In July 2025, the Federal Trade Commission sought information “to better understand how consumers may have been exposed to false or unsupported claims” about gender-affirming care.

In response, scholars from the Williams Institute submitted a public comment on the prevalence of transgender people in the U.S. and the rigorous standard of care endorsed by leading medical associations. They examined evidence showing the improvements in well-being associated with gender-affirming care and described how the denial of care may contribute to increased stress, negative mental health outcomes, and other serious health risks for patients and providers.

The Williams Institute has been growing over the past year. Introducing three recent additions to our social science and communications teams.  

Ciara Blue — Communications Associate

Ciara will support the Institute's communications work. She previously worked in marketing for an arts nonprofit and the Maryland Department of Health’s WIC program, where she led marketing efforts to support families across the state. Ciara holds a B.A. in Public Relations, Advertising, and Media Sales from Morgan State University.

Al Rowland — Research Data Analyst

Al will support the Institute’s international research portfolio. Their prior research focused on international human rights, (de)criminalization, and other issues impacting LGBTQ people. They previously conducted participatory action research with sex workers in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Al earned their Ph.D. in Political Science from UCI.

Keyanna P. Taylor — Research Data Analyst

Keyanna will support the Institute’s research in various areas, including data collection, demographics, and the health and well-being of LGBTQ people. Her prior research focused on social epidemiology, public health interventions addressing LGBTQ health disparities, and measuring intersectional stigma and discrimination. She has an M.S. in Epidemiology from UCLA.

Please join us for a discussion of the October 7 oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for youth. Panelists will discuss the legal issues raised in the case and present Williams Institute research on the impact of conversion therapy on LGBTQ people.

Join us for an afternoon in Palm Springs, including a discussion on upcoming research about LGBTQ older adults and what's at stake for all LGBTQ people in the current legal and policy landscape. Hosted by Henry Jung, Mark DeAngelis, and Ryan Leaderman.

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.