A Senate joint resolution to oppose same-sex marriage and the 2015 Obergefell decision was tabled in the body’s Judiciary committee on Monday morning.
Republicans in the Legislature sought to pass a formal resolution that Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court case that codified same-sex marriage into federal law, was “at odds with the Constitution of the United States and the principles on which the United States was established.”
Senate Joint Resolution 15, brought by Sen. Rob Phalen, R-Lindsay, did not pass on a 4-4 vote, with Republican Sen. Sue Vinton of Billings joining Democrats in opposition. The Senate Judiciary committee then tabled it on a 6-2 vote. The resolution had support from Republican leadership both in the House and the Senate.
The United States has withdrawn from the United Nations LGBTI Core Group, a collection of countries actively supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ and intersex people globally.
The U.S. withdrew from the organization on February 14, according to reporting by the Washington Blade, with no public announcement. A State Department spokesperson on Saturday confirmed the withdrawal but did not specify the specific date.
“In line with the president’s recent executive orders, we have withdrawn from the U.N. LGBTI Core Group,” the spokesperson said.
During Trump’s first term in office, his administration said it established a mission to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide. The administration was called out for its “sham” campaign that allegedly didn’t actually do anything to support the decriminalization of homosexuality, but the promise to promote decriminalization was a point of pride for the administration, often used to combat claims that the administration was proceeding with anti-LGBTQ+ actions.
The U.N. group, dedicated to “ensuring universal respect for the human rights” of LGBTI people, was formed in 2008, and includes more than 40 countries.
Chile and the Netherlands are the current co-chairs. The EU, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Outright International are observers.
“The overarching goal of the UN LGBTI Core Group in New York is to work within the United Nations framework on ensuring universal respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, specifically lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons, with a particular focus on protection from violence and discrimination,” the Core Group’s website details.
Member nations include Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, the Netherlands, Peru, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Timor Leste, the U.K., and Uruguay.
The Core Group counts three specific objectives in its mission: raising awareness about LGBTI issues; contributing to multilateral work and negotiations at the United Nations; and seeking common ground and engaging in “a spirit of open, respectful and constructive dialogue and cooperation with UN member states and other stakeholders outside the Core Group.”
The U.S. joined the group in the final year of the George W. Bush administration. The promotion of LGBTQ+ and intersex rights were a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy.
In September, former First Lady Jill Biden spoke at a Core Group event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. As vice president, Joe Biden spoke to the group at an event that coincided with the U.N. General Assembly in 2016.
Since President Trump took office in January, departments and agencies across the federal government have been subject to executive orders stripping recognition of transgender people from U.S. government policy and purging “anti-American propaganda” like drag from the public square.
Based on Trump’s “gender Ideology” order issued on his first day in office and an order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the federal government, the State Department alone has banned changes to sex markers on U.S. passports based and threatened arts organizations receiving U.S. government funds, leading to canceled exhibitions featuring LGBTQ+ and Black artists.
The shutdown of USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, has resulted in the loss of billions of dollars in aid to bipartisan programs like PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief. Advocates have called the cuts “catastrophic” for the global LGBTQ+ and intersex rights movement.
Horizons is excited to host four virtual Regional Town Halls designed to bring our community together, help you connect with local LGBTQ nonprofits, and provide a platform for you to discuss important local issues. Now is the time to unite, share resources, and learn how you can help yourself, your neighbors—and others—navigate this challenging environment we face together.
JOIN THIS FREE TOWN HALL MEETING – Scotty King is on this Panel Though our LGBTQ community now finds itself at a crossroads, with mounting threats emerging from multiple fronts, the reality is we have always faced adversity. And yet, together, we have overcome formidable challenges and unrelenting foes. Through unity, standing up for our rights, and celebrating our lives—out and proud—we have made, and will continue to make, meaningful progress for our LGBTQ community and its liberation. We hope you’ll join us at an upcoming Regional Town Hall to stand in solidarity, learn about the nonprofits working in your area, support your community, and, most importantly—stay connected.
PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. PFLAG provides peer-to-peer support through in-person and virtual meetings, online outreach, and a variety of additional resources and programs.
The deluge of Executive Orders is a tactic to overwhelm us into inaction – don’t let them. Be an active ally and get the information that matters most directly to your inbox:
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LGBTQ-related curricular laws are important for LGBTQ students’ health, well-being, and academic success. This map shows multiple distinct policies related to LGBTQ inclusion in—or exclusion from—school curricula or standards. First, LGBTQ-inclusive curricular laws explicitly require the state’s curricular standards to include LGBTQ people and history, such as in subjects like history, civics, or social studies. Harmful, exclusionary laws include older-style censorship laws that restrict how schools can discuss “homosexuality” in specific subjects; parental notification laws, which require parents to be notified in advance of any LGBTQ-related curricula and allow parents to opt their children out of those classes (or require them to opt-in); and finally more recent “Don’t Say LGBTQ” laws that explicitly censor teachers and staff from discussing LGBTQ people or issues throughout all curricula. Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend for more information about all these types of laws, and learn more about the importance of inclusive curricular standards from GLSEN.
State law explicitly requires LGBTQ inclusion in state curricular standards (7 states)
State law requires state education department to create LGBTQ-inclusive model curriculum, but does not require schools to use it (1 state)
State has none of these LGBTQ-specific curricular laws (25 states , 5 territories + D.C.)
State law restricts how schools can discuss “homosexuality” in specific curricula (e.g., sex education) (see note) (4 states)
State law requires advance parental notification of any LGBTQ-related curricula and allows parents to opt their children out (or requires opt-in) (8 states)
State law explicitly censors discussions of LGBTQ people or issues throughout all school curricula (i.e., “Don’t Say LGBTQ”) (9 states)
*Notes: –In the late 1980s, amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis, states began to enact censorship laws restricting how schools could discuss “homosexuality” in specific subjects like sex or health education. In 2021, these censorship efforts saw a resurgence–and a dramatic escalation–beginning with Florida’s “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law that explicitly banned any discussion of LGBTQ people or issues throughout all school subjects, curricula, learning materials, and more. Click “Citations & More Information” above for further details and sources about each and every state. —Arkansas and Florida have both a “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law censoring discussions of LGBTQ people in schools and a parental notification law. The parental notification laws were enacted first in both states. —Louisiana has both an older-style law (enacted 1987) limiting discussion of homosexuality in specific subjects and a “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law (enacted 2024) now censoring discussions of LGBTQ people throughout all subjects and settings. –In March 2024, the state of Florida settled a lawsuit that limited the scope of the state’s “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law to instruction only. This means that students can, for example, ask questions about LGBTQ people or issues and teachers can respond, that schools can have Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), and more. However, the ban still applies to classroom instruction, which is the focus of this map. –In December 2023, a federal judge temporarily blockedIowa‘s “Don’t Say LGBTQ” law. –Click “Citations & More Information” beneath the map legend, or the “Citations” tab above, for more information about these and all states.
Often, laws requiring LGBTQ-inclusive curricular standards also require inclusive representation of other communities like people of color, people with disabilities, and religious minorities. Learn more about the importance of inclusive curricular standards from GLSEN.
*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of LGBTQ youth in the U.S. territories or under age 13 are not available, and so cannot be reflected here. Population estimates are from The Williams Institute.
25%
25 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that require inclusion of LGBTQ people/history in school curricular standards
1%
1 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that require the state education department to develop an LGBTQ-inclusive model curriculum, but do not require schools to use it
36%
36 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states with none of these LGBTQ-specific curricular laws
13%
13 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that restrict how schools can discuss “homosexuality” in specific curricula (e.g., sex education) (see note beneath the map)
15%
15 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that require parental notification of any LGBTQ-related curricula and allow parents to opt their children out (or require opt-in)
20%
20 % of LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) live in states that explicitly censor discussions of LGBTQ people or issues throughout all school curricula (i.e., “Don’t Say LGBTQ”)
Out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent allowed Donald Trump donor Elon Musk and his team access to the payment system used by the federal government. Musk is threatening to illegally stop spending mandated by Congress and has ordered the shutdown of USAID, which delivers humanitarian aid on behalf of the United States, claiming that Donald Trump wants him to. Trump does not have the authority to end USAID.
According to reporting from several media outlets, including CNN, The Washington Post, and the New York Times, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury David Lebryk has been put on leave because he tried to stop Musk and his team from getting access to the payment system and the data it uses this past Friday. Lebryk has been in charge of the system that issues payments on behalf of the federal government for the last 15 years and is known for his “unparalleled” understanding of the system, according to Rolling Stone.
“To put it bluntly, these payment systems simply cannot fail, and any politically motivated meddling in them risks severe damage to our country and the economy,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. “I am concerned that mismanagement of these payment systems could threaten the full faith and credit of the United States.”
Reuters reported that Musk and his team had locked out the civil servants whose jobs were to actually run the payment system and gave his unvetted team called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the personal data of millions of federal employees. DOGE is not a real federal executive department, and its unvetted team includes young college graduates between the ages of 19 and 24 who have little to no governmental experience and no security clearances.
The billionaire said that he intends to cut $4 billion in federal spending per dayuntil September 30. The system that he accessed handles payments for Social Security, government salaries, tax refunds, and contractors hired by the government.
Neither Musk nor Trump have the authority to stop payments for spending ordered by Congress. It’s unclear what will happen if Musk gets the Trump adminsitration to stop payments illegally, but people could challenge his decisions in court. It’s unclear if the Trump administration would respect court decisions if they’re willing to ignore Congress’ spending decisions, and the takeover of the payment system could prevent career government employees from following court orders in defiance of Trump’s unilateral spending decisions.
This is a massive power grab, and Bessent has been key in creating this constitutional crisis. The New York Times reports that he gave Musk access to the payment system on Friday as part of an agreement, the same day that Lebryk was put on leave and then announced his sudden retirement. Bessent, an anonymous official told Politico, agreed to a plan that would give Cloud Software Group CEO Tom Krause access to the payment system to act as a liaison between Musk’s DOGE and the Treasury.
“The secretary’s approval was contingent on it being essentially a read-only operation,” the source said, referring to the code of the system that processes payments.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Musk “won’t have direct authority to stop individual payments or make other changes” under the agreement. But Musk getting access to the code of the payment system suggests that he is considering rewriting that code, and Bessent could be a willing accomplice in implementing those changes.
The payment system, run by the Bureau of Fiscal Service, is “studiously apolitical,” according to Lily Batchelder, Treasury secretary for tax policy under former President Joe Biden. This runs counter to Musk’s and Trump’s belief, according to the Wall Street Journal, that the system should be run by political appointees. Politicizing the payment system could allow Trump to bypass court decisions forcing the government to spend money authorized by Congress, removing a safeguard to Trump unilaterally — and illegally — cutting federal programs.
Musk said over the weekend on social media that the payment system had been sending money to “known fraudulent or terrorist groups,” but he didn’t provide any evidence. The Bureau of Fiscal Service has safeguards in place to prevent improper payments and it seems unlikely that Musk would have been able to spot such payments in mere hours that the Bureau hadn’t noticed in years.
He also complained that the Bureau hasn’t refused to send a payment that it was ordered to in its history, even though it does not have the legal authority to veto spending authorized by Congress.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has called for a congressional investigation into the events.
Indiana State University is being sued for First Amendment violations by an LGBTQ+ group that claims the school is refusing to let them hold a Pride festival on campus.
The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on behalf of The Pride Center of Terre Haute, claims that ISU officials have prohibited the group from hosting a 2025 Pride celebration on the university’s Quad, an outdoor student area explicitly designated for “expressive activity,” despite allowing and sponsoring the event in 2023 and 2024.
The Pride Center, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit dedicated to creating a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in Vigo County, accuses the university of securing an agreement with the city of Terre Haute to hold this year’s festival at an off-campus city park without the group’s knowledge or consent. It maintains that holding the celebration off-campus would defeat the purpose of the event, which is to show that the campus is welcoming to LGBTQ+ students, staff, and visitors.
The Pride Center claims that this is “part of a recent pattern of ISU preventing or discouraging actions and events that are intended to support the LGBTQ+ community,” according to the lawsuit, and that the “actions of ISU in not allowing Pride Fest 2025 to occur on campus violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
“ISU’s failure to provide Pride Fest an on-campus location is directly related to the message of inclusivity, equality, and support conveyed by all Pride festivals,” ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk said in a statement. “It is clear that the university is censoring Pride Fest because of its support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Center has a First Amendment right to hold their festival in the Indiana State University Quad – a space explicitly designated as a place for free expression.”
The popular vote might not have worked, but you can always vote with your dollar and/or time.
A second term under Donald Trump endangers the well-being of LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people of color, and everyone else. It will also most likely lead to more censorship and rolling back protections against climate change. But the activists and organizations advocating for these causes aren’t going quietly — they’re getting louder. Many have resisted during Trump’s first term, and are ready to do so again.
The fight does not end with donations, but it’s still a great way for those with the means to make their priorities known and impact change. For those who aren’t able to give, consider using your time and other skills in your community instead.
For those who are able to give, here are 26 groups whose work is going to be critical during a second Trump administration that you can donate to. If you can’t contribute money, many also list other ways to contribute.
Elevated Access
Nonprofit Elevated Access is dedicated to helping patients receive reproductive health care, offering flights at no cost to those who must travel for abortions and gender-affirming care.
This national progressive advocacy organization focuses on preserving the rights of the marginalized in court, fighting against book bans and to preserve democracy and voting rights.
The Transgender Law Center fights to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.
As the biggest LGBTQ+ group in the U.S., HRC lobbies for queer rights and candidates, fighting to “ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens.”
PEN America works to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to create literature, to convey information and ideas, to express their views, and to access the views, ideas, and literatures of others.
Planned Parenthood is nonprofit organization that provides reproductive and sexual healthcare and sexual education, including abortions and birth control.
American Civil Liberties Union (and Drag Defense Fund)
The ACLU is a nonprofit that assists in legal cases where civil rights are involved, including abortion care, trans people’s right to live freely, and people’s right to vote. It also hosts the Drag Defense Fund, which legally defends drag performers’ freedom of speech and self-expression.
Midwest Access Coalition (MAC) is a practical abortion fund that helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest to access a safe and legal abortion.
The SPLC is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights, fighting to strengthen democracy, counter white supremacy, end mass incarceration, and eradicate racial inequality in the American South.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People remains the longest-serving organization dedicated to fighting for civil rights of people of color.
The Sherlock’s Homes Foundation provides housing, employment opportunities, and a loving support system, for homeless LGBTQ+ young adults so that they can live fearlessly as their authentic selves.
CAIR has worked for decade both to educate the public on mainstream Islamic faith and prevent legal obstructions to their rights, such as the many policies proposed and enacted by Trump’s first administration.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project seeks to guarantee people’s freedom to self-determine and express their gender identity, fighting for both financial and legal empowerment for everybody across the spectrum of gender.
Americans for Immigrant Justice
Americans for Immigrant Justice (AI Justice) is a nonprofit law firm that fights for justice for immigrants through a combination of direct representation, impact litigation, advocacy, and outreach.
Know Your IX was named for its mission to educate college students about their Title IX rights. The group also gives voice to survivors of sexual assault and offers channels for reporting sexual harassment.
A project of the American Immigration Council, this organization will be lobbying against deportation policy both from the White House and the halls of Congress.
Emily’s List is an organization that trains Democratic women (who are pro-choice) in the basics of running for office, from school board to senator. The group had a hand in getting Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Maggie Hassan elected.
This group fights for the rights of scientists to conduct, publish, and discuss their research and advocate for science without the threat of political harassment, censorship, or legal intimidation.
Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is an organization focused on protecting the children of immigrants, fighting against deportation and family separation.
ORAM provides legal assistance, advances economic inclusion through livelihood programs, champions the rights of LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees on the global stage and provides critical emergency response to underserved communities.
ProPublica uses a nonprofit model to produce and disseminate investigative reporting, and has continuously fact-checked the Trump Administration to dispel the misinformation surrounding his campaign.
The global organization works to “fight abuses of human rights, bring torturers to justice, change oppressive laws, and free people jailed just for voicing their opinion.”
Senior Lesbians in Community (SLIC) Social Group. In addition to the twice per month social groups, there are many other events to attend! Sign up for their meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/slic11/
Come enjoy some pub trivia in a queer friendly environment. Bring your own team or chat with some of the established teams to see if they need more players.
All ages welcome. Free to play, but please consider supporting Brew by purchasing food or beverages.
