🎯 Target is cutting Pride merch after right-wing backlash

A recent study suggesting that lesbian and bisexual women have a shorter lifespan than straight women sparked a lot of conversation on our Instagram page this week — as well as a little dark humor.

One commenter remarked, "Moving all the time is very stressful," to which the one and only Brandi Carlile replied, " honestly." Others pointed out potential causes like stigma against queer women, higher rates of substance abuse, struggles with depression and anxiety, and social isolation.

☕ What's your take on this study? Join the conversation by emailing us at social@advocate.com.

Got a joyful story? We'd love to hear it! Respond to the email and tell us something positively queer that's going on with you or your community.

Each week, The Advocate newsletter has a little bit of LGBTQ+ trivia. Tuesday, you'll get the question. Thursday, you'll get a hint. And today, you'll get the answer.

This week’s question was: Who created what is widely known as the transgender pride flag?

This week's hint answer is: Monica Helms. The flag made its debut in Arizona in 2000, after Helms, a military Veteran and trans woman came up with the colors.

“We were talking and [Michael Page, creator of the bi pride flag] said, ’You know the trans community needs a flag too,” Helms told Transilient several years ago. Some time later she woke up one morning, “And all of a sudden the pattern and colors came to me.”