Self-care note: While some of the following stories celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and nonbinary youth. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. Advisory: State news is representative but not exhaustive due to space constraints; feel free to forward news about your state to advocacy@pflag.org to consider for inclusion. Connecticut - Enfield passes flag ban policy. The Town Council voted to ban all flags except the U.S., Connecticut, armed services, and POW/MIA flags from town owned flagpoles and buildings on January 8th. PFLAG Enfield argued against the new policy, and plans to hold a rally during the next Town Council meeting on January 22nd.. Florida - LGBTQ+ rights advocates gather in Tallahassee. Several hundred advocates, including PFLAG members, came to the State Capitol on January 16th to denounce anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and advance pro-equality bills. Missouri - Multiple bills introduced attacking LGBTQ+ community. Seven anti-LGBTQ+ bills were slated for discussion by the House Emerging Issues Committee on January 17th. One of these bills, HB2309, would make any reference to “gender” in state law synonymous with a narrow and binary definition of biological sex, effectively erasing transgender, non-binary, and intersex Missourians from state law. New Hampshire - Littleton town manager resigns after receiving hateful messages about his late, gay son. Prior to his resignation, announced on January 8th, a Littleton town board member called a painting commissioned by a local LGBTQ+ group “demonic” and said homosexuality was an abomination. A local woman also came to Mr. Gleason’s office upset about a production of “La Cage aux Folles” at a local theater. When Mr. Gleason refused to close the production, the woman asked Gleason if he was pleased that his son, Patrick, a gay man who died of cancer in 2016, was “in hell with the devil where he belonged.” Ohio - Trans candidates cleared to run for office despite challenges. A little-used state election law required the trans candidates to include their deadnames in their candidacy papers. One candidate, Vanessa Joy of Stark County, was disqualified from running for State House due to the law. However, three other trans candidates across the state were confirmed as candidates in spite of the law. PFLAG National intervened to elevate and resolve this. Texas - Sherman High School production of “Oklahoma” debuts after trans member of the cast reinstated. Max Hightower, who is trans, was cast in a male role, but was removed from the production on November 3rd after the school adopted a policy which only allowed students to play roles which match their biological sex. The decision was heavily criticized and, eventually, Max was reinstated in his original role in the show. While the production was delayed as a result of the school’s policy decision, the show opens January 19th. Virginia - Shenandoah County School Board considers anti-trans policy. On January 11th, the school board debated a policy which would ban trans athletes from competing on sports teams that align with their gender identity, would bar any punishments for students, staff, or teachers who intentionally misgender trans students, and would bar students from being referred to by names or pronouns not listed in their official record. PFLAG Woodstock is among the groups opposing the proposed policy. | 
