Florida - Attorney General Ashley Moody writes legal brief supporting book bans. Two lawsuits have been filed in federal court in Florida over the removal of books in Lake and Escambia County school libraries, including the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three.” Attorney General Moody argued in a legal brief in support of the school systems that public school libraries are “a forum for government speech,” and that “public-school systems, including their libraries, convey the government’s message.” Monarch High School students stage walkout in support of principal, school staff who were reassigned after being accused of breaking Florida’s anti-trans athlete ban. Hundreds of students walked out of classes on November 28th after school principal James Cecil and other staff were removed from campus on November 27th by the Broward County school district, citing “allegations of improper student participation in sports.” The students staged a short protest on school grounds at lunchtime, many wearing pink clothes and carrying placards with messages including “Free Cecil” and “Let her play.” Iowa - State Supreme Court upholds hate crime conviction for man who posted hateful notes on homes displaying Pride flag. The man posted handwritten notes in June of 2021 saying “burn that gay flag” on the front doors of five renters and homeowners in the town of Boone who displayed Pride flags. Kentucky - Williams Institute Study finds Kentucky has more LGBT people per capita than any other state. The study found that 10.5% of adults in Kentucky are LGBT, higher than any other state, but less than the 14.3% of adults who are LGBT in Washington, DC. Michigan - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appoints members to state’s first LGBTQ+ Commission. The Governor named 13 members to the LGBTQ+ Commission the week of November 26th. The commissioners have not yet met and will set goals for improving life for the LGBTQ+ community in Michigan. Mississippi – Voters elect state’s first openly gay legislator. Fabian Nelson was elected to represent State House District 66 in the Jackson area during the November elections. Missouri - Twenty-one bills targeting LGBTQ+ community pre-filed for January legislative session. These bills aim to ban bathroom access for trans Missourians, LGBTQ+ books, gender-affirming care, public drag performances, classroom topics, and more. Former PFLAG Springfield Board member named Executive Director of Springfield LGBTQ+ community center. The GLO Center announced on November 30th that Aaron Schekorra will begin his tenure as executive director on January 2nd. Schekorra credited his experience at PFLAG in preparing him for his new role at the GLO Center, saying "I think it really played a huge role in looking forward to what I wanted to do with the GLO Center. I think that experience was really, really valuable." New York - Carla Smith named CEO of The Center. Ms. Smith will be the first person of color to lead The Center, an LGBTQ+ community center in the West Village. North Carolina - No arrests made yet in 2022 attack on electrical substations. On December 3, 2022, two separate electrical substations were attacked in Moore County, leaving thousands without power for days, causing one death. Sandhills PRIDE, a local LGBTQ+ group, alleges the attack was connected to a drag show they planned to host, though law enforcement has not confirmed this. Texas - Judge grants emergency order allowing woman to terminate her pregnancy. Kate Cox is carrying a fetus with trisomy 18, a rare chromosomal disorder likely to cause stillbirth or death shortly after birth. Cox is also at risk for multiple pregnancy complications, so lawyers with the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a request for a temporary restraining order that would block the state’s abortion bans in Cox's case and enable her to terminate her pregnancy. State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble granted the order on December 7th. Wisconsin - Gov. Tony Evers vetoes gender-affirming care ban. The Governor vetoed the bill on December 6th in a ceremony attended by 80 people, including trans youth and their families, medical providers, and LGBTQ+ advocates. | 
