Court Matters

Revised Alabama congressional map to be reviewed by federal court. On July 21st, the Alabama legislature and Governor Kay Ivey approved a congressional map that lowers the percentage of Black voters in the 2nd and 7th congressional districts, defying a federal court order to create two majority Black congressional districts. The map is set to be reviewed by a three-judge panel in the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on August 11th.

PFLAG National serves as plaintiff in lawsuit against Missouri ban on medically necessary healthcare for transgender kids. Represented by Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Missouri, and the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner law firm, PFLAG National, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, three families of transgender young people and medical providers filed a challenge to SB 49, a law that would prevent access to evidence-based gender-affirming care in the state. The law is scheduled to take effect on August 28.

Federal Matters

Legislators propose federal ban on life-saving gender-affirming care. Legislation proposed by Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) seeks to prohibit doctors from performing gender-confirmation surgery on minors, making it a Class C felony offense. In addition, the proposed bill would terminate taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care.

State Matters

Warning: While some of the following stories describe legislative actions to celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and nonbinary youth. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. 

Advisory: State news is representative but not exhaustive due to space constraint; feel free to forward news about your state to [email protected] to consider for inclusion.

California - Governor fines school board for rejecting new curriculum. Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the state will fine the Temecula Valley Unified School District $1.5 million dollars as the school board rejected a social studies curriculum that included gay rights activist and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. 

School board removes State Superintendent from meeting for voicing opposition to anti-trans policy. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond publicly opposed the Chino Valley Unified School District's proposed forced outing policy, which was adopted despite strong opposition from local parents..

Florida - Vice President Kamala Harris denounces restrictive social studies program. Vice President Harris spoke at the State Board of Education about new Black history standards in public schools, in response to new restrictions being adopted on discussing race-based oppression in the Florida public school curriculum.

Global Matters

Germany - Activist expresses concerns about increasing anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Anastasia Biefang, an LGBTQ+ rights activist, gave a speech during the Christopher Street Day parade where she highlighted her concern about the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ violence in Germany. 

Hungary - Prime Minister accuses European Union of “LGBTQ offensive.” During a recent conference in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke out against the European Union (EU) and accused it of opposing Christian heritage and family values. This came after the EU criticized Hungary's anti-LGBTQ+ law that was passed in 2022.

Italy - Padua city officials remove lesbian mothers’ names from children’s birth certificates. Officials in Padua removed the names of non-biological mothers on 33 birth certificates under new legislation passed by the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 

Mexico - Mexico City hosts LGBTQ, intersex rights conference. Over 400 participants from around the globe attended the conference, which was jointly organized by the Victory Institute and various LGBTQ+ Latin American organizations. Distinguished leaders from both the United States and Latin America were also present.

Peru - Court legally recognizes same-sex couples. A high court in Lima has ordered the registration of same-sex unions in public records, a significant win for the LGBTQ+ community.

Media Matters

The 1975 cancels shows in Indonesia and Taiwan. The British pop-rock band, The 1975, had to cancel some of their concerts after a show was cut short in Malaysia when they criticized the country's anti-LGBTQ+ laws. During the show, Matt Healy, the lead singer, spoke out against the laws and also kissed one of his bandmates on stage.

First openly gay male NFL Coach comes out publicly. Kevin Maxen is an associate strength coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars team, and his public announcement of his sexual orientation marks him as the first openly gay male coach in any major American men's professional sports league.

First openly gay male NFL Coach comes out publicly. Kevin Maxen is an associate strength coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars team, and his public announcement of his sexual orientation marks him as the first openly gay male coach in any major American men's professional sports league.

PFLAG National
(202) 467-8180 | [email protected]

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser