The Resistance Brief: What’s in store for 2026? 

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

This past year has made one thing clear: progress for LGBTQ+ people is not a straight line – it is hard-won and must be actively protected. 

Even amid challenges, our community’s response has been powerful. Our collective courage to defend dignity continues to grow, nurturing hope that the future can bend toward safety, inclusion, and joy. 

Building on that courage, the momentum we’ve gained this year will need to evolve into sustained effort. Those seeking to roll back civil rights are using a multi-front approach including laws, policies, ballot measures, misusing government authority, and misinformation campaigns. But knowing the landscape and preparing for it strengthens our ability to resist and protect what we’ve gained. 

Some of the anti-LGBTQ+ policies – first outlined in Project 2025 and elsewhere – have already moved from proposal to reality. Many others have not yet been acted upon, giving us a clear sense of what 2026 may bring. 

Next year, we anticipate the Trump administration will continue its attack on healthcare for transgender people, including using funding threats through Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA marketplace plans.  

While we know that religious liberty and LGBTQ+ rights coexist, we could see increased attempts to use religious exemptions to justify denying protections and services to LGBTQ+ people in the workplace, hospitals, schools, and social services. At the same time, there will likely be continued attempts to roll back LGBTQ-inclusive civil-rights enforcement across federal agencies, attacking important complaint systems that were designed to protect workers, students, patients, and tenants. 

The threats extend beyond Project 2025. Attacks on family-building healthcare are intensifying, including attempts to restrict fertility treatments as well as family building through surrogacy.  

There’s also the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ ballot initiatives. This wave of referenda and constitutional amendments is reminiscent of the strategies used to target marriage equality two decades ago. Then, anti-marriage-equality forces turned to state ballot measures to lock in discriminatory policies. Today, many of the same organizations behind anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and litigation are coordinating ballot campaigns, testing messaging, and using tools at their disposal to try to reshape civil rights protections state by state.  

GLAD Law’s response to these challenges is strategic and robust. Early-warning systems, research, and deep coalition partnerships allow us to respond quickly to emerging threats. In 2026, our strategy remains anchored at the intersection of litigation, policy, strategic storytelling, and community building. We will use every aspect of law to protect our communities, secure victories wherever possible, and sustain long-term resilience. Our focus is not only on resisting attacks, but on building a better future. 

Litigation will continue to be a cornerstone of our efforts. We are prepared to challenge harmful state and federal actions that target healthcare access, civil rights protections, school inclusion, and family rights.  

Protecting LGBTQ+ youth remains a priority. Young people are facing unprecedented scrutiny and hostility, and we will continue to defend their access to healthcare, school safety, and participation in sports, while countering disinformation with research and public education. GLAD Law Answers will continue to be a trusted resource for families navigating hostile systems and seeking know-your-rights resources and community support to ensure they are not alone. 

At the same time, we are working proactively to expand legal protections wherever openings exist. This includes strengthening workplace protections, expanding access to HIV prevention, and advancing laws that guarantee every child a stable, legally recognized relationship with their parents. Even in challenging political climates, there are opportunities to advance rights. 

By building power with local organizations, regional coalitions, national civil rights groups, and legal partners, we can prevent harmful policies, challenge disinformation, and protect democratic institutions.  

The stakes are high, the challenges significant, but our resolve is stronger than ever. As the new year approaches, we remain ready to protect our families, defend our rights, and advance justice. 2026 is coming – and we are ready to meet it head-on. 

What to know, what to do:

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