National
Carney dodges on Obama’s position on ‘ex-gay’ therapy
W.H. spox refers questions on Medicaid funding to HHS
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney declined comment Monday on questions on President Obama’s position on widely discredited “ex-gay” reparative therapy aimed at changing gay individuals into being straight.
Under questioning from the Washington Blade, Carney said he hasn’t had any conversations with the president on reparative therapy — or whether Medicaid funding should support the practice — and deferred inquiries to the Department of Health & Human Services.
“I haven’t had any conversation with him and I think that I would steer you to HHS since it involves Medicaid funding,” Carney said. “I don’t really have any comment.”
Pressed further Monday on whether Obama could possibly support reparative therapy if he describes himself as a “fierce advocate” for LGBT Americans, Carney replied, “I haven’t spoken to him about it, so I don’t want to characterize his thoughts on this. The fact is the issue of Medicaid funding is best asked of HHS.”
The Minnesota-based clinic Bachmann & Associates, co-owned by Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, has received significant media attention after Truth Wins Out posted a report earlier this month revealing the clinic engages in reparative therapy.
In a subsequent interview with the Minnesota Star-Tribune, Marcus Bachmann, the spouse of Michele Bachmann and operator of the clinic, said the “ex-gay” practices are used “at the client’s discretion.”
Despite Marcus Bachmann’s assertion that ex-gay therapy is only offered to those who ask for it, the clinic has continued to receive criticism because it’s engaging in a discredited practice that could harm LGBT people.
Further, Bachmann & Associates has been shown to be the recipient of federal funds. According to NBC News, the clinic has been collecting annual Medicaid payments totaling more than $137,000 for the treatment of patients since 2005. These payments are in addition to $24,000 in federal and state funds that Bachmann & Associates received in recent years under a state grant to train its employees.
It’s unclear whether these federal and state funds are compensating the clinic for reparative therapy or if this money is reimbursing Bachmann & Associates for other practices.
Carney also dodged on whether the president would be open to issuing an executive order spelling out that federal funds won’t be used to discriminate against or harm LGBT Americans.
“I’m not going to negotiate on behalf of the president or venture a guess on what he may or may not be open to,” Carney said. “Again, on the specific issue of Medicaid funding, I’ll send you to HHS.”
In the wake of revelations about Bachmann & Associates, such a directive has been seen as a way for the administration to make clear that the U.S. government won’t subsidize “ex-gay” therapy.
Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters, said he thinks Carney would discover if he asks Obama about ex-gay therapy that the president doesn’t think being gay is a disease.
“I’m sure if and when he asks the president — he would and has been clear that he doesn’t think being gay is a mental illness,” Socarides said. “So federal funds should certainly not be used to ‘cure’ it.
Socarides reiterated reports that Bachmann & Associates participates in ex-gay therapy and receives federal funds are “another reason we need the executive order prohibiting federal funds being used to discriminate against LGBT Americans.”
Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, also said the Obama administration “should make it clear that no federal funds will be used to subsidize reparative therapy.”
“Moreover, no federal funds should be given to any medical practice that engages in such therapy, even if the funds are allocated for different areas,” Besen added. “Those who offer such therapy are committing consumer fraud by charging clients for a service that does not work.”
A partial transcript of the exchange between the Blade and Carney follows:
Washington Blade: Bachmann & Associates, the Minnesota-based clinic co-owned by Michele Bachmann, has been receiving attention recently because it’s been revealed that it’s engaging in widely discredited reparative therapy aimed at turning gay people into being straight. Furthermore, the clinic has been shown to be the recipient of federal money. It received $137,000 in Medicaid funding since 2005.
What does the president think about ex-gay reparative therapy and should federal funds be used to support this practice?
Jay Carney: Chris, I haven’t had any conversation with him and I think that I would steer you to HHS since it involves Medicaid funding. I don’t really have any comment.
Blade: But it seems strange to me that you can’t say anything about it because our president has described himself as a “fierce advocate” for LGBT Americans. Why can’t you say anything about a practice that is —
Carney: … I haven’t spoken to him about it, so I don’t want to characterize his thoughts on this. The fact is the issue of Medicaid funding is best asked of HHS.
Blade: Just a follow up question. To spell out that this practice shouldn’t be subsidized by the federal government, would the president be open to issuing an executive order mandating that federal funds cannot be used to discriminate or harm LGBT Americans?
Carney: I’m not going to negotiate on behalf of the president or venture a guess on what he may or may not be open to. Again, on the specific issue of Medicaid funding, I’ll send you to HHS.
Arizona
Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead
Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime
Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.
Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.
Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.
Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.
“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.
“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”
“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”
Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.
The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.
“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”
A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.
Congress
HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH
Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.
Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.
We’re hitting the pavement across New Hampshire to fight for a freer, fairer future for everyone.
Glad to have Human Rights Campaign President @KelleyJRobinson join us for a canvass launch in Manchester today. pic.twitter.com/XWCEaQxy4o
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) August 30, 2026
Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.
Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.
A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.
The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.
Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.
National
Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK
ICE arrested far-right provocateur in New Orleans on Thursday
Editor’s note: The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday said Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported to the U.K.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
A DHS spokesperson in a statement sent to the Washington Blade said ICE arrested Yiannopoulos, who they described as “an illegal alien from the United Kingdom,” at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The DHS spokesperson said Yiannopoulos “legally entered the country” in New York on May 14, 2019.
“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” said the spokesperson.
The DHS spokesperson said an immigration judge on July 22 “issued a final order of removal” for Yiannopoulos “after failing to show up for his immigration hearing.” The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans on Friday reported Yiannopoulos is being held at an ICE detention center in Alexandria, La., which is about 200 miles northwest of the Crescent City.
“He will remain in ICE custody pending removal,” said the DHS spokesperson.
Yiannopoulos has, among other things, repeatedly targeted transgender people and Muslims.
The American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual Conversative Political Action Conference, in 2017 disinvited Yiannopoulos from speaking at that year’s CPAC after a video in which he appeared to condone sex between adults and underage boys emerged. Yiannopoulos subsequently resigned from Breitbart News, a far-right news website, where he had been a senior editor.
Yiannopoulos later that year married his boyfriend in Hawaii. The far-right provocateur in 2021 claimed he was an “ex-gay.”
The Australian government in 2019 banned Yiannopoulos from entering the country “on character grounds.” Yiannopoulos was also banned from Facebook, Twitter (now X), and other social media platforms.

The Times-Picayune reported Yiannopoulos “most recently worked for” Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
The controversial rapper is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday.
Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who is close to President Donald Trump, has called for Yiannopoulos’s deportation. Loomer on Friday wrote on X that she “reported him to ICE and the FBI” after he “called for me to be assassinated.”
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