Take Action

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case about the constitutionality of states banning access to gender-affirming care to minors. The justices ruled 6-3 that the Tennessee law does not violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection, does not discriminate against Tennessee youth on the basis of sex, and does not discriminate based on transgender status. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, writing that the court’s ruling “authorizes, without second thought, untold harm to transgender children and the parents and families who love them.” Read PFLAG National CEO Brian Bond’s statement on the ruling. 

In conjunction with local and national partners, we are taking part in activations across the nation. These rallies will take place TOMORROW (Saturday, June 21st) and will vary in activity. 

Show up in solidarity with trans youth; find your local event now.

ICYMI

A4TE’s 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey finds that transphobia is the most common reason why trans people stop transitioning. The survey, released June 11th, included data from over 90,000 trans Americans. Nine percent of respondents had gone back to living as their sex assigned at birth at some point in their lives, at least for a short while. In almost all of these cases, respondents cited anti-trans sentiment as the reason their transitions stopped or paused.

State Matters

Here is a sample of what’s going on around the country. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. You can share news from your state with [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.

California - Children’s Hospital Los Angeles stops providing medically necessary care to trans and nonbinary youth. The Center for Transyouth Health and Development will close on July 22nd, citing threats from the Trump Administration. 

Kansas - State Court of Appeals rules that trans Kansans can have their gender identity reflected on their driver’s licenses. The ruling reverses a 2023 District Court decision which held that the state could no longer issue drivers licenses based on gender identity after a bill defining “man” and “woman” by sex assigned at birth became law. 

Maine - Anti-trans bills die in state legislature. Every anti-trans bill introduced this year has been defeated, including an anti-trans athlete ban which narrowly passed the House, LD 233. That bill was soundly defeated in the Senate, killing the last active anti-trans bill in the legislature. PFLAG Portland took an active role in defeating these bills.

Court Matters

See our “Take Action” section above regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v Skrmetti, and ways to take action.

Federal judge blocks Trump’s executive order banning “X” gender markers on passports. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick ruled on June 17th that any individual who needs to renew their passport, apply for a new passport, or change their name or sex designation may choose the gender marker aligning with their gender identity, including an “X” option. The ruling, which applies nationwide, expands an April decision that only applied to six plaintiffs.

Federal court rules women’s spa in Washington cannot exclude trans women. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that the Washington State Human Rights Commission’s enforcement of the state’s anti-discrimination law barring the spa from excluding trans women did not violate the spa’s rights to the freedom of religion, speech and association. 

Federal appeals court rules trans girl must be allowed to use girls’ bathroom at her middle school. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2023 district court ruling which held that the Mukwonago Area School District’s bathroom ban likely violated Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause and that an 11-year-old trans girl must be allowed to use the girl’s bathroom.

Federal Matters

Trump Administration ending LGBTQ+ support services on national 988 crisis hotline. The Administration sent a stop work notice to The Trevor Project ending its “Press 3” program with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Since 2022, the “Press 3 option” allowed Suicide & Crisis Lifeline callers to be connected with a mental health counselor specializing in LGBTQ+ issues and concerns. 

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduce bill banning anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in federal jury selection. The Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection (ACCESS) Act would enshrine civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people who are serving or who might be selected to serve on federal juries.

FDA approves twice-yearly injectable Lenacapavir (LEN) for PrEP.The June 18th FDA approval is a milestone achievement in HIV prevention. While Gilead launched steps to license to six generic manufacturers, access to and affordability by populations with highest need globally is a strong concern. Stay tuned as this progresses.

Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) forcibly removed from Homeland Security press conference. On June 12th, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference in Los Angeles following recent protests against the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. Senator Padilla, who was in attendance, introduced himself and said, “I have questions for the secretary.” He was then pushed out of the room and forced to the floor face down, and several officers with FBI-identifying vests told Padilla to put his hands behind his back and handcuffed him while he was held in place but not resisting.

Global Matters

Poland - Member of European Parliament (MEP) banned from Polish Parliament after vandalizing LGBTQ+ display. MEP Grzegorz Braun tore down display boards from an LGBT-themed exhibition on display at Polish parliament created by an NGO that promotes gay and lesbian rights. In response, the Speaker barred Braun from the Parliament building.

Media Matters

LGBTQ+ online archive created to save scrubbed resources from federal websites. LGBT Tech launched the LGBTQ+ Archive last month. The hub has tracked down approximately 1,000 documents related to LGBTQ+ health, history, and other topics which were scrubbed from various federal agency websites, putting them in a centralized location. 

Drag queens protest Trump at the Kennedy Center. Four drag queens attended a performance of Les Miserables in full drag. The President was also in attendance.

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

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