The Trump administration and Congress are putting various mechanisms in place to end student loan debt relief, reduce the availability of loans for college and graduate students, and make federal student loans more expensive and less likely to be forgiven.

At the beginning of the Biden administration, more than one-third (35%) of LGBTQ adults aged 18 to 40—an estimated 2.9 million LGBTQ people—held more than $93.2 billion in federal student loans. An estimated 336,000 LGBTQ adults received relief under the Biden administration’s loan forgiveness programs.

Our new study, conducted in collaboration with the Point Foundation, finds that changes to student loan programs will disproportionately impact LGBTQ adults, who are more likely to have student loan debt than their non-LGBTQ peers. Specifically, limiting student loan debt relief would significantly affect vulnerable LGBTQ communities, including transgender adults and LGBTQ people of color.

David S. Flugman is a partner of Selendy Gay in New York. His complex litigation practice focuses on bankruptcy, M&A, securities, and cross-border litigation. He has represented clients in federal and state courts and arbitral panels across the U.S. David has supported the Williams Institute for over 15 years and has represented the Institute as amicus counsel of record before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Henry Jung retired in 2020 after working 32 years in medical devices and biotechnology at Kyocera, Baxter International, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. He held a global leadership role in regulatory affairs and focused on company divestiture and integration. In retirement, he continues to maintain a portfolio of residential properties. Henry received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA.

Receive up to 3.25 hours of CLE for attending the conference.

Mark your calendars! Our annual DC Spring Reception will take place on May 21, 2025. Hosted by King & Spalding,  this year's reception will feature a discussion of the shifting landscape of LGBTQ law and policy with Jocelyn Samuels, Reggie Greer, and Victor Madrigal-Borloz.

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law is an academic research institute dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy.