Take Action

Tell your Senators to vote YES on the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act. The House passed the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act on June 23rd and now it’s up to the Senate to act. The LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act will require federal agencies that use surveys to collect voluntary, self-disclosed information to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This is crucial to properly determine the LGBTQ+ community’s needs and how the Federal government could address those needs. Call your Senator and tell them to pass this bill before Summer Recess!

Tell your Senators to defend reproductive rights NOW! With the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court overturned five decades of settled precedent and took away the constitutional federal right to an abortion. We at PFLAG National know just how critical it is to protect the right to reproductive health, including the right to abortion. Studies indicate that when people don’t have access to abortion they can experience educational decline, greater mental health problem rates, and economic loss. Reproductive healthcare must be available for everyone, whether you were assigned female at birth, are intersex, cisgender, or transgender. It is critical that our elected leaders step up and take action. Call your Senators and tell them to advance legislation to protect reproductive rights by passing legislation like the Women's Health Protection Act, and the EACH Act. Inaction is not an option. Tell your Senators to support reproductive rights, now.

Court Matters

Justice Thomas’s written opinion shows desire to overturn other major civil rights cases. After the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion that the court should reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas, the cases that established the rights of same-sex couples to marry and that ruled anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional, respectively.

President Biden criticizes Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. President Biden issued a statement on June 24 disagreeing with the decision and confirming his support for reproductive rights. He called for Congress to codify abortion rights into law and stated that “Roe is on the ballot” this fall. 

Supreme Court rules in favor of school prayer. The court ruled in a 6-3 decision that a high school football coach could lead players in prayer and publicly pray on the field. Read SCOTUS's June 27th Kennedy v Bremerton opinion, concurrence and dissent. 

Planned Parenthood of Utah files lawsuit to block abortion ban. The Utah abortion ban went into effect on June 24 after the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Planned Parenthood of Utah filed a lawsuit on June 25, seeking to block the ban on the grounds that it violates the state constitution. 

​​15-week abortion ban goes into effect in Florida. Circuit Judge John Cooper had ordered an injunction against House Bill 5 on July 5th after finding that the 15-week abortion ban violated the state’s constitutional right to privacy. The state quickly appealed, however, and reestablished the abortion ban within an hour of the injunction’s issue, meaning the ban is in effect.

Federal Matters

LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act passes in the House. The bill, HR 4176, would require the 107 federal agencies that collect demographic information to include sexual orientation and gender identity. If the bill is passed in the Senate, all affected agencies would have three years to incorporate this data into their published reports but can be waived on a case-by-case basis if confidentiality cannot be ensured.

Record number of LGBTQ+ candidates ran for office in 2022. According to LGBTQ Victory Fund, at least 101 LGBTQ+ candidates ran for U.S. Congress in 2022, 57 of whom are still in their races. 

Gun violence bill sent to President Biden for signature. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, S 2938 allows background checks to include significant crimes committed by juveniles and restricts gun sales to people convicted of domestic violence. It also provides federal funding to states with “red flag” laws, which remove guns from those considered a danger to themselves or others.

“Trans Bill of Rights” introduced in House by Rep. Pramila Jayapal. The bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would explicitly protect gender identity and sex characteristics, expand access to gender-affirming healthcare, and ban so-called conversion therapy. PFLAG National is one of 30 national organizations endorsing this bill.

Biden encourages discrimination complaints as Florida rolls out “Don’t Say Gay” law. The US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights will monitor the rollout of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, and is encouraging parents to file complaints if they experience discrimination.

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.

Roe v. Wade decision sparks abortion decisions in states. The graphic in this article is a state-by-state summary of actions being taken in response to the ruling. There are many states enacting anti-abortion laws as a result of the decision, and some are taking action to protect abortion rights. 

Anti-LGBTQ+ laws go into effect in several states. Laws in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah went into effect on July 1st. They include anti-transgender bathroom and sports laws, curriculum censorship laws, and laws preventing workplace training that includes gender identity or discussions of racism. 

Alabama - Attorney General cites recent Supreme Court abortion decision to defend gender-affirming care ban. Advocates have warned that the Dobbs decision could be used to roll back other rights, including marriage equality, birth control, and parental rights. In this case, the state is seeking to lift an injunction or hold on a law that would make it a felony to give medically necessary gender-affirming puberty blockers or hormones to transgender minors.

Transgender bathroom and LGBTQ+ education bill takes effect. The law prohibits transgender K-12 students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity and restricts discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. 

Florida - “Don’t Say Gay” law goes into effect. The law restricts discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and identities in schools. It is already resulting in new anti-LGBTQ+ policies in districts across the state, including a policy in the Leon County school district requiring that parents be notified if a student who is “open about their gender identity” is in a physical education class or on an overnight trip with their child. 

Attorney General’s office asks judge to throw out lawsuit against “Don’t Say Gay” law.  LGBTQ+ advocacy groups Equality Florida and Family equality filed the suit along with students and parents against the law restricting instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has asked a federal judge to throw out the case, claiming that the plaintiffs have no legal standing and the state has the right to set school curriculum. 

New York - Governor Hochul signs Gender Inclusive Ballot Act and greenlights LGBTQ+ programs in the state. The Gender Inclusive Ballot Act allows nonbinary candidates to run for party positions by adding the non-binary gender X to the gender designation options when filing to run for office. She also signed a bill establishing the Lorena Borjas Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, which supports organizations that provide services to the transgender, gender-nonconforming, and non-binary community.

North Carolina - Federal judge rules transgender people can change gender markers without surgery. The ruling resulted from a Lambda Legal suit filed last year that claimed the law requiring surgery to change gender markers was discriminatory. U.S. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs issued a consent judgment that government officials must provide corrected birth certificates to transgender people whether or not they have had gender-affirming surgery.

Ohio - Reynoldsburg bans so-called conversion therapy. Reynoldsburg City Council unanimously voted for an ordinance that bans medical professionals from subjecting LGBTQ+ youth to so-called conversion therapy. 

Pennsylvania - Governor expected to veto anti-trans sports bill. The bill, HB 972, passed in the Senate and was sent to the Governor. It would ban transgender athletes from competing in school sports from grade school through college. Governor Tom Wolf is expected to veto the bill. 

Tennessee - Anti-trans sports ban went into effect Friday, July 1st.  The law creates penalties for schools that allow transgender students to participate in sports that match their gender identity. It also protects schools from legal backlash if they are enforcing the ban.

Global Matters

Ireland - Government researching how to provide gender recognition for trans youth. The Departments of Children and Social Protection will research how other countries have engaged with gender recognition for minors under 16 years old. This research will inform potential amendments to Ireland’s 2015 Gender Recognition Act and prospectively expand legal rights for trans youth.  

Lebanon - Government issues order to break up LGBTQ+ gatherings due to pressure from religious groups. Interior Minister Mawlawi ordered Internal Security Forces to prevent LGBTQ+ groups from meeting or celebrating. Mawlawi stated that LGBTQ+ identity and expression is “contrary to the habits and customs” of predominantly Sunni Muslim Lebanese society. 

Mexico - Mass wedding in Mexico City unites hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples. Nearly 100 same-sex couples attended the city-sponsored Pride event. Many celebrated the expansion of legal privileges that their marriage would offer. Since 2010, 26 out of 32 Mexican states have legalized same-sex marriage.

Poland - Appeals court strikes down LGBT-free zones. Several Polish municipalities attempted to establish the zones in violation of the European Commission’s laws. Human rights and LGBTQ+ activists celebrated the court’s ruling.

Norway - Pride celebration canceled due to mass shooting in Oslo. Under police recommendation, Oslo Pride organizers canceled the parade after a gunman killed two individuals in an LGBTQ+ nightlife establishment. Prime Minister Stoere expressed support for the grieving LGBTQ+ community and affected families.

Romania - Legislature considering “Gay Propaganda” law. The Chamber of Deputies will vote on a bill banning minors from exposure to “gay propaganda.” Human rights and LGBTQ+ interest groups have openly criticized the bill as a form of oppressive censorship.

Singapore - Courts will not prosecute based on antiquated anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Home Affairs Minister Shanmugam explicitly stated that Singaporeans will not be prosecuted under a colonial-era law criminalizing same-sex intimacy. Singapore may also repeal the law, thus advancing rights for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Spain - Cabinet approved draft of LGBTQ+ rights bill, now goes to parliament. If the bill receives parliamentary support, trans youth above 16 years old will receive the legal right to change their gender and name without a medical gender dysphoria diagnosis. Equality Minister Montero expressed staunch support for the bill and the expansion of LGBTQ+ rights.

Taiwan - Transnational same-sex couples in Taiwan still face barriers to marriage. Although Taiwan became the first Asian state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019, couples of mixed nationality cannot marry if their country of origin has not legalized same-sex marriage as well. Several transnational couples have successfully sued the government.

Turkey - Turkish LGBTQ+ community faces violence and detainment at Pride. Human rights organizations denounced the Turkish government and police’s anti-LGBTQ+ actions at various Pride events this year. These actions continue the Turkish government’s extensive history of targeted legal and physical attacks towards the LGBTQ+ community. 

United Arab Emirates - Amazon restricts LGBTQ+ products. Sales of items including flags and books were blocked in the country, where being LGBTQ+ is criminalized. The move came after receiving pressure from the government.

United Kingdom - Government grants automatic pardons to men convicted under previous anti-gay laws on Isle of Man. The automatic pardons are part of the new Sexual Offenses and Obscene Publications Act of 2021, a legislative act that will replace the island’s current sexual offense laws. The Isle of Man legalized same-sex intimacy in 1992—25 years after England and 12 years after Scotland.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May advocates ban on so-called conversion therapy for transgender people. May urged the government to include transgender conversion therapy bans in formal legislation. Her statement occurred after Scottish Conservatives criticized English legislation for only banning sexuality-based conversion therapy. May has also expressed regret for her past opposition to LGBTQ+ equality.

Media Matters

FTC Warns LGBTQ+ people of dating app scams. During Pride month, the watchdog organization flagged potential cybercriminal activity, such as extortion or blackmail, that can occur on LGBTQ+ dating apps. Scammers may target closeted LGBTQ+ individuals. 

It Gets Better provides $500K in grants to LGBTQ+ youth. By funding initiatives led by LGBTQ+ youth in their school communities, the non-profit organization aims to motivate the next generation of activists. Previous Youth Ambassadors have established Gender Sexuality Alliances, remodeled gender-neutral restrooms, and trained educators on LGBTQ+ topics.

U.S. National soccer team wears Pride jerseys for friendly match on International LGBTQ+ Pride Day. Megan Rapinoe, outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate and captain of the US Women’s National Team, participated in the commemorative match against Colombia. 

Laverne Cox and Alok speak on Trevor Project’s mental health panel. Cox and Alok emphasized the crucial role of self care for LGBTQ+ individuals to maintain positive mental health. Both activists recognized the barriers keeping LGBTQ+ people from accessing affirming and intersectional health care.

2022 Teacher of the Year leaves classroom, moves to staff role due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. Willie Carver, Jr. accepted a staff position in student support services at the University of Kentucky after facing discrimination as a queer educator in K-12 public schools. In his official statement, Carver referenced the burdens and vitriol he faced from anti-LGBTQ+ extremists during his 17 years as an educator. 

First gay Spiderman introduced into Marvel universe. The upcoming Edge of the Spider-Verse comic will introduce Web-Weaver, a gay Spiderman loosely based on fashion designers Steve McQueen and Thiery Mugler. 

Transgender Opera singer breaks barriers. Breanna Sinclairé has been breaking through barriers as a Black transgender opera singer, becoming the first openly transgender person to sing the national anthem at a Major League Baseball game, and recently singing a version of Gershwinn’s Summertime at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco for Pride. 

Amazon limits access to LGBTQ+ content in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE authorities threatened Amazon with penalties if they allowed access to LGBTQ+ products and media in the Gulf region. Amazon decided to block LGBTQ+ content to follow the jurisdiction’s laws.

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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