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Transgender Servicemembers File Lawsuit Challenging Rescinded Retirement

“Tomorrow is Veterans Day, yet the Trump administration continues to deepen its betrayal of veterans by ripping away the pensions and health care benefits of honorable Airmen who have deployed around the world,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter

Today, 17 transgender servicemembers who each have over 15 years of service in the United States Air Force and Space Force filed Ireland v. United States, a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the Federal Court of Claims for rescinding the retirements they earned and that were previously granted to them by the Secretary of the Air Force. Transgender servicemembers impacted by this rescission will face a loss of up to $1–2 million owed for their service over the course of their lifetime, impacting these military families’ long-term economic security. This rescission also includes loss of lifetime access to TRICARE health insurance, which would have provided access to civilian health care providers beyond VA facilities.

“I raised my hand and served my country honorably for 15 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan,” said lead plaintiff Master Sergeant Logan Ireland. “Ripping away the retirements we have earned is a betrayal of the sacrifices made by servicemembers and our families. We should not be thrown into economic hardship or made to feel our years of service are regarded by our country as meaningless.”

In June 2025, the Air Force issued retirement orders to transgender Airmen plaintiffs in this case. Then, in August 2025, the Air Force reneged on its promises to those Airmen and informed them that they must, instead, be separated without retirement under Secretary Hegseth’s transgender military ban. The lawsuit argues that the rescission of retirement orders in this case violates the Air Force’s own retirement policies and procedures, which only permit retirement rescissions under very limited circumstances, none of which are present here.

“Tomorrow is Veterans Day, yet the Trump administration continues to deepen its betrayal of veterans by ripping away the pensions and health care benefits of honorable Airmen who have deployed around the world,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter, one of the lead attorneys in this case, who is transgender and brings more than 30 years of civil rights legal experience to this litigation. “There has never been an administration that has shown such open hostility to the brave men and women who have served our country.”

Pensions are an essential part of the promise made to servicemembers due to their sacrifices and help military families avoid economic hardship. These pensions are earned and compensate servicemembers for the unique sacrifices and constraints of military life that make it difficult to save for retirement and create the diversified retirement portfolios that civilians can. For example, because of frequent job-related moves, members of our military typically cannot purchase a house and live there for 20 years to grow equity.

“This is a senseless and shocking affront to troops who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said GLAD Law Staff Attorney Michael Haley. “Each of these families faces a potential loss of up to $1–2 million over the course of their lifetimes. These brave transgender servicemembers deserve the retirement benefits they have earned and that the Air Force granted them. As a country, we must honor our word to them, not rip away their benefits.”

Plaintiffs in this case are represented by the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, GLAD Law, and pro-bono counsel from Stapleton Segal Cochran LLC and The Law Office of Jeremy Spiegel.

Read a copy of the filing.
Learn more about the case.

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Supreme Court won’t revisit marriage equality

Today, the Supreme Court denied a request to revisit marriage equality. Mary Bonauto, GLAD Law Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies, who argued Obergefell in 2015, issued the following statement:

“Ten years ago, the Supreme Court rightly recognized that equal protection requires access to legal marriage for same-sex couples on the same terms and conditions as others, and reaffirmed the long-established principle that people, not the government, should be able to decide who they marry. The only thing that has changed since Obergefell was decided is that people across the country have seen how marriage equality provides protection for families and children, and that protection strengthens communities, the economy and our society. Today millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief for their families, current or hoped for, because all families deserve equal rights under the law.”

Today, millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief for their marriages and families, current or hoped for. But LGBTQ+ people’s civil rights are still under attack, particularly for transgender people in our communities. GLAD Law will continue fighting every day to protect our community and ensure equality and freedom for all.

Learn more.

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Transgender Servicemembers Ask Appeals Court to Block Military Ban

Today, our plaintiffs, in Talbott v. USA (formerly Talbott v. Trump) – transgender servicemembers and recruits – filed a brief with the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that argued that the US District Court Judge Ana Reyes was correct in issuing a preliminary injunction blocking the ban on transgender military service and asked the court to allow the injunction to take effect.

There is no evidence to support the ban. During oral arguments, the Trump administration even went so far as to concede that the ban is not based on data or evidence. In fact, the Trump administration conceded that each active-duty Plaintiff is “honorable, truthful, and disciplined,” currently physically and mentally fit to serve, and has “made America safer.” Secretary Hegseth’s implementation policy mandates their discharge or prohibits their accession solely because they are transgender. The policy is clearly unconstitutional discrimination targeting servicemembers based on who they are rather than whether they can do the job. U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes described the ban as “soaked with animus and dripping with pretext.”

One of the lead attorneys in this case, GLAD Law Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi, responded to today’s filing:

“Together, the transgender servicemembers in this case have more than 260 years of honorable military service, 120 commendations, and have deployed globally to Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Kuwait, and Poland. They have consistently put their lives on the line for this country and have made us safer. Many of them were born into military families and some have spent nearly their entire lives on base, sacrificing everything for service. Ripping these honorable servicemembers and their families from their jobs and homes and denying them health care for no reason will create irreparable harm to these heroes and their families and betray promises made by our country to our military.”

After today’s filing, the Trump administration will have the opportunity to file a reply to this brief. Then, oral arguments will be scheduled on a date to be determined on this issue in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

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The Resistance Brief: The Courage That Comes After Grief

Blog by Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Executive Director

This Resistance Brief is arriving a bit late as I’ve been struggling to find words for the tension I feel in my mind, body, and spirit. Originally, this blog was meant to answer the question I’m most often asked – how to keep doing this work when it’s so hard. But then came more bad news: cuts to SNAP benefits, the loss of Lia Smith, and the federal government’s continued efforts to block healthcare access for transgender youth. Suddenly, answering that question felt even harder.

And while we contend with these heartbreaks, we are also people navigating lives full of joy, sadness, and the unexpected. My godfather passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. He had shared with my aunt (and godmother) that come Día de los Muertos, his image would be added to our altars. Unfortunately, he was right.

As I worked on this blog, I carried the emotional weight of grief. Over the weekend, I couldn’t stop thinking about loss – about what helps heal the heart and allows us to keep moving forward. Grief, I’ve come to realize, isn’t just personal; it’s collective. The ache I feel for my godfather mirrors the ache I feel for our community: for those we’ve lost, for the progress we fight to protect, for the people whose lives are cut short by injustice. Each anti-LGBTQ+ policy, each harmful court decision, each act of cruelty carries its own kind of loss.

While every era of the LGBTQ+ movement has carried the weight of its time – through the pre-Stonewall days of hiding in the shadows, the AIDS crisis, the early battles for marriage equality, or the ongoing fight for transgender rights – the weight of this moment feels distinct. The threats are pervasive, the attacks more coordinated, the cruelty undisguised, and the emotional toll cumulative. It is relentless.

And yet, despite all of this, we continue. We must.

What keeps me grounded is a lesson I’ve carried from growing up commemorating Día de los Muertos: acknowledging grief as a path to courage. Honoring those who came before us – those who resisted, loved fiercely, and built possibility from pain – creates space in our own bodies for joy, hope, and the love that fuels action.

Día de los Muertos has taught me that grief is not an ending but a bridge between what was and what can be. Remembering those we’ve lost transforms sorrow into strength. When I light a candle for my godfather, or for those we’ve lost in this movement, I’m reminded that our stories continue through the work we do, through the care we give, and through the communities we build.

Voicing heartbreak helps me access courage. Sharing the truth of and accepting my grief is less about surviving the hostility of the present, and more about daring to imagine a future where liberation, safety, and joy are daily realities. It’s in that possibility that I find renewal and the audacity to keep demanding our rights be recognized while building a better world together.

It’s hard not to get lost in the anger or deep sadness this moment brings. But acknowledging grief rather than suppressing it helps me find my footing. Pain and love often coexist – and naming what hurts is how we stay connected to what matters most.

When I think of states like Florida or Texas erasing welcoming symbols – like rainbow crosswalks – I see the resilience that follows. Those colors aren’t just paint; they are tributes, visibility, and belonging. Even when they’re taken away, people find ways to recreate them: through art, gatherings, and everyday acts of defiance and care. That creativity is grief transformed into remembrance, moving us toward resistance.

Opportunities for courageous, coordinated, and intergenerational action are always at our disposal. Acknowledging grief keeps us tender enough to care for one another and strong enough to act. It connects us to our ancestors and to each other, reminding us that love expressed through action is how we endure.

This work advancing justice, equity, and dignity is hard. It always will be. But acknowledging and working through my emotions allows me to hold the weight of this moment without collapsing under it. It lets me lead with steadiness, keep showing up, and trust that even in instability, we can nurture integrity, connection, and the collective courage to imagine something better.

What to know, what to do:

It’s Election Day in many states and municipalities – have you made your plan? Let’s use this day to honor those who fought for our rights. When we show up at the polls, we turn grief into courage and remembrance into action – and continue to build the world we dream of and deserve.
Last week, Illinois passed the Equality for Every Family Act, landmark legislation ensuring state laws recognize and respect all families, including LGBTQ+ families.
The Supreme Court will soon consider whether to take up Kim Davis’s case, with implications for marriage equality. Read our FAQ.
Mary Bonauto discussed Kim Davis’s case in her most recent MSNBC interview.
SNAP benefits face cuts that would affect millions. LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity – and no one should go hungry. Support your local food bank or find resources through Feeding America.

Want to receive the Resistance Brief and other updates, action alerts, and event invitations in your email inbox?

Donate today to support GLAD Law’s work toward justice for all.

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Community Briefings: Updates on LGBTQ+ Rights and Supreme Court Cases

Across each stage of this pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights, GLAD Law’s legal experts have helped unpack what’s happening – and what it means for our communities.

From major Supreme Court cases to new federal policies, these community briefings offer clear, accessible updates and insights directly from the lawyers leading the fight for equality and justice.

Add your email below to access recordings of past briefings and stay up-to-date on future ones.

You’ll get immediate access to full recordings that help you understand the issues, the impact, and how you can take action.

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Advocates celebrate final passage of the Illinois Equality for Every Family Act

During these times of unrelenting attacks by the federal administration against the lives of LGBTQ+ people, advocates celebrated the Illinois General Assembly’s final passage on Wednesday of critical legislation that will ensure the state’s laws see and respect every family, including LGBTQ+ families and families formed through assisted reproduction and surrogacy. Sponsored by Senate President Don Harmon and State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, the Equality for Every Family Act (HB 2568) provides expanded protections for children in Illinois to ensure equitable access to a secure legal family. The bill will now return to Governor JB Pritzker for his final review and certification.

The Equality for Every Family Act was advanced by Equality Illinois and the Chicago Therapy Collective with best practice technical expertise provided by legal experts from across the country.

“The Equality for Every Family Act honors our state’s values of equality and inclusion and ensures that state law sees and respects every family in Illinois, especially LGBTQ+ families who are under relentless attack by the federal administration,” said Mike Ziri, Director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois. “Thank you to Governor Pritzker, President Harmon, Representative Katz Muhl, Speaker Welch, our expert legal partners, and our committed advocacy partners. We are especially grateful to Iggy for publicly sharing their story and inspiring this legislation. With the Equality for Every Family Act, Illinois continues to move forward for equality and inclusion.”

“When my child was born, I was told I couldn’t be on his birth certificate — because I am not a man, because I am nonbinary, and because I am in a queer relationship, I was presumed not to be his parent. Today, Illinois has taken a powerful step to right that wrong,” said Iggy V Ladden, Executive Director and Founder of the Chicago Therapy Collective. “The Equality for Every Family Act affirms that every family deserves recognition, protection, and dignity. No more erasure, no more legal hoops. We are equal under the law. Period. Thank you to Representative Katz Muhl, President Harmon, Governor Pritzker, and Equality Illinois for their leadership.”

“We are grateful to Senate President Don Harmon, Representative Tracy Katz Muhl, Governor JB Pritzker, and Equality Illinois for their work to achieve this important milestone for Illinois children and families, and look forward to the governor certifying the legislation,” said Polly Crozier, GLAD Law Director of Family Advocacy. “These updates to Illinois’ laws reduce barriers to families accessing legal parentage, which is vital to ensuring that children have the security and stability they need. Particularly at a time when LGBTQ+ people and families face increasing attacks across the country, these protections are essential to ensuring that all Illinois families – particularly those formed through assisted reproduction and surrogacy – are treated equally.”

“This critical legislation fills gaps in existing Illinois parentage law,” said Courtney Joslin, UC Davis Law Professor. “Having comprehensive parentage laws is critical for the security and stability of children and their families.” Joslin was the Reporter for the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017 (UPA 2017), on which this legislation is based.

“I am incredibly proud to be a citizen of Illinois,” said Nidhi Desai, Director of Assisted Reproductive Technology for the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. “Every family deserves legal recognition and protection, regardless of how they are formed, and this legislation takes great strides to protect vulnerable families and children to ensure they have the same rights as all other families.”

The legislation provides stronger alignment between the state’s parentage and surrogacy laws and the UPA 2017 and modernizes the existing laws with current science and assisted reproductive technologies. In particular, the legislation will:

Expand the voluntary acknowledgement of parentage (VAP) process so moreparents can acknowledge their rights and responsibilities to a child regardless of whether they are married to the person who gave birth to the child. These acknowledgements happen immediately after the child’s birth in the hospital without the need for an attorney or judge. At present, VAPs in Illinois apply only to paternity and, therefore, only a man can acknowledge his parentage. The Equality for Every Family Act will allow a partner in a same-sex relationship to provide that same acknowledgement of parentage and thereby undertake all the rights and responsibilities for the child. Without the legislation’s changes to the VAP, the only method by which same-sex couples can establish their parentage is by hiring an attorney and going to court. Fourteen states have modernized their VAP provisions to be more efficient and fair: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.;
Establish a uniform and streamlined confirmatory adoption provision throughout the state for children born through assisted reproduction (where the intended parents are already recognized as the legal parents). Eleven other states have enacted confirmatory adoption statutes: California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia; and
Update the assisted reproduction and surrogacy provisions in the Parentage Act and the Gestational Surrogacy Act to better align with the UPA of 2017.

The Equality for Every Family Act is supported by a diverse group of organizations, including the Chicago Therapy Collective, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, Uniform Law Commission, Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Personal PAC, Sierra Club Illinois, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action.

The Equality for Every Family Act initially passed the Illinois General Assembly in May. In coordination with Equality Illinois, Governor Pritzker amendatorily vetoed the bill in August in order to correct drafting errors in the final language. During the October veto session in Springfield, the Illinois General Assembly adopted the governor’s proposed changes. The bill now returns to Governor Pritzker for his final review and certification. Once certified by the governor, the legislation will take effect immediately except for the provisions updating the voluntary acknowledgement of parentage process, which take effect on January 1, 2026.

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Kim Davis’s Cert Petition to the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is considering whether it will take a case about marriage equality.

Here’s what you need to know:

Has the Supreme Court agreed to consider overturning Obergefell, the Court’s landmark marriage equality case?

No! Kim Davis—a former county clerk who refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples—has asked the Court to overturn Obergefell. The Court still has not accepted Davis’s request to hear the case and decide the issue.

How does the Court decide whether to hear a case?

The Supreme Court gets to decide which cases it hears. A party unhappy with the result of a lower court decision can file a “cert petition” asking the Supreme Court to review the case. The Court chooses whether to grant the cert petition.

For the Court to grant cert, four of the nine Justices must agree to accept a case.

How likely is it that the Court will grant Davis’s cert petition?

The Supreme Court receives 7,000-8,000 petitions each year. It agrees to hear only about 1%—roughly 80 cases per year.

Kim Davis’ case is extremely narrow, and her arguments have already been rejected by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals more than once.

People from all walks of life and across the political spectrum support or have a live-and-let-live approach to marriage equality and want to focus on other issues.

There’s good reason for the Supreme Court to deny review in this case rather than unsettle something so positive for couples, children, families, and the larger society as marriage equality.

What’s the status of Davis’s case?

Davis filed a cert petition on July 24, 2025, asking the Court, among other things, to reconsider Obergefell. Lawyers on the other side filed a response explaining why Davis’s case is substantively weak and improperly presented.

Now what?

Now we wait.

The Justices will first consider whether to grant Davis’s cert petition at their private conference on Friday, November 7. It has been the Court’s general practice, however, to consider a case at a minimum of two private conferences before granting a petition.

Should we expect the Court to take further action this year?

It is likely that we won’t know for days or weeks after November 7 whether the Court will hear Davis’s case. The court might consider the case at several successive conferences for various reasons.

GLAD Law will share information as soon as we hear what the Court decides to do.

What can we do?

GLAD Law is prepared to defend marriage equality no matter what happens. Our marriage team is already on it.

When it comes to LGBTQ+ people’s dignity, humanity, and equality, GLAD Law is there for you, and we need you with us.

Sign up for email alerts or donate to support our work.
Visit our resources for information about additional steps you can take to protect your family.
Share your story! Help us spread the word about why marriage is good for communities and our country.

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The Resistance Brief: We Don’t Need Fixing

Blog by Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Executive Director

When I was 12, my parents held our one and only family meeting ever. They sat my siblings and me down on the living room couch and proclaimed that if we “decided” to be gay, it was totally fine with them. We were loved, no matter what. Then they sent us back to our rooms.

It was awkward. It was the ’90s. They were devout Catholics. Their language wasn’t perfect, but their intention was clear: we were safe in our home, just as we were.

I didn’t fully understand the weight of that moment until I got older—until I started hearing other queer people’s growing up and coming out stories. As I moved through life, traveled, and built relationships within the LGBTQ+ community, I saw how often those stories were shaped by a lack of acceptance. Sometimes it came as quiet disapproval, sometimes as strained silence. Often, it was an outright rejection. Some people shared that they had been sent to conversion “therapy” by families who were led to believe they were helping and couldn’t see the harm being done at the time.

Conversion therapy refers to a range of discredited and dangerous practices that seek to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and their consequences can be devastating. Survivors often describe lasting trauma, feelings of shame, depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation. It’s a practice rooted in the false idea that LGBTQ+ people are broken and need to be fixed.

We don’t need fixin’.

Just last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorado’s 2019 law protecting minors from conversion therapy. Like nearly half of the states in this country, Colorado passed this law to shield young people from these very harms. But now, a therapist named Kaley Chiles, represented by the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), is arguing that the law violates her First Amendment rights. She claims that the treatment she provides, talk therapy, is “pure speech,” and therefore can’t be subject to state regulation.

GLAD Law submitted an amicus brief to the Court, sharing stories that illustrate the lasting damage of conversion therapy. One of them was Matt Salmon’s. As a devout Mormon teen, Matt turned to conversion therapy hoping it would help him live in alignment with his faith. Instead, it left him feeling isolated, ashamed, and emotionally fractured. His relationship with his family suffered deeply. Even now, decades later, they are still trying to heal from what that experience broke.

The ADF and Chiles’s arguments being made in this case misrepresent what’s truly at stake. Colorado’s law does not ban conversations about faith or identity. It does not prevent therapists from helping clients navigate questions about gender, sexuality, and belief. What it bans are practices—by practitioners who have received a medical license from a state–that have been discredited and shown again and again to cause harm.

If the Court sides with Chiles, it could set a troubling precedent. One that limits states’ ability to regulate not just conversion therapy, but other forms of harmful mental health practices. It would send a message that protecting free speech includes protecting the right to use that speech to endanger vulnerable children.

But this case isn’t just about therapy or speech. It’s about whether LGBTQ+ people—especially kids—are allowed to grow up without being told something about them is fundamentally wrong. It’s about whether we believe everyone deserves to live free from imposed shame.

For many of us, simply existing with honesty is an act of quiet defiance. The freedom to live authentically, to embrace who we are without apology, stands in sharp contrast to the rigid boxes others still try to force us into. In that way, our very existence is resistance. A refusal to be made into something we are not.

I think back to that awkward family meeting when I was 12. My parents didn’t have the right words, but they gave me something that would prove to be incredibly rare: a sense that I was okay. That I was loved, perfectly made, and free to be me.

Every child deserves at least that much. Let’s hope the Court agrees.

What to know, what to do:

Missed our briefing on the cases and petitions before the Supreme Court this year? Check out the recording for what’s at stake and what you need to know.
We know this is a worrying time for access to transgender health care. Contact our free and confidential legal helpline, GLAD Law Answers, with any questions about losing access to care at Fenway Health or another New England medical center.
Sign up for our free community discussion on Nov. 5 to learn what state and advocacy leaders can and should do to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights and protections.
Limited tickets remain for our Spirit of Justice Award Dinner on Nov. 6! RSVP today for this inspirational evening.
“At the end of the day, we’re all just people trying to live our lives and find our happiness – nobody should be making that process harder for anyone else.” Read more from Nic Talbott, a plaintiff in our transgender military ban challenge and one of this year’s OUT 100.

Want to receive the Resistance Brief and other updates, action alerts, and event invitations in your email inbox?

Donate today to support GLAD Law’s work toward justice for all.

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Fenway Health’s Halt to Transgender Youth Care Is Heartbreaking

The decision by Fenway Health to cut off medical care for transgender patients under the age of 19 is gutting for patients and their families who rely on this flagship health center for care. The Trump administration’s efforts to stop health care for transgender people with unlawful threats to funding are devastating, and it is disheartening to witness a leading institution in LGBTQ+ health make the choice to give in to those threats. Parents and families want to provide the best possible health care for their children. For transgender adolescents, quality medical care is increasingly harder to access. This week’s announcement from Fenway is a heartbreaking blow.

If you have questions about losing access to care at Fenway or another New England health care center, we encourage you to reach out to our free and confidential legal information line at GLADLawAnswers.org

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The Resistance Brief: Defending the heart of civil society

Blog by Ricardo Martinez (he/him), Executive Director

When my parents couldn’t afford to fill our Christmas tree with gifts, a local athletic league showed up with presents and joy. When we struggled with food insecurity, it was our local parish that made sure we had meals on the table. As a quiet, unsure middle schooler, Council for Unity helped me find my voice – teaching me leadership, self-expression, and the courage to speak up.

In college, I volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Suffolk County and raised funds for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. These weren’t just extracurricular activities or acts of charity – they were lifelines. They shaped me. They provided vital assistance to people in my community. They also taught me the meaning of service, and the transformative power of kindness. I saw how compassion could move people to act, how generosity could restore dignity, and how even the smallest act of care could change a life.

Nonprofit organizations have played a profound role in my life, as they have in the lives of so many Americans.

That’s why the recent push by the Trump administration to label certain nonprofit organizations – especially those serving immigrant, LGBTQ+, and Black and Brown communities – as domestic terrorism threats is outrageous.

No president has the right to target charities, civil rights organizations, or civil society groups simply because they challenge power or stand up for justice. And yet, that’s exactly what’s happening. These actions are not about keeping us safe. They are about suppressing dissent and chilling advocacy.

We’ve seen this before.

In the 1950s, McCarthyism destroyed careers and lives by branding artists, activists, and academics as threats to the State. J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI began a program of infiltrating and dismantling civil rights and Black liberation movements through COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program), treating the pursuit of equality as a national security risk.

During this time, at the height of the Lavender Scare, the federal government systematically fired thousands of LGBTQ+ employees. These purges were driven by false claims that queer people were inherently untrustworthy and posed a risk to national security.

After 9/11, Muslim communities were surveilled, harassed, and detained – not because of crimes committed, but because of who they were. Entire congregations were treated like suspects. Families were torn apart. The trauma of that era still echoes today.

And in 2017, the Trump administration created the baseless category of “Black Identity Extremists” to surveil and intimidate Black activists, as was done throughout the Civil Rights movement. Now, that same tactic is being recycled – this time against a broader group of nonprofits, funders, LGBTQ+ groups, and those who dare to fight for justice.

Historically, vulnerable communities with limited power who are vocal and steadfast in their commitment to creating a just world have always been used as scapegoats in times of political fear. These attacks aren’t about justice. They are about intimidation: that being different, being visible, or standing up for your neighbors makes you a threat.

But we know better.

Demanding safety, equality, and dignity is not a crime. What is unlawful is the government’s throttling of free speech and our constitutionally protected right to advocate for our communities. What truly strengthens this country is the courage to speak up, to show up for each other, and to refuse to accept injustice as normal.

GLAD Law remains grounded in our unwavering belief that protecting fundamental freedoms must be rooted in empathy, not cruelty. We are committed to advancing justice guided by deep respect for human dignity and the interconnectedness of our diverse communities. We find strength in inclusion, and we work alongside others to ensure that the rights we all rely on are defended with compassion, integrity, and shared responsibility for a better future. We have not, and will not, stop fighting for the dignity, safety, and full equality of LGBTQ+ Americans.

And neither should you.

For our nonprofits. For our neighbors. For the freedom to help, to care, and to hope.

Because the organizations that fed me, taught me, and gave me my voice, those spaces of healing and empowerment – they should be celebrated. Protected. And defended with everything we’ve got.

Now is the time to donate generously to the organizations that have shaped your life, volunteer your time, speak out, and show up.

Together, we can protect the rights and spaces that make our communities stronger and more just. Civil society depends on it.

What to know, what to do:

Sign up for our October 9 community briefing on what’s at stake in the new Supreme Court term.
Learn about the nonprofits that have banded together, GLAD Law included, to say we will not be intimated or silenced in the face of Trump’s directive NSPM-7.
Check out the good news! A federal judge just blocked a New Hampshire state law that would have banned important programs for ensuring equal educational access, in our case with ACLU and other partners.
Read about Army Captain Gordon Herrero, who was placed on administrative leave from his West Point teaching position after the transgender military ban was implemented.

Want to receive the Resistance Brief and other updates, action alerts, and event invitations in your email inbox?

Donate today to support GLAD Law’s work toward justice for all.