Court Matters

Judge rules against mandatory provision by states under ACA of prevention services including some cancer screenings, PrEP and more. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor struck down states’ requirement under the Affordable Healthcare Act to cover many types of preventive care, including certain cancer screenings, STD and heart tests, Depression screening, as well as tobacco cessation programs. States would still be able to provide these services; they are not required and not prohibited. Insurers cannot stop providing medications because health insurance is issued on a plan year basis, so nothing takes immediate effect. The Justice Department is likely to appeal and seek an injunction, a pause in the interim. 

Federal judge rules Alabama plaintiffs challenging gender-affirming care ban must turn over health records. U.S. District Judge Liles Burke ordered the parents of five trans children who are suing Alabama over its law banning gender-affirming care to turn over their children’s medical records. The Judge said that the “Plaintiffs have the burden to prove the allegations in their complaint,” and therefore providing the records is necessary for the case to proceed.

Trump indicted on over 30 counts by Manhattan grand jury. The indictment has been filed under seal and the charges are not publicly known at this time, but they stem from an investigation into an alleged hush money scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump is expected to appear in court on Tuesday to face the charges, marking the first time in history a former president has faced criminal charges.

Federal Matters

House passes so-called Parents Bill of Rights Act. H.R. 5 passed on March 24th (213-208 with 00 listed as present and 14 not voting) and would mandate outing transgender students to their parents without consent or ensuring safety; it would also require public schools to share their curricula with parents for review. The bill will not likely advance in the Senate.

President Biden issues proclamation for Trans Day of Visibility. President Biden honored the trans community and its accomplishments with his proclamation on March 29th. The President also noted the increasing hate and harmful state legislation that families face. 

Rep. Jayapal and Sen. Markey introduce the Transgender Bill of Rights ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility. On March 30th, Congressional leaders Rep. Primala Jayapal (WA- ) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) launched this comprehensive Resolution provides a comprehensive policy framework to provide protections for transgender and nonbinary people, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their gender identity or expression.

State Matters

Warning: While some of the following stories describe legislative actions to celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and non-binary 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 constraint; feel free to forward news about your state to advocacy@pflag.org to consider for inclusion.

California - California to consider ending travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ+ laws. State Senate leader Toni Akins has called for California to replace its ban on state-funded travel with an inclusive messaging campaign in states covered by the ban. 

Florida - ‘Don’t Say Gay Policy’ expansion proposed. The Florida Board of Education recommended a new administrative rule that would extend the prohibition on LGBTQ+ topics in public schools from K-3rd grade to K-12th grade. The proposal would expand upon the recently signed Parental Rights in Education law which instituted the K-3rd grade limit. 

Anti-Gender Affirming Care bill reaches final committee before floor vote. House Bill 1421 sponsored by Representative Randy Fine and Representative Ralph Massullo would forcibly detransition trans children receiving gender-affirming care in the state after a year has passed. PFLAGers join Equality Florida to lobby legislators and testify in hearings to fight harmful bills.

Lawsuit filed against state gender-affirming care ban. Four families sued the state of Florida on March 23rd, arguing the new rule instituted by the Florida Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine is unconstitutional.

Georgia - State Supreme Court considers whether abortion restriction law is void. The court heard oral arguments on March 28th regarding a lawsuit brought by the ACLU, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood. The plaintiffs argued that the law violated Supreme Court precedent when it was enacted, and is therefore void.

Idaho - Gender-affirming care ban awaits Governor’s signature. Idaho poised to ban gender-affirming care for youth. The state Senate passed a bill banning the use of puberty blockers and hormones for treatment of gender dysphoria. The bill will be sent to the House for amendment approval and then to Gov. Brad Little’s desk. Contact Gov. Little NOW and tell him to VETO HB71!

Indiana - Gender-affirming care ban bill reaches Governor's desk. The House passed SB 480 on March 27th which now heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb. Contact Gov. Holcomb NOW and tell him to VETO SB480!

Iowa - Gov. signs gender-affirming care ban. Kim Reynolds signature means that Senate File 538 is now the law of the land in Iowa and minors will no longer be able to access puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

Kentucky - Legislature overturns Gov. Beshear’s veto of gender-affirming care ban bill. General Assembly Overrides Gov. Veto of SB 150. The House and Senate both voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of the bill which bans gender-affirming care for youth, bans trans students from using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity, and prevents teachers from using students preferred pronouns if they do not match their sex assigned at birth.

Maryland - Pro-trans bill awaits governor's signature. The Trans Health Equity Act is on Governor Moore’s desk, having successfully passed both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly. The bill would require the state’s Medicaid program to cover gender-affirming care for its recipients.

Missouri - State senate advances anti-trans legislation. The two bills would ban gender-affirming care for minors as well as force trans athletes to compete under their gender assigned at birth in both public and private K-12 schools as well as public and private universities.

Montana - State considers bill to ban gender-affirming care. The Senate passed SB 99 which would prohibit trans healthcare for minors, as well as state property from being used to affirm trans identity. The bill is now on Gov. Greg Gianforte’s desk awaiting his signature or veto. Tell Gov. Gianforte to VETO this harmful bill!

New Mexico - State expands Human Rights Act. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 207 which strengthens civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ New Mexicans

New York - LGBTQ+ historical site nominated for the state and National Registers of Historic Places. Todd Union, the student union building at University of Rochester was the site of the first meeting for the Gay Liberation Front.

Bomb threat forces school closures. The Hilton Central School district in New York was forced to evacuate schools in light of a homophobic bomb threat made. The district was targeted because their Hilton High School library includes the book “This Book is Gay” which was under review due to some parents’ complaints. 

North Dakota - Governor vetoes anti-trans education bill. Senate Bill 2231, which would ban school districts from creating trans-affirming policies and prevent teachers from using their student’s preferred pronouns, was vetoed by Gov. Doug Burgum. The legislation would also prevent classroom instruction that acknowledges gender identity can differ from sex at birth and bars requiring state employees to use trans colleagues proper pronouns.

Global Matters

Afghanistan - Taliban ramps up targeting of LGBTQ+ community. The Taliban controlled Afghan government is increasingly persecuting queer Afghans, imprisoning and torturing them. The Taliban have also reinstituted the death penalty for “homosexuality.”

Bosnia - LGBTQ+ groups to be banned in Serb education. Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik has said he intends to ban LGBTQ+ organizations from being involved in educational spaces such as schools and universities. 

Egypt - Grindr warns Egyptian users of safety risk. The gay dating app Grindr sent a message to all of its users in Egypt that cautions that Egyptian law enforcement is targeting the LGBTQ+ community through impersonating queer individuals on the app and taking over real people’s accounts to entrap others. Stringent cyber laws account for dozens of arrests.

Ghana - VP visits Ghana amidst debate over anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Vice President Kamala Harris said during a joint news conference with President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana that the Biden administration considers this debate to be a human rights issue. 

Kenya - Kenya Parliament passes national ‘don’t say gay’ bill. The new legislation would prohibit public discussion of LGBTQ+ issues and topics. 

Namibia - Supreme Court rules against same-sex parents. The couple sued the government to force it to process their child’s citizenship claim based on descent despite having the child via surrogacy. The judges overturned a lower court ruling that required the government to process the citizenship claim.

United Kingdom - Humza Yousaf to become Scotland’s First Muslim Minister. He was elected on March 28th and will be the first Muslim head of state in a western democracy country; he has indicated strong support for LGBTQ+ rights in Scotland.

Media Matters

 

RuPaul’s Drag Race features teacher makeover. The show had its contestants give drag makeovers to five different K-12 instructors at a time of rising homophobia and transphobia in education policy.

Blackhawks opt out of wearing Pride jerseys. The NHL team said they would forego wearing special jerseys to commemorate Pride to protect a Russian teammate, alleging that if the player wore the jersey, they could face repercussions at home due to laws restricting LGBTQ+ speech.

Madonna adds stop in Nashville to support the trans community. The artist announced that she would add Nashville to “The Celebration Tour'' to stand with LGBTQ+ people in the face of new anti-LGBTQ+ legislation around the country, particularly anti-trans laws.

 

PFLAG National
(202) 467-8180 | love@pflag.org

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