A weekly advocacy update from PFLAG National

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Fighting For Our Pride

This week,  hundreds of PFLAG chapter leaders, members, and supporters came together for Fighting for Our Pride in the 2026 State Legislative Session—the official kickoff of the second phase of our Fighting For Our Pride campaign. As state legislatures across the country reconvene, it is more important than ever to engage with your state lawmakers to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

During the webinar, we emphasized the importance of state-level advocacy and shared concrete steps you can take to engage your state legislature. We are calling on members and supporters of the PFLAG community to reach out to their state lawmakers and urge them to support LGBTQ+ youth and their families in whatever way feels right to you. Please commit to taking action today by filling out this form to receive more tools and resources ([link removed]). Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Last month, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed rules aimed at curtailing trans youth access to medically necessary care ([link removed]).

One proposed rule would condition Medicare and Medicaid funding on hospitals refusing to provide gender-affirming care to trans and nonbinary youth under 18. Another would prohibit Medicaid and CHIP from covering this care for youth under 18 and 19, respectively. These proposals are not bans on medically necessary care and are not currently in effect.

We can leverage our collective power and fight against these proposed policies by submitting comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Check out our guide to submitting public comments ([link removed])for more information. Comments must be submitted by Tuesday, February 17, 2026.Floridians

The upcoming legislative session is approaching. Equality Florida ([link removed]), along with PFLAG supporters statewide, successfully prevented every anti-LGBTQ+ bill last session, thanks to grassroots efforts across Florida. This session, Equality Florida is hosting a two-week Pride event at the Capitol. The first week will focus on Parenting with Pride, while the second week will feature a march. More details are available on Equality Florida’s website ([link removed]), and you must register to attend ([link removed]). The dates are January 20-21 for the first week, January 26-27 for the second week, and the march is scheduled for January 28, 2026.

PFLAG in Action

PFLAG National Board Member Patty Reeves writes op-ed for LGBTQ Nation ([link removed]). In the op-ed, Reeves outlines tangible ways people can show up for LGBTQ+ people and states that collective advocacy, sustained allyship, and community support are essential. 

PFLAG National Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Diego M. Sanchez, APR, speaks at rally for trans rights in front of Supreme Court ([link removed]). Sanchez – flanked by two PFLAG moms from the Metro DC chapter – spoke to a crowd gathered in front of the Supreme Court while the justices heard arguments in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. on January 13th. Sanchez also gave the linked interview (above) with the Washington Blade in which he described his own experience as a trans athlete at the University of Georgia.

State News

Here is a sample of what’s going on around the country. You can share news from your state with [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.

Arizona - Legislators propose ballot measures to enact anti-trans facilities bans ([link removed]). State Representative Selina Bliss introduced a proposed ballot measure which, if passed through the legislature and then approved by voters, would require Arizona schools to strictly segregate sports teams as well as bathrooms and locker rooms used during athletic activities by sex assigned at birth. 

Arkansas - University of Arkansas withdraws offer to incoming law school dean over her views on transgender athletes ([link removed]). Emily Suski was announced as the new dean of the University of Arkansas’ law school the week of January 12th, but the University rescinded her job offer following objections from Arkansas lawmakers. Suski signed on to an amicus brief defending transgender students’ right to play on the teams aligning with their gender identity, and Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester cited this as a reason Suski should not serve as dean, saying: “There’s no way the people of Arkansas want somebody running and educating our next generation of lawyers and judges [to be] someone that doesn’t understand the difference between a man and a woman.”

Missouri - State Supreme Court upholds law banning Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care ([link removed]). The court ruled unanimously in E.N. v. Kehoe that the 2023 law preventing transgender Missourians of all ages from using Medicaid benefits to cover gender-affirming care could continue to be enforced. 

Texas - State Supreme Court rules that judges will not be sanctioned for refusing to perform same-sex marriages ([link removed]). The Supreme Court justices ruled on January 9th that state judges will not violate rules governing judicial conduct if they “publicly refuse to officiate certain weddings based on their sincerely held religious belief.” 

Washington - State Legislative leaders will not hold hearings on proposed ballot measures to limit trans rights ([link removed]). IL26-001 would codify rights for parents of public school students under age 18, including access to medical records. IL26-638 would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports. Legislative leaders announced they have no plans to hold hearings on the proposed ballot measures and will not pass the measures into law, meaning that Washingtonians will vote on both measures in November, assuming the Secretary of State verifies the signatures on the proposed initiatives.

Federal News

Supreme Court hears oral arguments in two cases concerning anti-trans athlete bans ([link removed]). The justices heard arguments in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. on January 13th. The cases each concern a trans girl prevented from participating in school sports by anti-trans athlete ban laws in Idaho and West Virginia, respectively. PFLAG National, Transgender Law Center, GSA Network, and Grove Law LLP filed an amicus brief ([link removed]) with the Court on behalf of transgender athletes and their parents in these cases.

Minnesota sues Trump Administration to block Homeland Security, ICE raids in Minneapolis ([link removed]). The complaint, filed on January 12th with U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleges that armed and masked federal agents have carried out “dangerous, illegal, and unconstitutional stops and arrests in sensitive public places, including schools and hospitals.” The suit also alleges that the agents have racially profiled Minneapolis residents. 

Trump threatens to deploy military forces to Minnesota ([link removed]). The President posted on Truth Social on January 15th that he would use the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces to Minnesota if state officials did not act to stop protests against immigration enforcement raids in Minneapolis. The Insurrection Act has not been used in decades and previously has been invoked either at the request of a Governor or to expand civil rights protections; in this case Trump is threatening to use the Insurrection Act over the objections of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 

 

Trump Administration halts resident visa processing for 75 countries indefinitely ([link removed]). A State Department spokesman said the pause in visa processing aims to limit the number of visa applicants to the U.S. deemed likely to become a “public charge” – someone who relies on government benefits. The move impacts visa applicants from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Russia, and 70 others. 

1.4 million fewer people sign up for healthcare plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ([link removed]). As of January 12th, 22.8 million consumers had selected a healthcare plan through the ACA marketplace, with 2.8 million new customers. At that same point last year, 24.2 million people had selected a plan through the marketplace, including 3.9 million new customers. This drop in enrollment comes as the enhanced ACA subsidies signed into law by President Biden expired at the end of 2025.

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