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This November, Our Love Votes

Yesterday, PFLAG National launched the PFLAG Votes 2024 campaign, Love Votes, a robust voter-engagement initiative aimed at educating and mobilizing the PFLAG community—chapters, members, and supporters—leading up to the 2024 election. No matter who we are, what we look like, or who we love, we know our communities are stronger when we are free to be our authentic selves, work together, and show up for each other. But an organized effort to divide us has pushed laws to remove our trans and queer loved ones from public life, to ban the resources that help our kids learn, to force Black people, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people out of our jobs and homes, and to control whether and when we grow our families.

This November, there’s a critical election that will determine whether LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones will have the freedom to learn, thrive, and be themselves. Join our Love Votes movement and take the pledge to be a PFLAG Voter.

PFLAG Academy Online: August 2024

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 | 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT
PFLAG Votes 2024: All You Need to Know To Vote—and Get Out the Vote—Like A PFLAGer

PFLAG Academy Online brings free, monthly learning sessions right to your computer screen. From now until Election Day, every PFLAG Academy online will be focused on getting out the vote.

Join this learning session to learn more about how you can energize and unify LGBTQ+ people and those who love them to get engaged in the upcoming election. Together we can motivate everyone to come together and be a PFLAG voter.

Register today!

State Matters

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.

Arizona - Abortion rights amendment to appear on November ballot. Reproductive rights supporters have collected enough signatures to put a proposed constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights on the ballot in November. 

Ohio - State’s High School Athletic Association amends policy on trans athletes. The policy, which previously allowed fewer than 10 trans athletes in the entire state to compete, has been amended to reflect HB68’s total ban on trans athletes going into effect. 

Wisconsin - Voters reject two proposed constitutional amendments to limit the Governor’s power. The proposed amendments, which both failed by a margin of about 15%, would have restricted the governor’s power to distribute federal funds in favor of the legislature. 

Former teacher who refused to use trans’ students preferred names now suing school district. The Argyle School District decided not to renew the former English teacher’s contract after he refused to follow school district rules requiring him to use names and pronouns preferred by his students. The former teacher is now suing the school district, claiming they violated his freedom of speech and religious exercise. 

Court Matters

Department of Education asks Supreme Court to lift injunction against President Biden’s student loan repayment plan. The Administration is asking the Court to reverse a ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court barring any implementation of the loan repayment plan (called the SAVE Plan) while legal challenges continue.

Federal Matters

Biden-Harris Administration negotiates drug price reductions for Medicare recipients. The price reductions impact 10 drugs, in a deduction price range of 38% to 79%.

Global Matters

Vatican City - Pope Francis meets with African LGBTQ+ activists. The Pope met with Clare Byarugaba, the founder of PFLAG Uganda, and discussed the impact of Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

Media Matters

Red Sox player Jarren Duran sanctioned and suspended for two games after uttering anti-gay slur. Duran directed the slur at an attendee of a game on August 12th. The Red Sox announced that Duran would participate in mandatory sensitivity training and his salary during his suspension will be donated to PFLAG Greater Boston, which partners locally with the Red Sox. The MLB has been a PFLAG National Straight for Equality learning partner for more than a decade.

Valentina Petrillo set to become first openly trans athlete in the Paralympics. Petrillo will run in the womens’ 200m and 400m sprints for athletes with visual impairments. 

San Francisco opera to showcase gender-nonconforming artists. The Parallel Opera will feature the performers in its upcoming show, “Expansive.”

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

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