LGBTQ rights

Billie Jean King on her legendary career and fight for equal pay in women’s sports

By Amna Nawaz, Anne Azzi Davenport

Today, some women’s tennis players are among the highest-paid athletes in the world. But that wasn’t always the case. Equal pay was a long battle fought by the same women playing the game, including the legendary Billie Jean King. Amna…

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Kansas officials are no longer required to change transgender people’s birth certificates, judge says

By John Hanna, Josh Funk, Associated Press

A U.S. district judge on Thursday approved a request from Republican state Attorney General Kris Kobach to block birth certificate changes because of a new state law defining male and female as the sex assigned at birth.

Canada issues travel advisory warning LGBTQ+ community about U.S. laws that may affect them

By Rob Gillies, Associated Press

The country's Global Affairs department did not specify which states, but is advising travelers to check the local laws for their destination before traveling.

A judge has blocked, for now, a Texas law drag show performers fear will shut them down

By Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press

The text expands the definition of criminal sexual conduct to include sexual gestures that use "accessories or prosthetics that exaggerate male or female sexual characteristics" and are done in front of children.

Texas high court allows law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors to take effect

By Jim Vertuno, Associated Press

A state district judge last week ruled the pending law violated the rights of transgender children and their families to seek appropriate medical care.

Texas ban on gender-affirming care for trans children blocked, Missouri ban allowed to take effect

By Summer Ballentine, Jim Vertuno, Associated Press

Friday's opposite outcomes underscore the mixed verdict in courtrooms across the U.S. this year over a historic wave of restrictions aimed at transgender youth.

In Iowa and elsewhere, bans on widely discredited ‘conversion therapy’ become a conservative target

By Hannah Fingerhut, Associated Press

One of Iowa's largest cities is the latest municipality to repeal its ban on so-called LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. That's the discredited practice of trying to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling.

Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says

By Kim Chandler, Associated Press

A trial is scheduled for April 2 on whether to permanently block the law, but the appellate decision is a boost for Alabama's efforts to keep the ban in place.

Judge blocks Georgia ban on hormone replacement therapy for transgender children

By Sudhin Thanawala, Associated Press

The law allows doctors to prescribe puberty-blocking medications, and it allows minors who are already receiving hormone therapy to continue. But it bans any new patients under 18 from starting hormone therapy.

North Carolina lawmakers override veto on bill limiting LGBTQ instruction in early grades

By Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press

The measure requires public school teachers to generally alert parents before they call a student by a different name or pronoun. It also bans instruction about gender identity and sexuality in K-4 classrooms.