Take Action

The Supreme Court just took away the right to abortion, opening the floodgates for states across the country to institute bans. It’s time to make some noise. Join a rally TODAY to demand control over our bodies, our lives, and our futures.

Visit pflagnation.al/BansOff to find an event near you.

Court Matters

US Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, law of the land for nearly 50 years. The June 24th ruling holds that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion. Abortion rights will be determined by states unless Congress passes a federal bill to grant abortion access. Read SCOTUS’s Opinion and appendices on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization and see an FAQ on what SCOTUS's ruling means, as well as a state-by-state breakdown on abortion rights and access.

Federal Judge blocks Texas from investigating families of transgender children.  Judge Jan Soifer issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state from conducting child abuse investigations into families who provide gender-affirming care for their transgender children. The decision was the result of PFLAG v Abbott, a lawsuit from three individual families and PFLAG National, representing hundreds of PFLAG families in Texas. 

Appeals court to consider lifting injunction on gender-affirming healthcare ban for Arkansas minors. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will consider an appeal from the State of Arkansas asking to lift the injunction against enforcement of the law, which passed last year, prohibiting doctors from providing puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery as gender-affirming healthcare for minors.

Supreme Court rules public money can go to religious schools. The Court ruled that Maine’s private school tuition assistance program was unconstitutional as the money was not allowed to be used for religious schools. This ruling has many advocates worried about the implications for the separation of church and state. Sarah McDaniel, president of PFLAG Portland, argued that the possibility of taxpayer money going to religious schools that may discriminate against LGBTQ students “compounds the harm some of our most marginalized youth will encounter.”

Federal Matters

President Biden signs executive order in support of LGBTQI+ rights. In the statement, the President takes aim at discrimination and disparities affecting LGBTQI+ Americans in foster care, child welfare agencies, mental health care, so-called conversion therapy, the rights of older LGBTQI+ adults, homelessness, and housing instability. It also decries harmful legislative attacks on the LGBTQI+ community from state legislatures, and the attacks on the rights of LGBTQI+ families and students in schools. 

Three Chairs - Reps. Maloney, Grijalva and Cicilline, join to lead passage of LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act. On June 23rd, the U.S. House voted 220-201 to pass H.R. 4176, the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, legislation to ensure that lawmakers and federal agencies have the comprehensive data they need to advance policies that better serve LGBTQI+ people.

House passes gun control legislation in wake of Uvalde and Buffalo shootings. The “Protecting Our Kids Act” would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, ban large-capacity magazines, establish requirements for gun storage on residential properties, and bolster the existing ban on bump stocks.  

House panel holds hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection. The hearings are the culmination of a year-long investigation into President Trump’s involvement and the attempts to overthrow the 2020 election. Three hearings have already taken place, and two more are scheduled in June.

Senate Breaks Decades-Long Impasse on Gun Safety The Senate passed late on Thurs, June 23rd in a 65-33 vote a bill aimed at keeping firearms away from dangerous people..

Vice President Harris speaks at 2022 Capital Pride Parade. In her statement, she spoke out against anti-LGBTQ+ violence as well as the anti-LGBTQ+ bills being pushed through state legislatures. 

According to a new study, approximately 1.64 million people in the US identify as transgender. The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law study found that about 0.5% of all U.S. adults—about 1.3 million people—identify as transgender and about 1.4%--or 300,000 youth between 13-17—identify as transgender. 

Former GOP Congressmembers state their support of LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination legislation. Eleven Republican former members of Congress sent a letter to House and Senate leadership in support of bipartisan federal LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination laws. 

Stuart Delery will be the first openly-gay White House Counsel. Delery is a long-time advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He is currently a White House deputy counsel, and will assume the role of White House counsel next month. 

Representatives advocate for gender-neutral bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol building. Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York sent a letter to the House Administration Committee claiming that “all employees, interns, and visitors should have access to safe and comfortable restrooms.”

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.

Connecticut - Governor announces state partnership with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. The Connecticut Office of Tourism is partnering with the IGLTA to show the state’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ travel. The Connecticut tourism website will now feature an LGBTQ+ section and the office of tourism will participate in LGBTQ+ celebrations in CT and surrounding states throughout the year. 

Florida - Students continue to protest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Student protests over state legislation that limits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in K-3 classrooms continue through graduation speeches, social media campaigns, establishing LGBTQ+ clubs, picketing, and various other forms of protest. 

Governor’s office advances proposal to deny transgender healthcare. The proposal would exclude gender-affirming healthcare from coverage through Medicaid in the state. Should the proposed rule be adopted following the rule-making process, Florida’s Medicaid program would no longer cover puberty blockers, hormones, or gender-affirming surgeries for minors.  

Hawaii - Governor David Ige signs three pro-LGBTQ+ bills. The bills include HB2405, which prohibits insurance providers from excluding gender-affirming care from coverages, SB2136, which ensures that citizens cannot be excluded from jury service because they are transgender, and SB2670, which permanently establishes a state Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus commission. 

Maine - Elder care network to adopt nondiscrimination policy for transgender adults. The change in policy is a result of a settlement after a human rights complaint was filed against Adult Elder Care Homes of Maine by Marie King, who claimed that she was denied a room due to her gender identity. The company will adopt a nondiscrimination policy and send staff and administrators to LGBTQ+ competency training. 

New York -  NYC invests $6.7 million in LGBTQ+ services. The initiative includes funding for education around LGBTQ+ families, services for runaway and homeless LGBTQ+ youth, programs to combat HIV, and legal services for LGBTQ+ people.  

North Carolina - Federal judge rules that health plan must cover gender-affirming treatment. After ruling North Carolina’s exclusion of gender-affirming care is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, Judge Loretta Biggs ordered the state health care plan to resume coverage of hormone therapy. The health care plan provides coverage for almost 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, and their dependents.

Ohio - Doctors criticize anti-transgender legislation as legislative overreach. Medical professionals urge legislators to leave decisions about gender affirming care to transgender patients, their families, and healthcare providers. Several Ohio doctors also advised against the “invasive and uncomfortable” procedures included in the state’s anti-transgender athlete ban bill. 

Governor signs bill making it easier for school staff to carry guns. Teachers unions and education groups condemned Governor DeWine’s signing of HB99, which reduces training hours for school personnel to carry arms from 700 to 24. The bill passed on a party-line vote. 

Legislature removes genital inspection provision from anti-transgender sports bill. State Senate President Matt Huffman deemed genital inspections an “unnecessary” provision in the bill, citing DNA tests as a primary method to analyze transgender athletes’ “genetic makeup.” Ohio’s transgender athlete ban bill is one of the most extreme versions of such bills introduced nationwide.

Global Matters

Japan - Tokyo extends some rights to same-sex couples, but not marriage. Same-sex couples who register will be afforded some of the same rights as married couples, such as living in government housing together and hospital visitation. 

Mexico - Health ministry puts out statement urging people to avoid stigmatizing LGBTQ+ community during monkeypox outbreak. The Federal Ministry of Health explained that the virus can be transmitted by any close contact, and is primarily transmitted from animals to humans. They warn that linking it to the LGBTQ+ community feeds discrimination and harmful stereotypes.

Thailand - Parliament votes for initial approval of legalizing same-sex marriage. The lower house gave initial approval to two bills that would legalize same-sex marriage and two bills that would legalize civil partnerships.

Media Matters

Tony Awards highlight LGBTQ+ artists. It was a great night at the Tony Awards for queer artists, including PFLAG National 2022 Betty DeGeneres Award honoree Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who won Best Actor in a Featured Role for his part in Take Me Out, which also won Best Revival of a play. PFLAG Parent Day host Matt Doyle won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the gender-bending revival of “Company. The show was hosted by openly queer actress--and PFLAG National friend--Ariana DeBose. The queer musical A Strange Loop was nominated in 11 categories and won two awards, and cast member L. Morgan Lee became the first openly transgender person nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a musical. Billy Porter performed during the In Memoriam section of the program.  

Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center to open in NYC. It will be the first LGBTQ+ visitor center run by the National Parks Service and will occupy 51 Christopher Street, two doors down from the Stonewall Inn. 

Clela Rorex, first clerk to issue marriage license to same-sex couple, dies. Rorex issued a marriage license to a gay couple in 1975 when she was a clerk in Boulder County, Colorado. There was no law against issuing the license at the time. Word spread, and she issued licenses to six same-sex couples before the Colorado Attorney General J.D. McFarlane wrote a legal opinion claiming marriage was limited to heterosexual couples. All of the marriage licenses she issued to same-sex couples remain valid. 

Meta develops new tools for LGBTQ+ businesses. The new mini site was launched in partnership with The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce to provide support and assistance to LGBTQ+ owned businesses, including video tips on business management and funding.

FINA effectively bans transgender women from swimming competitions. The new policy requires transgender women to show that they have not experienced male puberty beyond certain checkpoints in order to compete. This ruling comes as gender-affirming care becomes more and more difficult to access and, in some cases, is legislatively banned or criminalized.

Disney’s film Strange World to feature openly gay teen romance. The film is scheduled for release in November and reportedly contains a romantic plot between two teen boys.

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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