1. Timothy Egan of the New York Times penned a scathing editorial as Leo Varadkar, the openly gay Prime Minister of Ireland, visited Donald Trump and toured the U.S. to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day. Egan wrote, “How did… the gay son of a Hindu father of Indian descent, merit time from a president who has stirred up a thousand little hatreds from the darkest corners of America?” During Varadkar’s visit, he also marched with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which until recent years was known for for being anti-LGBTQ.
2. Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), a former Assembly speaker, will make history Wednesday when she becomes the first woman and first lesbian to hold the California Senate’s top position. Atkins is taking over the post of Senate president pro tem from fellow Democrat Kevin de Leon.
3. Viciously witty HBO host John Oliver (“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”) has a new children’s book out about the VP’s rabbit, coincidentally out the same time as the Pence family’s book about their bunny. “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President,” available on Amazon and at betterbundobook.com, differs from Pence’s story, according to Oliver. “You’ll notice right away that our rabbit has a bow tie, so there’s that,” he said, adding that in his book, Marlon Bundo falls for another male bunny. All proceeds from book sales are going to the Trevor Project and AIDS United.
4. Out singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and her wife, Catherine, announced on Facebook last night that they’ve had a baby girl named Elijah. “But all the wonders I have seen, I will see a second time. I am the mother of Elijah,” Carlile wrote. The musician will perform June 24 at Chastain Amphitheatre.
5. VIDEO OF THE DAY: In “Creating Gender Inclusive Schools,” Oakland, California’s Peralta Elementary School demonstrates the power of an open, honest conversation about gender.
Creating Gender Inclusive Schools Trailer from Jonathan Skurnik on Vimeo.