LGBTQ rights

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.

This new Oklahoma executive order narrowly defines ‘woman’

By Adam Kemp

The order, which along with government agencies applies to schools and state institutions, stipulates definitions for certain terms, like “man,” "boy," "woman," "girl," "father" and "mother.”…

Drag artists and LGBTQ+ advocates sue to block Texas law expanding ban on sexual performances

By Jim Vertuno, Associated Press

The federal lawsuit filed in Houston by the American Civil Liberties Union argues the Texas law is unconstitutional and threatens the livelihood and free expression" of drag performers and others.

Transgender patients sue the hospital that provided their records to Tennessee’s attorney general

By Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press

The lawsuit says Vanderbilt knows state leaders are hostile towards transgender rights, but didn't try to remove their personally identifying information.