Take Action

Congressional leaders have struck a back-room deal to force a vote on H.R. 3492 — a dangerous bill that would criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender young people. The House could vote on this legislation as soon as NEXT WEEK.

If passed, H.R. 3492 would:

• Charge healthcare providers with a felony and threaten up to 10 years in federal prison
• Impose fines or even jail time on doctors and other providers
• Open the door to criminal charges against parents for following the guidance of their child’s medical team.

It is critical that we stop any and every effort to criminalize the healthcare that trans people need. Congress must defend the rights of families to access medically necessary care, and the rights of doctors — not politicians — to determine appropriate treatment. Urge your Representative to oppose this discriminatory bill and protect the health and well-being of ALL youth by voting NO on H.R. 3492. 

Floridians

There is still time to register to join our partners at Parenting with Pride on Thursday, Dec. 18th at 6 PM Eastern for an honest and heartfelt conversation about faith and queerness. This webinar will bring together parents and LGBTQ+ individuals with diverse spiritual and cultural backgrounds to share the role faith has played in their lives—and how they’ve found belonging, healing, and authenticity along the way. Register today!

State News

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 [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.

New Hampshire - NH Republicans pursue more restrictions on trans rights. Building on recent bans, lawmakers have introduced a bill that would limit transgender individuals' access to bathrooms and locker rooms in private businesses and other spaces based on a narrowly definition of “biological sex.”

Amherst community rallies for LGBTQIA+ rights after counselor’s reinstatement. On Tuesday, the LGBTQIA+ Caucus of Amherst staged a response to the recent court-ordered reinstatement of a counselor fired for alleged anti-trans actions at Amherst Regional Middle School.

Texas - Arlington upholds suspension of protections for LGBTQ+ people. Amid concerns about losing federal funding, the Arlington City Council voted 5–4 to extend the suspension of LGBTQ+ discrimination protections in the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance, removing language that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity .

Washington - Egypt and Iran object to playing in a Seattle 'Pride' match in next year's World Cup. Officials in Egypt and Iran are protesting the scheduling of a FIFA World Cup match between the two teams next June in Seattle, where local organizers had planned Pride festivities around the match. The local organizing group SeattleFWC26 said it would move “forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament."

Federal News

DOJ joins federal lawsuit challenging a Virginia trans-inclusive locker room policy. DOJ's lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board claims religious discrimination against two students who were suspended for alleged months-long harassment of a student attempting to use the locker room matching their gender identity.

Federal judge blocks Georgia’s ban on hormone therapy for transgender inmates. This week, a federal judge in Atlanta ordered the Georgia state prison system to continue providing hormone therapy to transgender inmates, ruling that denying such care violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

DOJ Civil Rights Division revokes certain protections for LGBTQ+ people in prisons. DOJ issued a directive removing agency-level requirements under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) that offered specific protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in correctional facilities—such as risk assessments, respectful communication, and sexual abuse monitoring—prompting criticism from advocates who warn the change could increase risks for LGBTQ+ inmates. 

Advanced targeting of LGBTQ+ federal employees could mark a modern "Lavender Scare." Actions by federal agencies under the current administration—including firings, doxxing, and suppression of LGBTQ+ employee groups—mirror discrimination similar to the mid-20th-century “Lavender Scare.” 

PFLAG National
(202) 467-8180 | [email protected]

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