NCLR, GLAD, and Coalition of Organizations Support Biden Administration’s Inclusive Title IX Athletics Rule
The National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD, along with the National Education Association and more than a dozen other organizations, have submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Education supporting its proposed rule requiring equal treatment of transgender students in school sports under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In addition to the National Education Association, the coalition of organizations includes Family Equality, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, SAGE, and the Trevor Project.
The comments commend the Department for affirming that Title IX prohibits discrimination against transgender students in school sports, noting the urgency of creating clear federal policy in the face of the unlawful bans proliferating in many states. The proposed rule states that any policy that categorically bans transgender girls or women from playing on girls’ or women’s sports teams, or that prohibits transgender boys or men from playing on boys or men’s sports teams, is prohibited.
“We applaud the Department of Education for drafting a rule that protects transgender students from discrimination and ensures their equal inclusion in school sports,” said NCLR Federal Policy Director Juliana S. Gonen.
“With so many states adopting policies that exclude transgender athletes in violation of Title IX, it is urgent the Department of Education finalizes its rule that makes clear transgender students must be given full and equal inclusion in school sports programs,” said GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi.
Earlier this year, NCLR and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defender (GLAD) jointly produced a fact sheet explaining the proposed rule and its protection of transgender students in school sports under Title IX.
NCLR has filed lawsuits challenging state laws banning transgender students from school sports in يوتا و أريزونا.
Proposed Rule Affirms Nondiscrimination Protections for Transgender Students in Sports
Proposed Rule Affirms Nondiscrimination Protections for Transgender Students in Sports
تحديث: In April of 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released a final rule that affirms that Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, transgender status, and other sex-based characteristics and stereotypes. Learn more about the final rule.
On April 13, 2023, the Department of Education’s proposed a regulatory standard under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) governing the inclusion of transgender athletes (Proposed Athletics Rule). The proposed rule protects the ability of transgender students to participate in sports.
Earlier this year, GLAD and the National Center for Lesbian Rights jointly produced a fact sheet explaining the proposed rule and its protection of transgender students in school sports under Title IX.
While we strongly support the proposed rule, we urge the Department of Education to provide more clarity around enforcement to prevent misinterpretation and misapplication of the rule.
On May 13, GLAD and NCLR, along with several other LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, submitted a public comment in support of the proposed rule.Read the public comment.
Thursday, June 1, 2023, is the 18th annual LGBTQ Families Day, a time to celebrate the many families in every state and almost every county of the U.S. that have LGBTQ+ people in them.
This event aims to raise awareness of the diversity, challenges, and joys of all LGBTQ+ families—found, formed, and chosen—who exist throughout our society.
How to Participate
Anyone who supports LGBTQ families is welcome to participate by:
Posting, tweeting, or sharing on any social media channel in celebration and support of LGBTQ families on June 1, 2023, and including the hashtag #LGBTQFamiliesDay.
Following the hashtag #LGBTQFamiliesDay throughout the day and sharing the stories, images, and thoughts from other participants.
Celebrating in your community in whatever way uplifts the voices and experiences of LGBTQ families.
Share these graphics to help spread the word—or use an image of your own family.
خلفية
LGBTQ Families Day was developed by the award-winning LGBTQ-parenting site Mombian and is sponsored by المساواة الأسرية, PFLAG National, GLAAD, المدافعون القانونيون عن المثليين ومزدوجي الميل الجنسي ومغايري الهوية الجنسية (GLAD)، و كولاج. Since 2006, the day has engaged parents across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, parents of LGBTQ+ children, LGBTQ+ individuals, children of LGBTQ+ parents, and non-LGBTQ+ family members and allies. The event is held at the start of June, between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, in order to honor all parents but also to highlight that not all families fit into the traditional structure of one mother and one father. Additionally, June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Seven Florida families will add a challenge to SB 254 to their pending lawsuit against the bans issued by the state’s Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine
Seven Florida parents who are currently challenging state Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine rules banning established medical care for their children and other transgender adolescents will also ask a federal court to block provisions in SB 254, passed by the Florida legislature today, that would codify into state law the current Boards of Medicine bans and create additional barriers for families with transgender adolescents.
وتمثل العائلات المستشار القانوني الجنوبي، والمدافعون القانونيون عن حقوق المثليات والمثليين ومزدوجي الميل الجنسي ومغايري الهوية الجنسية، والمركز الوطني لحقوق المثليات، وحملة حقوق الإنسان، والتي أصدرت البيان التالي:
Today the state of Florida has doubled down on denying science, intruding on family privacy and parental decision-making, and trampling on the rights and wellbeing of transgender adolescents. The bill passed by the legislature today interferes even further with families, deliberately provoking conflict by inviting challenges to established custody orders. This exacerbates the state of emergency for parents who are already being forced to watch their kids suffer rather than get them the effective healthcare they need and that will allow them to thrive. We will take swift action to ask the federal court to block the ban on access to essential healthcare in SB 254, as well as the Boards of Medicine bans, to stop further harm to transgender youth and their families while the plaintiffs’ case continues.
Similar bans on established medical care for transgender youth have been blocked by federal judges in Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri.
شهر تراث الأمريكيين الآسيويين وسكان جزر المحيط الهادئ (AAPI) هو فرصة لتسليط الضوء على الدور الهام لأفراد مجتمع الميم في مجتمعهم، وللتأمل في التقدم المحرز، وكذلك العمل الذي لا يزال يتعين القيام به في مجال الدعوة إلى المساواة والشمول. انضموا إلينا لنستكشف الهويات والروايات المتنوعة لأفراد مجتمع الميم من أصول آسيوية وجزر المحيط الهادئ، ونحتفل برحلاتهم المميزة خلال هذا الشهر الذي يُجسّد التقدير والاحترام.
نيللي وونغ، كيتي تسوي، ميرل وو، والأقدام غير المقيدة
ولدت في
جلد المرأة الصفراء
لقد ولدنا
في درع المحاربين.
- كيتي تسوي- تسوي، ك. (١٩٨٩). قصة ناطقة عن الحي الصيني. في كتاب "صنع الأمواج: مختارات من كتابات النساء الأمريكيات الآسيويات وعنهن".
لطالما كان الفن محوريًا في النضال من أجل حقوق مجتمع الميم، كما أثبتت كل من نيلي وونغ، وكيتي تسوي، وميرل وو. وُلدت كيتي تسوي في هونغ كونغ، ونيلي وونغ في أوكلاند لأبوين مهاجرين صينيين، وميرل وو في سان فرانسيسكو لأبوين صينيين وكوريين. شكّلت هؤلاء الثلاث فرقة الأداء النسوية "أقدام غير محدودة" عام ١٩٧٩. وقد أتاحت الفرقة للأمريكيين الآسيويين وأفراد مجتمع الميم مساحة آمنة للمشاركة ودعم بعضهم البعض والتواصل.
بفضل عملهن، خلال تلك الفترة في الحي الصيني بسان فرانسيسكو، بدأت النساء المثليات من أصول صينية بـ"فكّ قيود" أقدامهن مجازيًا. مثّل هذا تحولًا محوريًا نحو اكتشاف الذات والتمكين والتحرر.
بلغت أعمال منظمة Unbound Feet ذروتها بالمشاركة في أول مؤتمر وطني للمثليات والمثليين في العالم الثالث الذي عقد في واشنطن العاصمة عام 1979. وقد تركت جهودهم الرائدة في رفع مستوى الوعي وتعزيز الشمول والدعوة لحقوق مجتمع الميم إرثًا دائمًا، مما ألهم ومكّن الآسيويين المثليين في نضالهم من أجل الرؤية والقبول والمساواة.
ألوك فايد مينون
ألوك فايد مينون ألوك فنانة أداء وكاتبة وناشطة، تحدثت عن تقاطع هوياتها كشخص غير متوافق مع هويته الجندرية وشخص من أصل جنوب آسيوي. تتحدث ألوك بصراحة عن التحديات الفريدة والتمييز الذي يواجهه أفراد مجتمع الميم، والذين ينتمون أيضًا إلى مجتمعات عرقية وإثنية مهمشة. وقد دافعوا عن مناهج تقاطعية لتحقيق العدالة الاجتماعية والنشاط.
بصفتها فنانة أداء، تستخدم ألوك فنها وإبداعها لتحدي الأعراف والتوقعات المجتمعية المتعلقة بالنوع الاجتماعي والهوية. وقد قدمت عروضها على المسارح والمعارض الفنية وعبر منصات التواصل الاجتماعي، مستخدمةً الأزياء والشعر وأشكالًا فنية أخرى للتعبير عن هويتها الجنسية وتعزيز قبول الذات والتعبير عنها للآخرين. وهي مؤلفة كتاب امرأة في الأماكن العامة (2017), ما وراء الثنائية الجنسية (2020)، و جرحك/حديقتي (2021)؛ وهم أيضًا منشئو #DeGenderFashion، وهي مبادرة يقودها وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي لإزالة التمييز بين الجنسين في صناعات الموضة والجمال.
تقديراً لعمله، تم تكريم ألوك باعتباره أول باحث مقيم في مجال LGBTQ في جامعة بنسلفانيا وحصل على جائزة GLAAD Media وجائزة Stonewall Foundation Visionary Award.
ألوك فايد مينون
كاوماكيوا كاناكا أولي
تعلمت كاوماكيوا كاناكا أولي، وهي موسيقية هاوايية شهيرة، وراقصة هولا، وممارسة ثقافية، منذ صغرها، تحت إشراف والدتها، كيكوهي كاناهيلي، وجدتها الراحلة إديث كاناكا أولي. تُبدع كاوماكيوا بعضًا من أروع الأعمال الموسيقية الهاوائية المعاصرة، مستمدةً من ذاكرة الأجداد، وممارسة الهولا، والأناشيد اللحنية. تمزج كاوماكيوا بسلاسة بين الثقافة الهاوائية والحساسيات الحديثة في موسيقى آسرة.
بالإضافة إلى عملها في الموسيقى والرقص، كاوماكيوا هي أيضًا ناشطة ثقافية ومناصرة للحفاظ على الثقافة الهاوائية. عملت على تعزيز اللغة الهاوائية والممارسات التقليدية، وشاركت في جهود حماية أراضي هاواي ومواردها الطبيعية.
قال كاوماكيوا: "لطالما كان مجتمع المتحولين جنسيًا موجودًا [في هاواي]. والجنس الثالث ليس موضوعًا نادرًا في معظم الثقافات الأصلية وثقافات السكان الأصليين. وبولينيزيا ليست استثناءً، وخاصةً في هاواي. فقد تبنى السكان الأصليون القدماء جميع جوانب ووسائط الجندر، مع سعيهم في الوقت نفسه إلى الموازنة بين الاستعمار والقمع الديني الغربي".
كاوماكيوا كاناكا أولي
روز بامبرجر
في عام 1965، اجتمعت ثماني نساء سرًا لتشكيل بنات بيليتيسهدفت هذه المجموعة إلى توفير الدعم والدعوة والتواصل مع المثليات في وقتٍ كانت فيه المثلية الجنسية موصومة بشدة ومُحرّمة قانونًا في أجزاء كثيرة من الولايات المتحدة. نظّمت المنظمة فعاليات اجتماعية، ونشرت مجلة شهرية بعنوان "السلم"، وشاركت في أنشطةٍ لتعزيز حقوق المثليات ومكانتهن.
حرصًا منها على توفير مساحة آمنة للرقص والتعرف على أشخاص جدد، استضافت الفلبينية روز بامبرغر وزوجتها روزماري سليبن اجتماعًا أصبح رسميًا "بنات بيليتيس". لعبت بامبرغر دورًا محوريًا في جمع نخبة من النساء، من بينهن ديل مارتن وفيليس ليون، اللتان عُرفتا لاحقًا بالمؤسستين. ورغم أنها لم تكن عضوًا لفترة طويلة، إلا أن مساهمتها في المنظمة لا تزال تُقدّر إلى الأبد.
كانت لدى بامبرغر مخاوف مشروعة بشأن حماية نفسها نظرًا للعواقب المحتملة التي قد تنجم عن معرفة الجمهور بتوجهها الجنسي. شهدت بامبرغر تغييرات متكررة في وظائفها خلال خمسينيات القرن الماضي، حيث عملت كمشغلة آلات، أو صانعة فُرش، أو عاملة في مصنع، مما اضطرها إلى تغيير مكان إقامتها خمس مرات على الأقل. ومثل العديد من النساء في عصرها، خشيت بامبرغر عواقب الإفصاح عن ميولها الجنسية، وتعهدت بتوفير مساحة آمنة للنساء على حد سواء. كانت روز بامبرغر من مؤسسي جمعية "بنات بيليتيس"، إلا أنها لم تبق في المجموعة طويلًا. وهي واحدة من العديد من النساء ذوات البشرة الملونة المنخرطات في حركة حقوق مجتمع الميم، ولكن تم تجاهلها أو محو اسمها من هذا التاريخ.
الفصلريستوفار لي
كريستوفر لي ناشط أمريكي في مجال حقوق مجتمع الميم وفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية/الإيدز. اشتهر بعمله في المناصرة والتثقيف وتنظيم المجتمع فيما يتعلق بحقوق مجتمع الميم، والتوعية بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية/الإيدز، وقضايا العدالة الاجتماعية. كان كريس لي مدافعًا صريحًا عن حقوق مجتمع الميم في مجتمعات الملونين.
كان لكريستوفر لي دور فعال في تمرير "قانون الاحترام بعد الموت"، المعروف أيضًا باسم AB 1577، في كاليفورنيا عام 2014. ينص قانون الاحترام بعد الوفاة على أن تعكس شهادات الوفاة بدقة الهوية الجنسية للشخص إذا كانت مختلفة عن الجنس المُدرج أصلًا في شهادة الميلاد. يُسهم إقرار هذا القانون في ضمان احترام كرامة وهوية الأشخاص المتحولين جنسيًا وغير المطابقين لهويتهم الجنسية بعد وفاتهم. كان كريستوفر لي من أبرز المدافعين عن هذا التشريع، وعمل مع مُشرّعي ولاية كاليفورنيا للمساعدة في إقراره.
كريستوفر لي
تاك ياماموتو
بصفته المؤسس المشارك لـ Asian Pacific Lesbian & Gays، أول منظمة رسمية تم إنشاؤها لتلبية الاحتياجات المحددة للأمريكيين الآسيويين المثليين وسكان جزر المحيط الهادئ في الولايات المتحدة، كان تاكينوري "تاك" ياماموتو شخصية مهمة في تاريخ LGBTQ+.
نشأ ياماموتو في عائلة كبيرة، وكان من بين 120 ألف أمريكي من أصل ياباني تم إبعادهم قسراً من الساحل الغربي بسبب توقيع الرئيس فرانكلين د. روزفلت على قانون الهجرة الجديد. الأمر التنفيذي رقم 9066 في 19 فبراير 1942، أُرسلت عائلة ياماموتو إلى بوستون، أريزونا، أحد معسكرات الاعتقال الأمريكية العشرة التي سُجن فيها الأمريكيون اليابانيون خلال الحرب العالمية الثانية. قضت عائلته ثلاث سنوات في صحراء أريزونا خلف الأسلاك الشائكة. بعد الحرب، غادر ياماموتو بوستون وعاد إلى لوس أنجلوس. بعد إتمامه دراسته الثانوية، انضم إلى جيش الولايات المتحدة وخدم في ألمانيا.
كان أول رئيس مثلي الجنس بشكل علني في أي فرع من فروع رابطة المواطنين الأمريكيين اليابانيين (JACL)، وهي منظمة وطنية تُعنى بتعزيز وحفظ التراث الأمريكي الياباني وحقوقه المدنية. كان انتخابه لهذا المنصب في فرع سياتل للـ JACL عام ١٩٨٥ إنجازًا هامًا في مسيرة تمثيل مجتمع الميم في المجتمع الأمريكي الياباني.
تاك ياماموتو
أماو ليوتا لو
وُلدت أماو ليوتا لو عام ١٩٧١ في أوكلاند، نيوزيلندا. ثم هاجرت مع بعض أفراد عائلتها الساموية في الشتات إلى سيدني في ثمانينيات القرن الماضي. ومن خلال رحلاتها في أوائل العشرينيات من عمرها، تقبّلت هويتها الجندرية كامرأة و"فافافين". للفافافين دورٌ جنساني ثالث أو غير ثنائي في ساموا، وساموا الأمريكية، والشتات الساموي. تستخدم عروضها الفنية للدفاع عن هوية الفافافين، لا سيما في مجتمع الميم الغربي. تجمع هذه العروض بين مفاهيم الهوية الجندرية وثقافة المحيط الهادئ.
في أول حدث مثلي من منطقة المحيط الهادئ في مهرجان ميدسوما في ملبورن، قدمت قطعة بعنوان "جوهر المحيط الهادئ: حكايات مزرعة المهاجرين"، والتي تم عرضها في متحف الهجرة.
تُعدّ عروضها جزءًا من "ظاهرة عبادة" حيث تتداخل وجهات النظر المثلية مع "صناعة المعرفة الأصلية". كما تُعبّر ليوتا لو بصراحة عن قلقها بشأن التمييز الذي لا يزال يواجهه أفراد مجتمعات جزر المحيط الهادئ المتنوعة جنسيًا. وشملت المهن السابقة التي شغلتها عاملات دعم مجتمعي.
أماو ليوتا لو
ترونغ لي نجوين
ترونغ لي نجوين، المعروف أيضًا باسم @Trungles، هو روائي مصور ورسام توضيحي.
وُلد ترونغ في مخيم للاجئين بمقاطعة بالاوان الفلبينية، ونشأ في مينيسوتا. بدأ رسم القصص المصورة في المدرسة الإعدادية، لكنه توقف عن ذلك في الجامعة. في عام ٢٠١٢، حصل على درجة البكالوريوس في فنون الاستوديو مع تخصص فرعي في تاريخ الفن من جامعة هاملين.
يتميز عمل ترونغ باستخدامه أساليب الحبر والرسم التقليدية، بالإضافة إلى إشاراته إلى الصور الفيتنامية ومانجا الشوجو وأدب الأطفال الشهير. ويذكر هاري كلارك وهاينريش ليفلر وروز أونيل كأثرياء. صدرت رواية "السمكة السحرية"، أول رواية مصورة أصلية لترونغ، في 13 أكتوبر/تشرين الأول 2020، عن دار نشر راندوم هاوس جرافيك، التابعة لدار بنغوين راندوم هاوس.
حصل ترونغ على جائزتي هارفي، وجائزة روميكس (إيطاليا)، وجائزة من أنغوليم (فرنسا)، وترشيح لجائزة GLAAD، وترشيح لجائزة آيزنر.
There is no principled reason to exclude transgender people from our federal civil rights laws
Kesha Williams experienced brutal treatment in a Virginia men’s prison facility. In a landmark ruling, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agrees that Kesha can pursue a claim for her mistreatment under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a hugely significant ruling affirming that transgender people who experience gender dysphoria may pursue claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The full Fourth Circuit bench then reaffirmed that ruling in October by denying the Virginia Department of Correction’s request to rehear the case.
“The Fourth Circuit ruling in Williams is incredibly important,” says GLAD Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi. “There is no principled reason to exclude transgender people from our federal civil rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
The ADA is a powerful federal civil rights law. It provides crucial protections against discrimination and requirements for reasonable accommodations in the workplace, public accommodations, and public institutions, including hospitals and prisons. While multiple district courts have previously found that transgender people cannot be excluded from the protections of the ADA, this was the first such ruling from a U.S. Court of Appeals.
The Fourth Circuit ruling came in a case brought by Kesha Williams, a Black transgender woman who was incarcerated in a men’s detention facility, denied access to medical treatment for her gender dysphoria, and faced persistent harassment by other inmates and prison deputies.
Speaking about the physical and mental abuse she experienced while incarcerated, Kesha Williams told the Washington Post in May, “I have to fight for the next girl, every other girl who has to go through this.” She hopes her lawsuit and the Fourth Circuit’s ruling will compel those responsible for operating jails and prisons to change their systems and practices to treat transgender women with less brutality. “They have to understand we’re in a different time,” she told the Post.
GLAD has been instrumental in developing the legal arguments to ensure the ADA is correctly interpreted to provide protections for transgender people and consulted with attorneys representing Williams in her case.
As GLAD also argued in a friend-of-the-court brief submitted in support of Williams, the ADA requires public institutions—including prisons—to provide equal access and to make reasonable accommodations when entrenched policies and practices discriminate against a person because of their gender dysphoria.
The ADA is intended to address the fact that people with stigmatized health conditions experience bias and discrimination and live in a world that is not accommodating. Yet bias, misunderstanding of gender dysphoria as a health condition, and outdated language in the statute have resulted in the misconception that transgender people — including those who have, have had, or are perceived to have gender dysphoria – are not covered by the ADA.
That interpretation is and always has been incorrect and unconstitutional.
“The Appeals Court ruling in Kesha Williams’ case will go a long way toward removing social and cultural barriers that keep people with treatable, but misunderstood, medical conditions from being able to thrive,” says Levi. “It would turn disability law upside down to exclude someone from its protection because of having a stigmatized medical condition.”
GLAD previously provided briefing and consultation in a Pennsylvania case, Blatt v. Cabela’s, leading to the first federal district court ruling in 2017 that transgender people are not categorically barred from seeking relief from discrimination under the ADA. In 2018 GLAD secured a landmark order from a Massachusetts federal district court allowing our client Angelina Resto, a transgender woman who faced brutal treatment while incarcerated in a men’s prison, to proceed with a discrimination claim under the ADA, leading to her transfer to a women’s facility. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals cited this GLAD case, Doe v. MA Department of Correction, in the Williams ruling.
Our friend-of-the-court brief in Williams was co-authored by National Center for Lesbian Rights and joined by the American Civil Liberties Union, Black and Pink Massachusetts, Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, National LGBTQ Task Force, Trans People of Color Coalition, Transcending Barriers, Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, Disability Law Center of Virginia, and Disability Rights Vermont.
Florida families challenging the state’s ban on medically necessary healthcare for their transgender children filed a motion today asking the court to halt the ban while their case proceeds. Parents told the federal district court in their motion for a preliminary injunction that the ban, which went into effect late last month, is causing their children significant harm through canceled doctors appointments and denials of treatment.
“No parent should be forced to sit by, powerless, while they watch their child experience unnecessary trauma and distress. This ban strips my husband and me of the right to care for our daughter and puts us in exactly that position,” said Jane Doe, who is challenging the ban on behalf of herself and her daughter, Susan. “Our team of doctors has confirmed that Susan will need to start puberty-blocking medication very soon as the next step in treating her gender dysphoria, but the Boards of Medicine rules prohibit them or any physician in the state from providing the treatment she needs. Thanks to the care she has received to date, Susan is a happy, confident child. She’s a girl scout, a straight-A student, and has a great group of friends. It breaks my heart to know this ban could take that away. I hope the court will understand that and allow me to get my daughter the medical care she needs to keep her healthy and thriving.”
“All I want as a parent is to make sure my son is as healthy and happy as he can be. I can’t understand why the state would interfere with that by making it impossible for me to get him the medical care he needs,” said Gloria Goe, who is challenging the ban on behalf of herself and her son Gavin.* “Gavin has known he is a boy from a young age. While it took us time to understand what that meant, consulting with our trusted pediatrician helped us to be able to support him. That was absolutely the right path as we’ve watched Gavin grow into a bright, social, and happy child. Our pediatrician has now recommended that Gavin meet with a pediatric endocrinologist to evaluate next steps, but the appointment I made for him was canceled and this ban keeps anyone in the state from ensuring he gets all the medical care he needs. The state’s policy banning the care my son needs has taken away my right to make the best, most informed decision for him and his health.”
“As a parent, it’s my job to protect my daughter from harm and make sure she has everything she needs to live a healthy life. But I feel powerless in the face of this ban, which has taken away my ability to get her the healthcare she needs,” said Linda Loe, who is challenging the ban on behalf of herself and her daughter Lisa.* “Our pediatric endocrinologist confirmed in March that Lisa needs to start puberty-blocking medication to maintain her health, but the clinic has told us they can’t provide it because of the state’s ban. Lisa was such a happy-go-lucky kid, but I have seen the devastating toll her gender dysphoria has taken on her health and know that she desperately needs to begin treatment. I feel as if we are racing against the clock to find a way to get her the care she needs.”
In addition to the motion for a preliminary injunction, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint today adding three additional families to the lawsuit. The seven parents challenging the ban on behalf of themselves and their children argue that the policy unlawfully strips them of the right to make informed decisions about their children’s medical treatment and violates the equal protection rights of transgender youth by denying them medically necessary, doctor-recommended healthcare.
The plaintiffs are represented by Southern Legal Counsel, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the Human Rights Campaign.
Florida’s ban on established medical care for transgender youth came through rules finalized by the state’s Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine that have faced widespread scrutiny for ignoring established medical and scientific consensus on treatment for adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The bans contradict guidelines recommended by every major medical association including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Similar bans on established medical care for transgender youth have been blocked by federal judges in Alabama and Arkansas.
“These bans are already having devastating impacts on Florida families,” said Simone Chriss, Director of Transgender Rights Initiative, Southern Legal Counsel. “Transgender adolescents are being denied access to critical medical care, and parents are being forced to sit by and watch their children suffer preventable harm. The Florida Medical Boards and Surgeon General have not only failed to fulfill their own duty to protect the health and wellbeing of transgender youth in this state, but they have also blocked the parents of those youth from exercising their fundamental right to do so.”
“Florida parents are now in the unthinkable position of not being able to provide essential healthcare for their kids,” said Jennifer Levi, Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders. “Because of this ban which ignores decades of clinical research, parents of transgender adolescents have been stripped of their right to make informed decisions about their kids’ medical care.”
“Florida has crossed a dangerous line by letting this ban go into effect,” said Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Parents, not the government, should be in charge of directing their children’s healthcare. The state of Florida is interfering with family privacy and decision-making and children and parents are suffering because of it.”
“Every day this ban is in place is hurting transgender kids and their families,” Sarah Warbelow, Human Rights Campaign Legal Director. “Like any parent, parents of transgender children want to do what’s best for their kids, but Florida has taken that right away from them. Instead, the state is targeting families with a cruel and unscientific policy that is putting transgender kids’ health at risk.”
This morning the U.S. House passed H.R. 734, which would amend Title IX to mandate the exclusion of transgender students from school sports. A pending rule issued by the Department of Education earlier this month clarifies that Title IX requires inclusion of transgender students on school sports teams while allowing for reasonable requirements at elite levels of competition, making H.R. 734 unnecessary and harmful.
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi issued the following statement:
“Today’s vote on H.R. 734 is a malicious attack on transgender student athletes and sends a harmful message of exclusion and intolerance to all students. A majority of the House of Representatives voted to write discrimination into a law meant to ensure equal opportunity in education. Transgender students want to play sports for the same reasons all kids do – to compete, have fun, be part of a team and build confidence, leadership, and healthy self-esteem. As the Department of Education’s pending rule makes clear, Title IX already includes what we need in law to ensure inclusion and fairness for all student athletes. H.R. 734 undermines that effort. We urge the Senate to stop this unnecessary and unprincipled measure in its tracks.”
Let Kids Play: Tell Congress Not to Ban Transgender Students from School Sports
Transgender kids, like other students, deserve the same chances to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and self-discipline, and to build a sense of belonging with their peers.
HR 734 would ban transgender and intersex youth from playing on school sports teams, taking away the important social and health benefits, and the opportunities to build skills like teamwork, cooperation, and leadership we know kids get from playing sports.
The House passed the bill on April 20, 2023. We urge the Senate to stop this unnecessary and unprincipled measure in its tracks.
Tell your Senator to vote NO on this discriminatory bill.
On Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued an Emergency Rule regarding the medical treatment of transgender people. Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued the following statement.
As national legal groups who represent LGBTQ+ people and their families in every state across this country, we condemn the lawless action of Missouri’s Attorney General in purporting to bar essential medical care for both transgender adolescents and adults.
This action by Missouri’s Attorney General crosses a red line that should strike fear in the heart of every person who values individual liberty and believes that individuals, not government officials, should make health care decisions for their children and themselves.
This is a dangerous and unprecedented escalation in the assault on evidence-based health care for transgender people. Cutting off treatment for those who need it will create predictable, unnecessary, and serious harm. It is also a blatant attempt to strip transgender people of equal protection under the law and to subject them to intrusive government surveillance and control.
We wish to make unequivocally clear that we will challenge this and any similar attempt to interfere with the fundamental freedom of transgender people to obtain medically necessary care and to be treated as equal, respected, and participating members of our democracy.
Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri are prepared to fight back in court and have announced their intention to take legal action against this order.
At this critical moment for our nation, we call on all freedom-loving people to join us in condemning this dangerous abuse of government power and to affirm that every person in this country is of equal value and worth and has an equal right to freedom from governmental coercion and tyranny. Transgender people are part of our communities, and we will not tolerate this or any other attempt to deny them the freedom to control their own lives and make decisions about their own medical care.
أثارت قرارات المحكمة العليا الأخيرة تساؤلاتٍ ملحة حول مجتمع الميم والمصابين بفيروس نقص المناعة البشرية. خط المساعدة القانونية لدينا، GLAD Law Answers، قادر على مساعدتك. تواصل معنا اليوم.
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