ICYMI

PFLAG National and more than 40 PFLAG chapters across the country sign on to joint statement from the LGBTQIA2S+ community. The statement was co-drafted by PFLAG National Sr. Mgr, Press & PR Laura McGinnis along with other organizational communications partners. 

PFLAG National CEO, Brian K. Bond issues statement reacting to the results of the 2024 election . He stated, “We will continue our work, showing up from the state house to the courthouse, the schoolhouse steps, to the steps of the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court.”

Take Action

Ohioans: Tell Governor DeWine to VETO the anti-trans bathroom ban! SB 104 would require students from kindergarten through college to use restrooms and other facilities that align with their sex assigned at birth. SB 104 would create an unsafe environment for transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex people across Ohio school districts and college campuses. Tell Governor DeWine to veto SB 104!

Have you signed up to receive Action Alerts from PFLAG National? In the immediate future, more and more work will be done in rapid-response mode, and we hope to have every one of our members and supporters engaged.

State Matters

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.

Maryland: Salisbury University hosts vigil for LGBTQ+ community after hate crime incident. The Salisbury University Community gathered Monday to denounce a recent hate crime and show support for the LGBTQ+ community and their safety. 12 students have been arrested, but police are looking for as many as 15 suspects involved in luring a gay man to an off-campus apartment on false pretenses and assaulting him.

New Jersey: School district hit with multiple lawsuits after firing gay superintendent. In a lawsuit filed in May, John Berenato, the former superintendent of the Manchester Township School District, accused the district of sexual orientation discrimination that led to his firing in November of last year.

New York: LGBTQ Groups Invited To March In Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade. LGBTQ groups will be allowed to march in Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time ever this year, organizers announced Tuesday — ending a long-running controversy over the annual event’s anti-gay stance.

Ohio: School bathroom ban passes state Senate, heads to Governor for signing. The bill applies to public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education, and requires schools to designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations “for the exclusive use” of either males and females, based on one’s gender assigned at or near birth, in both school buildings and facilities used for a school-sponsored event.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma school district adding anti-harassment policies after nonbinary teen's death. The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into the district in March after the Human Rights Campaign asked the department to look into the district's “failure to respond appropriately to sex-based harassment that may have contributed to the tragic death.”

Virginia: House committee votes to remove same-sex marriage ban from state constitution. The Privileges and Elections Committee voted to approve a resolution to repeal a 2006 state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage with a bipartisan 16-5 vote.

Court Matters

Chase Strangio discusses his upcoming appearance before the Supreme Court. Chase also recently appeared on Getting Curious w/ JVN and provided helpful overview of the upcoming U.S. v. Skrmetti case and its stakes for a second Trump administration.

Federal Matters

Trump names anti-LGBTQ+ figures to key positions. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (FL-1), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee have all been named as appointees to various positions in the incoming Administration. All have anti-LGBTQ+ records.

Trump picks conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS. Kennedy has a history of making baseless, un-scientific claims, including that chemicals in water can lead to children becoming transgender and that AIDS may not be caused by HIV. He has also claimed that vaccines cause autism and fail to protect people from diseases.

Republicans to keep control of the House of Representatives. While some House races have yet to be decided, Republicans have won the 218 seats necessary to keep control of the chamber. This means the Republican Party will have unified control of the Federal Government beginning in January.

Global Matters

South Africa: Cape Town to host WorldPride 2028, a first for this major global LGBTQ+ event. WorldPride is an international event that celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and human rights, aiming to promote equality and visibility worldwide.

Uzbekistan: Country set to join growing list of countries with anti-LGBTQ+ ‘propaganda’ laws. Alisher Qodirov, the leader of the ruling Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Party, announced that the country was drawing up legislation to prohibit LGBTQ+ content.

Media Matters

Crisis calls from LGBTQ+ youth spiked by 700 percent after Election Day. LGBTQ+ youth are afraid, confused, and anxious about the outcome of the election, The Trevor Project said.

Discovery of new Oscar Wilde Books resolves a serious loss in LGBT literary history. In a recent discovery, three books from Oscar Wilde’s personal collection were identified at University College London (UCL). This revelation marks a new step in retroactive LGBT justice for the Gay Irish playwright.

GLAAD releases 2024 ‘Visibility Perceptions in Advertising’ survey findings. GLAAD released the findings of its 2024 Visibility Perceptions in Advertising, based on a survey of 200 decision-makers and marketing executives from advertisers and advertising agencies to understand perceptions, commitments, and challenges to featuring the LGBTQ community in advertising.

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

Follow Us

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser

Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences