GLAAD LAUNCHES WEATHER WATCH WITH SALINA ESTITTIES AS LEAD ‘METEOROLOGIST’, A NEW INITIATIVE TO ENGAGE LGBTQ PEOPLE AND ALLIES IN LEGISLATIVE FIGHTS

After a record 600+ anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in statehouses across the country in 2024, GLAAD is on a mission to educate and activate the community on anti-LGBTQ ‘weather’ and celebrate wins

(New York, NY – February 3, 2025) – Today GLAAD, the world’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, launched the GLAAD Weather Watch, a new initiative with RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Salina EsTitties as an LGBTQ-policy focused ‘meteorologist’. GLAAD, with Salina at the wheel as everyone’s new favorite weather girl, will educate LGBTQ people and allies about pro- and anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country, and provide opportunities to take action.

The first episode of GLAAD Weather Watch is available for viewing and embedding here: Instagram and YouTube. Viewers can expect regular Weather Alerts and Bulletins from GLAAD throughout the year.

Statement from Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO of GLAAD (she/her)
“This year, it is more important now than ever for every single LGBTQ person and ally to take political attacks seriously. A staggering 250+ anti-LGBTQ bills have already been filed this year, with lawmakers emboldened by loud anti-LGBTQ federal leaders. As we await a ruling in the Supreme Court case US v. Skrmetti, which challenges the constitutionality of trans health care bans, dozens of states across the country will consider banning LGBTQ people from access to bathrooms, schools, sports, and medical care, with a reprehensible focus on harming transgender youth. Weather Watch will also keep you posted on good news–sunny skies for the queer community! Sign up at glaad.org/weather to make sure you know the latest and take action.”

Statement from Salina EsTitties, star of Emmy-award winning Season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race (she/her)
“Is an anti-trans cold front moving in across the Southeast? Will an anti-drag tornado spin into a town near you? I couldn’t be prouder to be teaming up with GLAAD to give you the latest queer weather, and help you fight back against anti-LGBTQ legislation. We all know extremist lawmakers will stop at nothing to try to diminish and degrade LGBTQ people in pathetic attempts to gain popularity. But our community will not stand for it! We are stronger and more organized than ever before, and with the GLAAD Weather Watch activating queer people and allies all across the country, we will make a difference this year. Here’s to strong action against hate and celebrating rays of sunshine and rainbows when we can!”

Salina EsTitties previously authored an essay about anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ attacks and hate for GLAAD, here: https://glaad.org/salina-estitties-anti-drag-hate/ 

Learn more and sign up for Weather Watch alerts at glaad.org/weather