Here is a sample of what’s going on around the country. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. You can share news from your state with advocacy@pflag.org for possible inclusion in a future newsletter. Alaska - Medical board approves draft regulation aimed at restricting healthcare for trans and nonbinary youth. On August 22nd, the state Medical Board approved a draft regulation which would label providing gender-affirming care to trans and nonbinary minors as “unprofessional conduct,” subjecting the provider to disciplinary action. The regulation must go through a public comment period before it can be approved or amended. The board also voted unanimously to recommend that the state legislature pass laws restricting healthcare for trans and nonbinary youth as well as restricting abortion access. District of Columbia - WorldPride attendance and economic impact fall below expectations. WorldPride, which was hosted in Washington, DC from May 17th to June 8th, brought an estimated 1.2 million visitors and $310.7 million in economic impact to the city. This is well below expectations of 2-3 million visitors and $800 in economic impact and, in fact, hotel occupancy rates in the city were lower than they were over the same period in 2024. Louisiana - Transgender Medicaid recipients being denied coverage for gender-affirming care. The Louisiana Department of Health made changes excluding hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for Louisanans of any age from coverage beginning in August of 2024. There was no public announcement of this change, and transgender Louisianans are often discovering that Medicaid is no longer covering this care only after they go to the pharmacy and receive an unexpected bill. Michigan - University of Michigan hospital network to no longer provide medically necessary care to trans and nonbinary youth under 19. University of Michigan Health announced that their received a subpoena from the U.S. Justice Department as part of a criminal and civil investigation into gender-affirming care for minors and that “In light of that investigation, and given escalating external threats and risks, we will no longer provide gender affirming hormonal therapies and puberty blocker medications for minors.” Ohio - Whitehall bans conversion therapy, passes nondiscrimination ordinance. The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in employment and housing as well as banning conversion therapy for minors. Texas - Bill restricting bathroom access for transgender people passed by Texas House. Senate Bill 8, by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, would prohibit government entities such as cities, counties, school districts and universities from adopting policies that would allow transgender people to use private facilities of the gender they identify as. The bill also extends to facilities in state agencies and state correctional facilities. The House also adopted an amendment that sharply increases the fines under the measure. Because the House changed the bill, the Senate will need to accept the new fine amounts before sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Virginia - Health Department considers anti-trans athlete ban. The state Department of Health voted to begin consideration of regulations which would ban trans athletes from competing in women and girls’ sports. Attorney General Miyares finds Roanoke College in violation of state civil rights law for allowing trans swimmer to participate on women’s team. The Attorney General announced that his office found Roanoke College in violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) by allowing a trans woman on the women’s swim team and then allegedly “retaliating” against cis women on the team who complained about having a trans teammate. The college denies anyone was retaliated against, and noted that the trans member of the swim team never competed. | 
