Take Action

Tell the feds: Protect Trans Health! Across the country, the health of trans and nonbinary people and their families is under attack. We need the Biden Administration to make it clear that discrimination in healthcare rooted in a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal  – and we only have a few days left to do it!

Visit ProtectTransHealth.org to share your story (anonymously) and why you need the Affordable Care Act to protect trans health. And ask your friends, loved ones, and neighbors, too! 

Court Matters

Federal judge rules PrEP coverage mandate violates religious freedom. Two Christian-owned businesses sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), arguing that the Affordable Care Act's requirement that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as PrEP, be covered by employer-based health insurance encouraged "homosexual behavior" and therefore violated their religious beliefs. District Judge Reed O'Connor agreed that the PrEP mandate violated the plaintiff's rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups sue Florida over Medicaid gender-affirming care ban. Florida's Agency for Health Care Administrators (AHCA) removed Medicaid coverage for puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender Floridians last month. The plaintiffs, represented by four organizations including Lambda Legal, argue that the rule violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) protection against sex discrimination.

Supreme Court rejects Yeshiva University request for emergency stay in religious freedom case. The 5-4 ruling, issued on September 14th, means that Yeshiva University must recognize an LGBTQ+ student group, the Yeshiva University Pride Alliance, as the case, which centers around the Pride Alliance's for official recognition at the university, progresses through the court system.

Three trans students sue Oklahoma over school bathroom ban. SB 615, which went into effect earlier this year, require trans and nonbinary K-12 students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their sex assigned at birth, or "a single-occupancy restroom or changing room." In the suit filed by ACLU of Oklahoma and Lambda Legal on September 6th, plaintiffs argue the law violates Title IX and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

Indiana appeals federal ruling blocking trans athlete ban. The ruling, which was handed down in July, granted a 10-year-old trans girl the right to join her school's softball team and placed an injunction against the enforcement of the law. The Indiana Attorney General's office filed an appeal with the 7th Circuit Court on September 6th.

Federal Matters

Passage of Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) delayed until after election. Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Collins (R-ME), Portman (R-OH), Sinema (D-AZ), and Tillis (R-NC) released a statement saying they are "confident…we will have the bipartisan support to pass this bill" in the lame-duck session. From PFLAG National's Executive Director Brian K. Bond, "A vote for the Respect for Marriage Act is not about politics; it's about our families and our values as a community and as a nation. …[I]t is disheartening that some Senators held back a vote because they are unwilling to publicly support something as fundamental as love."

Biden Administration Title IX rule draws nearly 350k comments. The rule would update the federal ban on sex discrimination in schools to explicitly include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, among other changes. PFLAG National, in partnership with GLSEN and other organizations, submitted a comment supporting the rule change and requested individual comments by the September 12th deadline.

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. Visit pflag.org/fightingcensorship to take action in support of accurate, honest, and inclusive education and reading.

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

Global Matters

Iran - Two LGBTQ+ activists sentenced to death. A court found Zahra Seddiqi Hamedani, 31, and Elham Choubdar, 24, guilty of "corruption on Earth." A human rights group reported that they were accused of promoting homosexuality, promoting Christianity, and communicating with media opposed to the Islamic Republic.

Norway - LGBTQ solidarity march held following cancellation of Oslo Pride parade. The September 10th march- dubbed "The Rainbow Train"- took place after Oslo's planned pride parade in June was canceled after a shooting outside a gay bar.

Serbia - Authorities ban EuroPride from being held in Belgrade. Europride is a continent-wide gathering of LGBTQ+ people which is held in a different European country each year. This year was to be Serbia's first time hosting the event, but the Belgrade police and the Interior Ministry forbade the EuroPride march from proceeding, citing the potential for "conflict."

United Kingdom - Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96. The Queen reigned for 70 years, the longest reign in British history and the longest reign of any queen in world history. Her body is lying in state in Westminster Hall in London.

Thousands march on Scottish parliament demanding rights for trans and non-binary Scots. The Scottish Parliament is currently debating several bills impacting LGBTQ+ rights, including the Gender Recognition Act, which would make it easier for trans people to acquire a Gender Recognition Certificate and live legally as their gender.

Media Matters

Former hockey player and NHL employee Jack Jablonski comes out as gay. Jablonski was a star hockey player in high school before a severe accident left him paralyzed. He now works for the Los Angeles Kings' communications team and coaches the Kings' junior team. 

Country star Maren Morris raises $150,000 for trans youth after Tucker Carlson insult. Morris replied to insensitive comments made by Jason Aldean's wife, Brittany, saying it isn't funny to make transphobic remarks. This prompted Tucker Carlson to call her a "lunatic country music person." His insult became a slogan for the fundraiser, the proceeds of which went to GLAAD's Transgender Media Program and Trans Lifeline.

All of the major LGBTQ winners at the 2022 Emmys. And there were a lot! The 74th annual Primetime Emmy Awards included an impressive amount of LGBTQ representation. As the Los Angeles Blade reported, 50 percent of the Emmy nominees in the best drama series category, 25 percent of the best comedy noms, and 60 percent of the best limited series nominees featured LGBTQ characters or plot lines.

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,

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser