Court Matters

Texas Supreme Court makes mixed ruling on child abuse investigations of parents with transgender children. The decision left an injunction in place for a family with a trans child that sued the state of Texas after the state began an investigation against them. The Court invalidated a broad statewide injunction barring investigations of families with trans children, though. In another part of the ruling, the Court also held that the governor’s order does not “bind” child protective services to investigate parents of transgender children for abuse.

Federal judge issues mixed ruling in transgender student pronoun and outing case in Kansas. The U.S. District Court ruled that the Geary County Unified School District can keep its policy that requires teachers to respect the pronouns of trans students and to not out them to parents. The judge also ruled that the school could not discipline a teacher who refused to follow these policies based on her religious beliefs. 

Federal judge strikes down bathroom sign law in Tennessee. The law would have required businesses to post warnings if they have policies allowing transgender customers to use facilities that match their gender identities. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger permanently blocked the law, claiming that it violates the First Amendment by compelling controversial speech. 

Federal judge temporarily blocks part of Alabama anti-trans healthcare law. Judge Liles C. Burke temporarily blocked enforcement against doctors who prescribe hormones or puberty blockers. He stated that denying gender-affirming care is sex discrimination. He did not block the parts of the law that prohibit gender-affirming surgeries on minors or that require teachers and school nurses to out transgender children to their parents. Note: Such surgeries are not performed on trans or nonbinary children.

Federal Matters

Admiral Linda L. Fagan becomes the first woman confirmed by the Senate to lead a branch of the military. She was confirmed by unanimous consent to be the next Coast Guard commandant. 

Karine Jean-Pierre will be the first Black, openly gay woman White House press secretary. Jean-Pierre grew up in New York and is of Haitian descent. She has managed numerous political campaigns and will be stepping up from her role as Jen Psaki’s deputy press secretary. Jean-Pierre also moderated a panel We Are the Change: The 2019 PFLAG National Convention in Kansas City.

U.S. Army considers letting LGBTQ+ troops transfer from states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The potential policy would allow soldiers to request transfer if state or local laws discriminate against them based on gender, sex, religion, race, or pregnancy. 

USDA adds sexual orientation and gender identy to non-discrimination policy for SNAP benefits. Research has shown that LGBTQ+ experience disparities in food insecurity. Implementation of the new policy will include changes such as inclusive language in SNAP applications and information, anti-bias training for SNAP workers, and varied acceptable forms of identity verification.

State Matters

In the last year, we’ve seen a marked rise in anti-LGBTQ+ action in state and local governments. Many states are introducing legislation targeting trans youth, and local schools and libraries are being pressured into censoring LGBTQ+ history and stories. Visit pflag.org/protecttranskids to take action against anti-trans bills in your state today. 

Want to take action and not sure where to start? Please contact Patrick Cochran, Advocacy and Policy Engagement Senior Coordinator.

California - Assembly passes safe haven law for LGBTQ+ people and people seeking abortions. Assembly Bill 1666 creates a legal shield for California patients and providers against anti-abortion laws and laws prohibiting gender-related care from other states. 

Colorado - Governor Jarred Polis signs law easing the process for LGBTQ+ parents adopting their own children. House Bill 22-1153 removes requirements for home visits, fingerprinting, criminal background checks, and court hearings for non-bearing same-sex parents. Instead, the law requires that the non-bearing parent files a petition with basic information and the child’s birth certificate. Courts must certify proper petitions within 30 days of filing.

Illinois - Governor J.B. Pritzker signs law targeting funds toward LGBTQ+ elders and people living with HIV. The law designates older LGBTQ+ adults and people living with HIV as populations of “greatest social need,” identifying them as target populations for doctors and service providers.

Louisiana - House passes anti-transgender sports ban. Senate Bill 44 would prohibit transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and womans’ sports teams. The bill now goes to Governor John Bel Edwards’ desk. 

New Hampshire - Governor Chris Sununu has stated that he would veto forced-outing bill. House Bill 1431, he so-called “Parental Bill of Rights” would require school personnel to inform parents of any student issue regarding gender expression or identity, effectively requiring them to out transgender students. Governor Sununu said that the bill “creates numerous challenges for kids” and that he will veto it. 

New Jersey - State Senator Edward Durr Jr. introduces “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Senate Bill 2648 would prohibit teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity at all with students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and only with parental consent in seventh through twelfth. 

Ohio - House holds hearings on anti-transgender healthcare bill. House Bill 454 would ban health care professionals from providng gender-affirming treatment to transgender minors. The House held its second hearing for supporters of the bill on May 26th. Hearings for opponents of the bill will be held later.

Oklahoma - Governor Stitt signs anti-trans bathroom bill. The Governor signed SB 615 on May 25th, which immediately prohibits transgender pre-K through high school students in public and public charter schools from using bathrooms in line with their gender identity. Schools which refuse to comply will lose funding.

South Carolina - Governor Henry McMaster signs anti-trans sports bill into law. The law prohibits transgender students from girls’ or women’s sports in public schools an colleges.

Global Matters

Austria - Changes in the restrictions on blood donations allow gay and bisexual men to donate. The new policy will restrict donations based on individual behavior, not blanket bans for certain communities. Previously, transgender and non-binary people could not give blood, and gay and bisexual men could not be sexually active within 12 months of donating. Under the new policy, anyone who has had sex with three partners in the last three months cannot give blood for three months. 

Belgium - New action plan adopted to protect LGBTQ+ people. The plan aims to reduce the country’s high rate of assaults on LGBTQ+ people. It will focus on increasing awareness and cultivating better responses to the needs of LGBTQ+ people, and ensure that LGBTQ+ rights are considered in every policy. 

Chile - House passed bill ensuring that “menstruating persons” have access to menstruation management. The bill’s use of the inclusive phrase “menstruating persons” has sparked controversy across the country. It states that people who menstruate are entitled to free and dignified menstrual management. 

Greece - Parliament approves bill to ban so-called conversion therapy for minors. The bill requires health professionals to gain a person’s explicit consent to perform so-called conversion therapy treatments, which minors cannot give. It establishes fines and prison terms for providers of the treatment and bans advertising the practice.

Italy - Milan designated as “LGBTQ+ freedom zone” in response to anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Hungary and Poland. The label is in direct reference to the so-called “LGBT ideology-free zones” in Polish towns, which have been increasing since 2019. This is part of a coordinated effort by the European Socialist Group in the Committee of the Regions against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in EU member countries.

Media Matters

LGBTQ+ Civil Rights activist Urvashi Vaid dies on May 14. Vaid was a leader in many LGBTQ civil rights organizations, including the National LGBTQ+ Task Force, the Arcus Foundation, LPAC, the Vaid Group, the Donors of Color Network, the National LGBTQ Anti-Poverty Action Network, the National LGBT/HIV Criminal Justice Working Group, the Equality Federation, and the National Religious Leadership Roundtable. She was also an award-winning researcher with multiple published works including books, reports, articles, and columns. 

FIFA threatens to cut ties with Hotels in Qatar over anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is going to be held in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. Recently a team of journalists posed as same-sex couples and were refused accomodations by three hotels, and asked by 20 other hotels to hid their sexuality. In response, FIFA is threatening to terminate contracts with hotels that have discriminatory practices. 

Dr. Jane Rigby awarded 2022 LGBTQ+ Scientist of the Year. Dr. Rigby is an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Flight Center where she develops new techniques to study galaxy evolution, star-forming galaxies, and active galactic nuclei. 

Marvel Comics to introduce two transgender superheroes. Shela Sexton and Morgan Red are set to be introduced on June 22nd in “Marvel Voices: Pride #1.” They will be joined by their genetically engineered flying turtle, Hibbert. 

Yasmin Finney, Heartstopper star, set to be the Doctor’s companion. Finney will play Rose, a long time companion of the the Doctor, starring opposite Ncuti Gatwa, the series’ first Black Doctor. Finney will be one of the first transgender actors to appear on Dr. Who. 

English soccer player Jake Daniels comes out as gay. The Blackpool player is only the second openly gay English footballer. 

Billy Eichner becomes first openly gay man to write and star in own major studio film with Bros. The film is also the first major studio film set to have an entirely LGBTQ+ principal cast. The movie is a romantic comedy about a gay couple.

The PFLAG National Advocacy, Policy, and Partnerships Team is always here to support you with your work, so please don't ever hesitate to reach out to us for assistance.

Yours in PFLAG power,

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