LGBTQ+ Rights & Trans Bans Tracker

Take Action On LGBTQ+ Rights & Trans Bans

Causes.com is your source for up-to-date info on LGBTQIA+ rights and efforts to expand or limit them.

The LGBTQIA+ community is facing an array of challenges today, from bans on drag shows in Tennessee to a national "Don't Say Gay" bill. It's never been more important to take a stand.

Be sure to take action now by telling your reps your stance on LGBTQIA+ equality and anti-trans laws.

LGBTQIA+ rights, transgender bans, and gender-affirming care—get all the latest updates here...

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Russia Seeks to Ban LGBTQ+ Movement

November 17, 2023

• The Russian justice ministry filed a motion to the country’s Supreme Court to ban the “international LGBT public movement,” it stated.
• The ministry said the movement has shown signs of “extremist activity,” including “social and religious strife.” The court will examine the motion on Nov. 30.
• The ban would make it nearly impossible for LGBTQ+ organizations to operate without facing criminal prosecution.

• The Moscow Times quoted an LGBTQ+ activist – one of the few left in the nation:

“This ban would deprive LGBT organizations of the opportunity to operate and would subject their activists and employees to the risk of criminal prosecution. Essentially, it would entail criminal prosecution based solely on one’s orientation or identity.” 

Are you concerned about LGBTQ+ rights in Russia?

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Today is National Coming Out Day

October 11, 2023

 

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Store Owner Fatally Shot Over LGBTQ+ Pride Flag

August 22, 2023

• Last week, store owner Laura Ann Carleton was fatally shot by a man for having a Pride flag in her shop in
• California. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as 27-year-old Travis Ikeguchi, who ran off after the shooting and was later killed by law enforcement. The department said he “made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store.”
• Carleton, known as Lauri, is survived by her husband and nine children. Her store, Mag.Pi, is listed as a “business ally” by community group Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+.

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Leaked Emails Show Coordinated Attack on Trans Rights

July 11, 2023

• Mother Jones, an investigative journalism news organization, uncovered material showing a coordinated political attack on the trans movement in America, which has grown substantially in the last few years. 
• The news site obtained leaked emails between politicians, organizations, and a network of activists on the frontlines of the anti-trans fight dating back to 2019. The messages portray the degree to which the recent attack on trans rights has been conspired and organized on a national scale.
• Mother Jones discovered emails from Rep. Fred Deutsch (R-S.D.) in Aug. 2019 to anti-trans activists, doctors, and lawyers with a bill he planned to introduce. The bill, known as the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, proposed making it a felony for doctors to give trans children under 16 gender-affirming medical care

Do you want to see more action taken to protect trans rights in America? Contact your representatives now

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DeSantis Defends Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaign Video

July 10, 2023

• Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis shared an anti-LGBTQ+ ad as part of his media campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
• The online ad, since deleted, was made by the Twitter account Proud Elephant and shared by the DeSantis War Room Twitter account on the last day of Pride Month. It criticized opponent Donald Trump for being lenient on LGBTQ+ issues, calling him the former president "who did more than any other Republican" to celebrate Pride Month.
• The video has been viewed more than 22 million times.
  FiveThirtyEight published polling data that shows DeSantis at a 23% approval rating, down from 37% at the beginning of the year.

Do you support the DeSantis campaign? 

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SCOTUS Issues Blow to LGBTQ+ Protections

June 30, 2023

• The Supreme Court ruled with a Colorado web designer who claimed she had the right to refuse services for a same-sex couple, despite a state law that forbids discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. 
• In a 6 to 3 vote, aligning with the conservative supermajority, the court held that the First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing the website designer to create a site for a gay couple's wedding, which she claims would send a message she disagrees with.

How do you feel about the court's decision?

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The 54th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots

June 28, 2023

• On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. The protest continued over six days as LGBTQIA+ individuals demanded a safe establishment to exist and express themselves without fear of arrest. 
• These riots marked the beginning of the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement in America.
• The first pride march was held in 1970 in New York City, one year after the Stonewall Riots. The 1970 Christopher Street Liberation March morphed into what is known today as the New York City Pride March and acted as a catalyst for celebrations across the world. 

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U.K. Allows All To Be Pardoned From Homosexuality Charges

June 16, 2023

• The U.K. broadened an amnesty program that allows more people, including women, to have criminal charges they faced related to homosexuality to be expunged from their records. 
• Until now, only men could apply for pardons from outdated laws dating back to the 19th century. LGBTQ+ military veterans can also apply for convictions to be overturned.

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The History of Pride Month and LGBTQ+ Rights

June 14, 2023

• The first pride march was held in 1970 in New York City, one year after the Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. The protest continued over six days as LGBTQIA+ individuals demanded a safe establishment to exist and express themselves without fear of arrest. 
• These riots marked the beginning of the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement in America. The 1970 Christopher Street Liberation March morphed into what is known today as the New York City Pride March and acted as a catalyst for celebrations across the world. 

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Florida Judge Pauses DeSantis’s Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

June 7, 2023

• Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors last month. Earlier this week, a Tallahassee-based federal judge placed a temporary block on that bill.  
• U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle blocked the state from applying the ban to three minors whose parents are part of an ongoing lawsuit against Florida. The parents said their children would "suffer irreparable harm" if they could not access hormones and other gender-affirming treatments.
• Hinkle released a 44-page ruling, calling the decision to ban hormone treatments a political decision, not a "legitimate state interest" or a concrete medical choice. 

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National State of Emergency Declared for LGBTQ+ Community

June 6, 2023

• For the first time in its four-decade history, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has declared a national state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community due to a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023.
• The organization warned that people traveling through states with strict anti-LGBTQ laws should expect to encounter homophobia, transphobia, and even violence.
• The HRC's declaration coincides with the beginning of Pride Month. It includes a guidebook for LGBTQ+ Americans with information on rights, a state-by-state list of anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and access to health and safety resources.
  The HRC also issued a travel advisory for the LGBTQ+ community in Florida due to six recently passed laws and policies by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Is declaring a state of emergency effective enough? Tell your reps

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House Passes Anti-Trans 'Save Women's Sports' Bill

May 2, 2023

• In April, the GOP-backed 'Save Women's Sports' bill passed the House 219-203, with Democrat lawmakers calling it an example of "transgender bullying."
• The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act aims to prevent transgender women and girls who were assigned male at birth from competing in women's sports.
• In a recent poll by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland, 55% of Americans opposed trans athletes in women's sports at the high school level, while 58% opposed it at the college level.
• Over two dozen states have banned transgender youth from playing on girls' and women's teams since 2021.

How do you feel about the GOP-led ban on transgender athletes?

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Silenced Trans Rep. Zooey Zephyr Sues Republican Lawmakers

May 2, 2023

• Montana transgender Rep. Zooey Zephyr filed a lawsuit against the Republican lawmakers who silenced her for defending trans rights.
• Zephyr announced that the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana and the law partners of Beck, Amsden, Staples, and Mike Black filed suit in state court.
• Zephyr said of the Republican move to censure her:

"The effort by House leadership to silence me and my constituents is a disturbing and terrifying affront to democracy itself."

Tell House Speaker Rep. Matt Regier to stop silencing Rep. Zooey Zephyr

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Disney Sues Gov. DeSantis in Ongoing Conflict

April 28, 2023

• Disney has sued Florida Gov. DeSantis and his hand-picked oversight board for weaponizing his political position to punish the company for their opposition to his policies, particularly their disagreement with his "Don't Say Gay" bill.
• Disney has accused the governor of infringing upon their free speech rights.
• The lawsuit was filed immediately after DeSantis' oversight committee took steps to regain its power over Disney and the special tax district in which it is located. Disney's lawsuit is seeking an injunction to block the oversight committee's actions. 

Do you support Disney's lawsuit?

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MT Trans Rep. Zooey Zephyr Silenced by House Republicans

April 27, 2023

• Montana's first transgender lawmaker Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat from Missoula, has been forbidden to speak or participate in House proceedings by Republican lawmakers for the second week.
• Republican House Speaker Rep. Matt Reiger has refused to acknowledge Zephyr or let her talk since last Tuesday, when she warned that Republican lawmakers would have "blood on their hands" if they banned gender-affirming care.
• This is the latest in an ongoing struggle between Zephyr and Republican lawmakers who are silencing her over her support for gender-affirming care for minors and for criticizing anti-trans legislation. 
• On April 25, Rep. Zephyr shared on Twitter a letter she received informing her that during Wednesday's floor session, there would be a motion to either censure or expel her. After this, Rep. Reiger canceled the House's floor session. 

Tell House Speaker Rep. Matt Regier to stop silencing Rep. Zooey Zephyr

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Florida Expands 'Don't Say Gay' Bill to K-12 Grades

April 21, 2023

• At the request of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Board of Education expanded its "Don't Say Gay" bill to apply to all grades, barring talk of sexual orientation and gender identity.
• These topics can only be discussed as part of opt-in reproductive health instruction. The rule states:

"[Educators] shall not intentionally provide classroom instruction to students in grades four through 12 on sexual orientation or gender identity unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards … or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student's parent has the option to have his or her student not attend."

• Parents will be allowed to sue school districts over violations, and educators who violate the law can lose their jobs and have their teaching licenses revoked.

Do you support the "Don't Say Gay" bill?

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Disney Cites Royal Clause to Challenge DeSantis' Move to Take Control of Disney World

March 30, 2023

• Disney has referenced an obscure royal clause to render Gov. DeSantis' decision to take control of Disney's theme park district ineffective.
• Disney ran the district for over half a century until DeSantis made a move to take control of the district, citing Disney's defiance of state sex education laws and Disney's criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act, known colloquially as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
• Disney has bypassed the Republican board selected by DeSantis by using an archaic covenant known as a "royal lives clause", which has been used in legal documentation since the late 17th century. 

Do you support DeSantis' bill?

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Transgender Youth Experiencing Mental Health Crisis

March 29, 2023

• In 2021, the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth crisis organization, found that 25% of the 1,717 Black transgender and nonbinary youth they interviewed had attempted suicide in the past year.
• Over one-third of the Black trans youth polled, aged 13 to 24, have experienced homelessness or been kicked out of their home. In comparison, 24% of Black cisgender queer youth reported the same experience.
• Roughly 40% of respondents have been physically threatened or harmed, and 77% have been discriminated against due to their gender identity and sexual orientation. Nearly 45% of trans youth have experienced cyberbullying, and one-third said they feel unsafe seeing medical professionals, even when sick.

Speak out on anti-trans bills. Contact your Representatives today.

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Georgia Gov. Kemp Bans Gender-Affirming Care For Transgender Youth

March 27, 2023

• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a bill that would ban most gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapies and surgeries, for transgender youth under 18.
• Lawmakers gave their final approval to Senate Bill 140 with a 31-21 vote.
• The bill became one of the most controversial and divisive of Georgia's 2023 legislative session, and Kemp signed the bill in private.
• The law takes effect on July 1, and minors who are currently receiving gender-affirming care will not be impacted by the law.

Do you support the growing bans against transgender youth?

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Gov. DeSantis To Expand Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

March 24, 2023

• Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is moving towards expanding the controversial law known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” banning teaching about sex education and gender identity in schools. 
• DeSantis seeks to bar all grades from talking about these subjects, even through senior year of high school.
• The Parental Rights in Education Act was passed last year and banned these topics from kindergarten to third grade. 
• The governor and other supporting Republicans say the law protects children from inappropriate content that should not be in the classroom, including language around sexual orientation, gender expression, identity, sex-ed, and any “sexually-oriented” programs or materials —- i.e., pride flag, pamphlets on gender dysphoria, drag queen story hours, and more. 

 

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Lawmakers Introduce Record Number of Anti-LGBTQIA+ Bills

March 11, 2023

• U.S. government officials have proposed a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills so far this year, with 150 pieces of legislation being pre-filed, introduced, or passed in 23 states.
• In total, the American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 371 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, many of which are targeting transgender communities.
• Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) was the first to enact a gender-affirming care act of 2023. The ban does not impact trans youth previously diagnosed with gender dysphoria but places an indefinite ban on access to hormone therapy for future patients.
• The bills focus on a variety of targets, including but not limited to bathroom access, eligibility to play on sports teams, health care services, and gender-affirming care.

Contact your reps and demand they take action on LGBTQIA+ rights

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Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill To Increase Control of Disney World

March 2, 2023

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill earlier this week to take control of Walt Disney World’s municipal services and development for the special district surrounding the park. DeSantis said the company “crossed the line” by opposing his "Don’t Say Gay" bill.
• DeSantis hopes that while the board handles infrastructure and maintenance, it also stops Disney from “inject[ing] woke ideologies.” 
• Opponents say the bill seems to be a part of a growing feud between Disney and DeSantis. DeSantis has said he’s fighting the “woke indoctrination” of the company, including Disney’s move to require proof of vaccination, mandate masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and make changes to the park to promote diversity. 
• Critics are stressing that DeSantis’ bill is an attempt to push his own ideological agenda and a dangerous step towards punishing entities that exercise their First Amendment right to criticize his positions. 

Do you support DeSantis' bill?

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Tennessee Bans Drag Shows 

March 1, 2023

• Tennessee lawmakers recently passed a bill prohibiting drag performances in front of children at public and private venues.
• The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Chris Todd and was signed into law by Republican Governor Bill Lee. This is one of twenty such bills targeting drag performances that are being introduced in the U.S.
• The Tennessee House also passed a law restricting minors' access to gender-affirming health care, placing the state at the helm of a Republican-led effort across the nation to restrict LGBTQ+ rights. 

Is Tennessee's bill unconstitutional? Tell the governor

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Spain Approves Menstrual Leave & Transgender Rights

February 17, 2023

• Spain approved legislation to expand abortion access for teenagers, transgender rights nationwide, and paid menstrual leave for workers.
• In a separate package, lawmakers strengthened transgender rights, allowing anyone over 16 to change their legally registered gender without medical approval.
• Teenagers between the ages of 12-13 will need a judge’s authorization, and those between 14 and 16 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Before the new measure was introduced, transgender people needed a medical diagnosis for gender dysphoria. 
• This package also bans conversion therapy and allows state-provided support for LGBTQIA+ women seeking IVF treatment. 

Should more countries do the same?

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FDA Eases ‘Outdated’ Restrictions on Blood Donations From Gay Men

February 2, 2023

• After years of protests from activists and blood bank workers, the FDA has proposed easing the restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men who are in monogamous relationships, allowing them to donate blood for the first time since 1985.
• Under new guidelines announced by the FDA, gay and bisexual men will no longer have to abstain from sex to donate blood.
• Any individual, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, who has had anal sex with a new partner or multiple partners will have to wait three months before donating blood. The FDA’s revised approach focuses less on a person’s sexual identity and more on the sexual behaviors that increase the risk of HIV.

Contact the FDA with your reaction

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Utah Bans Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth

January 30, 2023

• Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox (R) has signed a bill that bans transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming health care.
• Senate Bill 16 prohibits surgery for all transgender youth and disallows hormone treatment for transgender minors who have not been professionally diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
• SB16 also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a review of the medical evidence of the efficacy of hormonal treatments for transgender patients.
  The bill was sponsored by Utah Sen. Mike Kennedy (R), a family doctor who argues that government oversight is necessary to protect youth.

Should more states consider bans?

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Biden Signs Respect for Marriage Act

November 29, 2022

• President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law in December 2022, protecting same-sex and interracial marriage in the U.S.
• Biden spoke before a crowd of thousands on the South Lawn of the White House, celebrating the new bipartisan landmark bill. He said: 

"For most of our nation’s history, we denied interracial couples and same sex couples from these protections. It failed to treat them with equal dignity and respect. And now, this law requires an interracial marriage and same-sex marriage must be recognized as legal in every state in the nation...The road to this moment has been long, but those who believe in equality and justice – you never gave up."

• The new law negates the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. 

 How do you feel about the Respect for Marriage Act?

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BILL: National "Don't Say Gay" Bill

October 24, 2022

• Introduced by House Republicans, the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" prohibits using federal funds to develop, implement, or facilitate any program, event, or media that introduces gender identity, sexual orientation, or "related subjects" to children under the age of 10. It was inspired by Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill. 
• A pediatric hospital could be sued for having a pride flag or a medical pamphlet about gender dysphoria.
• A library could be sued for having a drag-queen story hour,, and transgender workers could be fired for their identity. 
• Bill advocates say that "woke gender ideology" in the classroom and gender transitions without the knowledge of and consent of parents proves an "alternative leftist agenda."
• Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) said: 

"The Democrat Party and their cultural allies are on a misguided crusade to immerse young children in sexual imagery and radical gender ideology."

Do you support the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act?