given for this meeting.</p><p>In 2014, a redacted assistant for Epstein <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717044-2015-efta02087911-ting-offers-to-skip-vacation-for-epstein-girl-to-perform-surgery/#document/p1"><u>told</u></a> Dr. Ting that <em>“Jeffrey is asking if you could see a friend of his for 5 minutes to fix a hole in her nose from a nose ring”</em>. Dr. Ting responds saying that he is <em>“on vacation for two weeks starting his Friday...BUT for Mr Epstein any thing is possible. I am actually in the back city Friday the 26th and sat the 27th. I might be able to do it then. I will check my flight times and get back to you.”</em></p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717044/pages/1/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:none;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <script></script> <p>In other words, Dr. Ting indicated he is willing to interrupt his vacation in order to perform what the assistant describes as something that would only take 5 minutes to perform.</p><p>The next month, January 2015, an assistant for Jeffrey Epstein named Leslie <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717051-2015-efta02087797-ting-confirms-availability-to-repair-friend-of-jeffreys-nose/"><u>followed up</u></a> with Dr. Ting about the same girl with the hole in her nose.</p><p>In 2016, Epstein’s assistant Leslie <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717060-efta00438877/'"><u>reached out</u></a> to Dr. Ting about an unnamed <em>“assistant”</em> of Epstein. The email has a large redacted section detailing what she has wrong with her.</p><p>However, later in the email, it is mentioned that she needs a cyst removed, and this problem is mentioned over multiple email chains. In a later email thread, Epstein’s assistants <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717019-2016-efta02201495-ting-emergency-surgery-for-assistant-doj-epstein-files/"><u>agreed to pay</u></a> for whatever procedure was redacted.</p><p>It is notable that in this email thread, the word ‘assistant’ is used in the way that Epstein and his associates previously referred to his ‘girls’.</p><p>This is further marked by the fact that Epstein <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/09/jeffrey-epstein-assistant-queen-throne-buckingham-palace/"><u>associates</u></a> who have confessed to “having sex” with adult women in Epstein’s orbit <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/business/jes-staley-slept-with-epstein-assistant-intl"><u>called</u></a> those women Epstein’s “assistants”. </p><p>In 2017, an unknown redacted associate of Epstein <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26733420-efta00445655/"><u>set up</u></a> a direct call between Epstein and Dr. Ting. No reply was given.  This is the last confirmed mutual interaction between the two that Epstein initiated.</p><hr /> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-pink kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">We dig through the muck so you don't have to. If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Platinum tier supporter, at $24 a month. For a limited time, you can get 60% off your first three months of Platinum!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Platinum! </a> </div> </div> </div> <hr /><p><strong>Private / Personal Relationship</strong></p><p>By 2013, Dr. Ting and Epstein also had a more personal relationship that included Epstein offering to bring Ting to his island, and other highly suspect actions regarding young children. The visit was <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717035-efta02145377/"><u>arranged</u></a> between March 12 and March 18, 2013, and took place the following Friday, which was March 19, according to the documents. </p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717029-efta02145015/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <p>It should be noted that in the above document, Dr. Ting is explicitly offered the opportunity to be “<em>brought to Jeffrey’s island to play with his ‘toys’</em>”, and responds with not only acceptance, but by calling that offer <em>“generous”</em>. Further. Dr. Ting states that the people he’d bring <em>“consists of myself and my friend Michelle and her 3 kids (8, 8, 5) and two nannies.”</em> </p><p>In other words, he stated that he will bring prepubescent children to the private island of a known sex offender.</p><p>A March 2013 <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717048-efta00306217/"><u>itinerary</u></a> of these events has a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717048-efta00306217/#document/p6"><u>reminder</u></a> dated Mar. 19, 2013, addressed to Epstein stating, <em>“Dr. Ting and family will go to your island today”</em>.</p><p>On March 25, 2013, Dr. Ting <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717047-efta00392860/"><u>made</u></a> arrangements to see Epstein in person after the island visit. Epstein specifically requested that Dr. Ting show up at 10pm at Epstein’s New York <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26733419-efta02143135/"><u>residence</u></a>.</p><p>Another visit, in May 2013, was to see <em>“a very good friend”</em> of Epstein. </p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717046/pages/1/?embed=1" width="612" height="810" style="border:none;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 810"></iframe> <script></script> <p>In another May 2013 visit, Dr. Ting <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717022-efta02140114/"><u>specifically</u></a> mentions that he brought his kids to Epstein’s New York apartment. Epstein’s assistant responds to this with a wink emoticon.</p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717022-efta02140114/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <p>Dr. Ting sent an <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717030-efta02139693/"><u>email</u></a> on May 3 confirming he would be at the estate to see Epstein's <em>“friend”</em> who was mentioned in the earlier email. </p><p>As mentioned in the Professional Relationship section, an unknown associate of Epstein <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26733420-efta00445655/"><u>set up</u></a> a direct call between Epstein and Dr. Ting in 2017. In addition, a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26733422-efta00285345/"><u>2017</u></a> (as well as an <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717016-undated-efta00304495-list-of-epstein-personal-doctors-has-ting-contact-doj-epstein-files/"><u>undated</u></a> copy) list of Epstein’s personal doctors also includes Dr. Ting as a plastic surgeon.</p><p>This is the last confirmed mutual interaction between the two that Epstein initiated.</p><p>A final personal interaction between Epstein and Dr. Ting is evident from the files and took place in 2018. In this 2018 <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26717027-2018-efta02667053-ting-thinks-epstein-would-be-interested-in-switch-to-trans-surgery-doj-epstein-files/"><u>email</u></a>, Dr. Ting believes Epstein would be interested in knowing that he switched specialties from general plastic surgery to transgender surgery, specifically vaginoplasty. He does go into detail as to why Epstein would be interested in this.</p> <iframe src="https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/26717027-2018-efta02667053-ting-thinks-epstein-would-be-interested-in-switch-to-trans-surgery-doj-epstein-files/?embed=1" width="612" height="822.75" style="border:1px solid #d8dee2;border-radius:0.5rem;width:100%;height:100%;aspect-ratio:612 / 822.75"></iframe> <hr /><p><em>The Needle</em> reached out to Dr. Ting to ask questions regarding this. He declined to comment.</p><p><strong>Implications</strong></p><p>Jess Ting is among the most famous vaginoplasty surgeons in the United States. That he previously allowed his surgical practice to be used for girls associated with a man widely known for sex trafficking, and that he continued this relationship after visiting Epstein’s private island, is an indictment of the medical field that he represents.</p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-pink kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Platinum tier supporter, at $24 a month- you'll get access to all content AND credited as a supporter! For a limited time, you can get 60% off your first three months!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Platinum! </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-accent"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text">💉Take Your Shot 💉 <br /><br />Revelations like this are only more evidence that transsexuals need our own transsexual doctors and surgeons, not cissexuals who might be more interested in the sexual capacity of children or affiliated with known pedophiles.</div></div><p></p>
theneedlenews.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:54 AM

It merely means that given a binary choice between Democrats and Republicans, most choose the Democrats to ‘handle’ us.
Americans favor Dems’ handling of trans issues. That doesn’t mean Americans support trans people.
<h3 id="the-same-poll-that-says-that-60-of-voters-prefer-the-dems-on-trans-issues-also-says-that-70-of-those-voters-favor-barring-trans-women-from-women%E2%80%99s-sports">The same poll that says that 60% of voters prefer the Dems on trans issues also says that 70% of those voters favor barring trans women from women’s sports.</h3><p>By <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/artemis/" rel="noreferrer">Artemis T. Douglas</a> &amp; <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/author/jane/" rel="noreferrer">Jane Migliara Brigham</a></p> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <hr /><p>Yesterday, Jan. 29, a <a href="https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/01/fox_january-23-26-2026_national_cross-tabs_january-29-release.pdf"><u>poll</u></a> from Fox News was released that shows that on the topic of <em>”transgender issues”</em>, American voters prefer the Democratic Party to the Republican Party by a margin of 22 percentage points.</p><p>Some have taken this as a sign that the anti-trans moral panic might be waning. Erin Reed <a href="https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/fox-news-poll-americans-prefer-democrats?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=994764&amp;post_id=186336541&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=9s792&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email"><u>wrote in her coverage</u></a> of the poll that <em>“voters say Democrats have a better approach to transgender issues by a wide margin—an outcome that suggests the years-long anti-trans panic may finally be wearing thin, at least among voters.”</em></p><p>If Americans voters based their votes on trans rights, this would be the best trans news story since the Transgender Tipping Point. However, this is not the case.</p><p>The poll didn’t ask about trans rights; it asked about <em>“transgender issues”</em>. This is telling, as Americans largely don’t vote based on a minority's needs, except if they themselves are part of that minority.</p><p>In other words, the only people who tend to dictate their votes based on trans issues are trans themselves. Trans people have <a href="https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf"><u>overwhelmingly voted</u></a> for Democrats for as far back as we have data on the subject. Therefore, there is no reason to assume that this recent polling will result in a change in voting patterns.</p><p>Lastly, the poll showed that 31% of people who identified with the Republican Party preferred the Democrat’s position. This would be a good sign were it not for the fact that we have no reason to believe that these people will change their vote based on this issue.</p><p>A professor teaching me research methods once told me (Artemis) that you can’t assume that a respondent meant something more logical to you; you have to work with their response to the question they were asked.</p><p>We have to go by what the question actually was. In this case, the question was, specifically, <em>“Which political party – the Democrats or the Republicans – do you think would do a better job on transgender issues?”</em> That, and only that, is what you have to measure the data by. </p><p>The 60% polling for Democrats' response was to this question, and it shows that Americans voters associate Democrats with handling trans issues, not trans <em>rights, </em>trans <em>issues,</em> better. </p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-pink kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Platinum tier supporter, at $15 a month- you'll get access to all content AND credited as a supporter! For a limited time, you can get half off your first three months!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/new-year-subscription-drive" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Platinum! </a> </div> </div> </div> <p>In a moment where liberals are pushing the <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/newsom-vetoes-health-expansion-for-transsexuals-10-13-25-07-04pm/"><u>transphobic</u></a> Gov. <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/gavin-newsom-vetoes-gender-education-bill-in-latest-anti-trans-insult/"><u>Gavin Newsom</u></a> as a potential 2028 presidential front runner, and Democratic Party support for trans people as a bloc is cracking (as evidenced by their voting patterns in recent anti-trans federal legislation), that is clearly not an endorsement of support for trans people or our rights. </p><p>This is the same party who last month had <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/us-house-bans-trans-youth-healthcare-coverage-through-medicaid-and-why-thats-only-the-third-worst-thing-to-happen-to-trans-people-this-week/"><u>13 of its House representatives</u></a> vote in favor of a de facto ban on trans healthcare for trans kids. </p><p>Democrat Politicians in general are far less vocal on the topic of trans rights than they were 5 years ago, and this has allowed for an <a href="https://translegislation.com/"><u>exponential rise</u></a> in anti-trans laws across the country. </p><p>In addition, previously secure social norms such as gay marriage are now <a href="https://www.them.us/story/support-for-gay-same-sex-marriage-survey-decrease-dropped-2025"><u>far more contentious</u></a> than they were only a few years ago, and Democrats have done nothing to defend gay marriage.</p><p>In fact, the second-to-last question listed in the poll shows that 70% of the same respondents support anti-trans sports bans targeting trans women. When asked to <em>“favor or oppose” </em>on the question of <em>“Banning biological men from competing in women's sports”</em>, 70% said <em>“favor”</em>.</p><p>Of course, trans women are not <em>“biological men”</em>, but that language is specifically used to target trans women, and the primary targets of such bans are trans women. </p><p>Looking at the breakdown of that question’s data, more Dems support banning trans women from sports than oppose such bans. 49% of them support such bans, and 48% oppose them.</p><p>The same is true for all voting blocs measured. By the numbers, 49% of Dems, 70% of Independents and 90% of Republicans support banning trans women from sports. </p><p>Breaking it down by ideology, 50% of liberals, 71% of moderates, 85% of conservatives, and 87% of very conservative voters support banning trans women from sports. </p><p>This is especially stark when you consider that in a poll <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21565503.2016.1260482"><u>from a 2017 study</u></a>, less than 35% of Americans opposed “<em>Allowing students who have had a sex change to play college sports as a member of their current gender”</em>. In other words, in the decade between then and now, the number of Americans in support of trans sports bans doubled, from 35% to 70%.</p><p>That 60% of respondents to the more recent Fox News poll said they prefer the position of Democrats on <em>“transgender issues”</em> does not mean that 60% of Americans support trans people. It merely means that given a binary choice between Democrats and Republicans, most choose the Democrats to ‘handle’ us. </p><p>In this case, ‘handling us’ seems to mean further exclusion, just as long as they are polite and use ‘nice’ rhetoric about it.  </p><div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-accent"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text">💉Take Your Shot 💉 <br /><br />If you need help safety planning regarding "getting out" and are in the USA, check out our prior coverage on that topic:<br /><a href="https://theneedlenews.com/interview-director-of-trans-rescue-discusses-the-closing-jaws-in-the-united-states-and-how-to-get-out/" rel="noreferrer">Director of Trans Rescue Discusses the Closing Jaws in the United States, and How to Get Out</a> <br /><a href="https://theneedlenews.com/its-possible-to-leave-the-us-if-you-want-to-2025-10-21t13-07-51-04-00/" rel="noreferrer">It’s Possible to Leave the US If You Want To</a></div></div><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for The Needle</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:21 PM
This bill would be the harshest legal restriction on trans life anywhere in the United States, and is all but certain to pass.
Kansas to revoke driver's licenses of trans people, replacing them with IDs meant to out them
<h3 id="the-government-of-kansas-is-making-it-clear-that-it-intends-to-make-its-trans-population-as-distinct-from-the-cis-population-as-it-can-make-them">The government of Kansas is making it clear that it intends to make its trans population as distinct from the cis population as it can make them.  </h3><p>By Jane Migliara Brigham</p> <em><a href="#" class="cryptedmail"></a></em> <hr /><p>Earlier today, Jan. 28, the Kansas house <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/esqueer.net/post/3mdjhcazdbs23"><u>overwhelmingly passed</u></a> a bill to revoke the drivers licenses of trans people in the state.  The bill is headed to the senate, where it is expected to be passed with a supermajority of the votes.  While it will probably be vetoed by the state’s Democratic Governor, there is the probable risk of the veto being overridden, as both of the state’s legislative chambers have Republican supermajorities.</p><p>The bill orders the Director of the Kansas Department of Revenue (which oversees the granting of driver’s licenses) to identify all people granted a driver’s license with a gender marker that does not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth, a stipulation that applies almost exclusively to trans people.  It then orders that these licenses be invalidated, ordering the bearers to surrender their old licenses, at which time they will be provided a new license that has the wrong gender marker.</p><p>What is notable is the requirement that the old ID be handed in as a requirement for a new one.  This is far from standard, as old IDs are <a href="https://legalclarity.org/can-i-throw-away-my-old-drivers-license/"><u>rarely forced</u></a> to be handed in as a requirement for new IDs.  In most cases, the government marks down that the old ID has expired early, but does not bother collecting and destroying old IDs, instead relying on people to not use them.</p><p>That the Kansas government is not following this standard procedure implies that they do not expect trans people to surrender their IDs unless they are coerced into doing so. </p><p>Since driver’s licenses are used as general purpose IDs in the United States, the inability to get accurate driver’s licenses means an inability to have any identification that is both accurate and which keeps the bearer safe from discrimination.  </p><p>By doing this, the Kansas government is forcing trans people to choose between complying with these discriminatory laws and surrendering documents which they can use to keep themselves safe, and defying the new law in order to hold on to their accurate IDs.</p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-yellow kg-cta-minimal kg-cta-has-img "> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-image-container"> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/merry-winter-holidays"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/2025/11/Artemis_Vial_logo--1-.png" alt="CTA Image" /></a> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">If you support our coverage, consider subscribing to The Needle as a Gold tier supporter, at $15 a month- you'll get access to all content! For a limited time, you can get half off your first three months!</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/merry-winter-holidays" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Gold! </a> </div> </div> </div> <p>This would be the most extreme anti-trans law enacted since the days of anti-crossdressing laws.  If enacted, this would be the single most extreme bureaucratic attack on trans people in the United States in the entire 21th century.  </p><p>By not just barring trans people from obtaining accurate IDs, but actively revoking those accurate IDs which the state has already issued, the government of Kansas is making it clear that it intends to make its trans population as distinct from the cis population as it can make them.  </p><p>The bill was approved alongside another bill allowing for <a href="https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/kansas-advancing-anti-trans-bill"><u>private citizens to sue trans people</u></a> for using public bathrooms that do not align with their sex assigned at birth.</p><div class="kg-card kg-callout-card kg-callout-card-accent"><div class="kg-callout-emoji">💡</div><div class="kg-callout-text">💉Take Your Shot 💉 <br /><br />If you have the ability to help people flee a tyrannical government that is set on persecuting them, you have a moral responsibility to help them do so.</div></div><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-wide " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for The Needle</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Culture and News: By and For Transsexuals</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Our latest coverage...
New: Trump Administration Bans Foreign Aid From Funding Trans Healthcare
<p>Our Latest: </p><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://theneedlenews.com/trump-administration-bans-foreign-aid-from-funding-trans-healthcare/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Trump Administration bans foreign aid from funding trans healthcare</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">The new sweeping rules expand the existing ban on foreign aid to abortion providers to include providers of trans healthcare and anything else that it deems to be “gender ideology”.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/icon/Artemis_Vial_logo--1---1--185.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">The Needle</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Jane Migliara Brigham</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://theneedlenews.com/content/images/thumbnail/header-censored-mexico-city.png" alt="" /></div></a></figure><p>By <strong>Jane Migliara Brigham</strong></p> <div class="kg-card kg-cta-card kg-cta-bg-red kg-cta-minimal "> <div class="kg-cta-sponsor-label-wrapper"> <div class="kg-cta-sponsor-label"> <span style="white-space:pre-wrap">SPONSORED</span> </div> </div> <div class="kg-cta-content"> <div class="kg-cta-content-inner"> <div class="kg-cta-text"> <p><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Please consider subscribing to The Needle as a Gold tier supporter, at $15 dollars a month.</span></p> </div> <a href="https://theneedlenews.com/merry-winter-holidays" class="kg-cta-button " style="background-color:#000000;color:#ffffff"> Become Gold! </a> </div> </div> </div>
theneedlenews.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:34 PM