LGBTQ rights

Challenge to Florida drag shows law won’t go to trial until spring 2024

By Associated Press

For the time being, the law has been put on hold since a federal judge last month issued a temporary injunction preventing it from being enforced until the trial. The state of Florida has appealed that decision.

The upper house of Russian parliament approves a ban on gender changes

By Associated Press

The bill, which already was approved in the lower house, bans any "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person. The only exception is medical intervention to treat congenital anomalies.

Louisiana lawmakers overturn governor’s veto on gender-affirming care ban for minors

By Sara Cline, Associated Press

Louisiana's Republican-dominated Legislature overturned Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' recent veto of a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors on Tuesday.

Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming care takes effect as federal judge lifts injunction

By Bruce Schreiner, Dylan Lovan, Associated Press

The latest ruling means the Kentucky prohibition takes effect. It prevents transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

Disney asks Florida judge to toss out lawsuit from DeSantis appointees

By Mike Schneider, Associated Press

Disney and DeSantis have been engaged in a yearlong feud that the governor has touted during his run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, often accusing the entertainment giant as being too "woke."…

Kansas lawmakers botched the drafting of a new anti-transgender law, agency attorney says

By John Hanna, Associated Press

Department of Revenue attorney Ted Smith said in a state-court filing that became public Tuesday that an anti-transgender rights law that took effect July 1 conflicts with another law governing what appears on driver's licenses.

Kansas must stop allowing trans people to change their driver’s licenses, judge says

By John Hanna, Associated Press

The judge's action is significant because Kansas has allowed transgender people to change their driver's licenses for four years.

New state laws force families with trans kids to seek gender-affirming care elsewhere

By Arleigh Rodgers, Michael Goldberg, Associated Press

For more than a decade prior, such treatments were available to children and teens across the U.S. and have been endorsed by major medical associations.

Transgender woman, bookstore, teacher sue over Montana law banning drag reading events

By Amy Beth Hanson, Associated Press

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Butte argues the law violates the free speech and equal protection guarantees in the U.S. Constitution.

United Methodists lose one-fifth of U.S. churches in schism over LGBTQ rights

By Peter Smith, Associated Press

Church law forbids the marriage or ordination of "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals." But many conservatives chose to leave because numerous U.S. churches and conferences are defying those bans.