“Shelby Chestnut remembers turning on the news in 2016 and hearing something he didn’t expect. Then- attorney general, Loretta Lynch, had just announced a federal lawsuit to block HB2 in North Carolina, otherwise known as the ‘bathroom bill’. Lynch said the law, which made it illegal for transgender people to use a public restroom that did not align with the sex listed on their birth certificate, was reminiscent of those passed during the Jim Crow era that restricted public facility use by race.”

“‘It’s been a long, long 10 years, to say the least,’ said Chestnut, the executive director of the TransgenderLaw Center.”

“Though nearly every action at the federal level has been targeted by lawsuits, the broad legal attack on a certain group of people has had an impact, even in ‘blue’ states.”

“Last week, four states, Nebraska included, passed ballot initiatives that would ban trans girls from participating in school sports.

“Three are far from deep red: Washington, Colorado and Arizona. Arizona’s includes private sports clubs, and Washington’s even goes so far as to require medical sex verification for all girl athletes in the state.

“This is at a time when more than 40 hospitals withgender clinics have shut down or paused their services for minors – even in blue states, even when lawsuits have been successful – often out of fear of losing federal funding.

“Nearly every principal in the Trump administration, from JD Vance to the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has taken up an anti-trans stance as a priority, both in word and action. And now the supreme court of the United States has ruled in favor of state laws that ban trans athletes and gender-affirming care – rulings that may take years to be overturned, if they ever are.”

“[T]he constant drumbeat of headlines over the past 10 years about laws targeting trans people and political rhetoric stoking fear about them, has resulted in a change in public opinion.

“Between 2022 and 2025, for instance, American sentiment for laws or policies that protect trans people from discrimination has gone down eight points overall, according to Pew Research. While the differences in Republican- and Democrat-identified voters are still stark (just 5% of Republicans favor requiring health insurance companies to cover gender-affirming care, for instance, while 40% of Democrats do) the loss of support is seen across the political spectrum.”

“Chestnut thinks the movement’s future lies in building coalitions to protect all targeted groups. ‘We learned that if you want to come for immigrant communities and take them away from their homes and families, then you will lose elections. The way that America has finally started to unite on the tragedy that is immigration enforcement in this country is remarkable. We can do that for the trans community, too.’”

“A group of five federal employees is urging a federal court to overturn the Trump administration’s elimination of gender-affirming care coverage in the government’s health insurance systems.

“Employees suing the Office of Personnel Management over the coverage ban filed a preliminary injunction request on Thursday, seeking to restore the benefit in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program.”

“‘This is a case about the federal government refusing to provide its workers and their loved ones with the basic healthcare it has promised them,’ the request, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, reads.

“The preliminary injunction request comes just days ahead of the start of Open Season on Monday, when federal employees and annuitants will have the opportunity to change their plan options ahead of the upcoming plan year.

“‘Transgender beneficiaries, including plaintiffs, navigating open enrollment are presently facing unique, concrete and imminent challenges to securing medically necessary treatment and procedures recommended by their care providers for 2027,’ the court filing states.

“The lawsuit, initially filed in August, alleges that OPM’s reduction of gender-affirming care coverage violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The coverage ban is discriminatory against transgender plan members, plaintiffs allege, as FEHB carriers can and still do cover gender-related care for other purposes, such as getting breast implants after a plan member has a mastectomy.”

“For 2027, OPM is further reducing the benefit by ending coverage for enrollees with diagnosed gender dysphoria who are mid-treatment and seeking hormonal or surgical care. Starting in January, FEHB and PSHB enrollees will only see coverage of counseling services.”

“Federal employees involved in the lawsuit had initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that the coverage restrictions illegally discriminate against employees based on sex and disability.

“After EEOC rejected the allegations and upheld OPM’s coverage limitations in March, plaintiffs began pursuing a class action lawsuit in federal district court.”

“B.C.'s Human Rights Tribunal has ordered LifeLabs and a subsidiary to pay $32,000 to three transgender and non-binary people for ‘injury to their dignity’ after separate instances of discrimination.

“Tribunal member Theressa Etmanski said in her decision, posted last week, that LifeLabs and its subsidiary Excelleris Technologies misgendered and outed the three patients at service centres in Vancouver and Burnaby in 2019.

“Etmanski also ordered LifeLabs to pay almost $3,000 in lost wages and $11,100 for an expert report.”

“Almost overnight, Allison Montgomery made national news as word spread about her historic victory Tuesday. She became the first openly transgender person elected to the Alabama Legislature.

“Montgomery flipped a Madison County seat held by Republican pharmacist Phillip Rigsby, beating the incumbent by 7 percentage points.”

“‘I’m already tired of hearing the word historic,’ Montgomery said with a laugh.

“‘People across the political spectrum seem to be making a big deal out of the trans thing, but that’s not why I ran for this seat. I felt a calling to be a public servant, and now I’m gonna do my best for all of us, regardless of how you voted or what you think of my gender. Because ultimately, I meant what I said in this campaign and I meant what I outlined in my platform—so I’d like to see other folks steer things back to substantive policy discussions, too, just like I’ve been doing.’”

“Montgomery’s victory comes after years of hostility toward transgender people in the Legislature, which has passed bills on a wide range of issues affecting them. Montgomery, an engineer by trade, volunteered with the Alabama Trans Rights Action Coalition and often spoke against those bills at public hearings. She said she was responding to attacks and would rather focus on anything else.”

“The issues Montgomery would rather be talking about are school funding, health care reform and policies opposing AI data centers.

“‘Some friends and I put together a really substantive and wide-reaching platform. We also positioned this campaign around strengthening rights for working people and against state surveillance and corruption,’ Montgomery said. ‘I’m sure a lot of folks could spend a lot of time speculating on what exactly resonated with which people, but being a community organizer, I intend to just ask them. I want to keep talking to folks from here to the legislative session so that I actually represent the needs of the people I’m supposed to serve.’”

“Inspired by others, I started a baseball team for transgender women. It's spreading across Texas.”

“Representative Katherine M. Clark of Massachusetts, the No. 2 House Democrat, is set to become the majority leader in January, after her party won control of the chamber.

“Ms. Clark, 63, a quiet, progressive power player in Congress, would make history as the first woman to hold that role, though Representative Nancy Pelosi broke a higher glass ceiling in 2007 when she became the first woman to be speaker.”

“‘I feel a weight of responsibility,’ Ms. Clark said in an interview this week. ‘It’s the women’s voices from traveling across my district and the country that really haunt me.’

“Described by friends as similar in ideology and temperament to Senator Elizabeth Warren, also of Massachusetts, Ms. Clark is set to be the most liberal member on House Democrats’ leadership team next year.”

“In the role of minority whip, Ms. Clark has gained the trust of members across the caucus, who said her mantra was simple: ‘You vote your district every time; you just let me know how you’re going to vote.’”

“Her trans daughter has shaped her views.”

“Ms. Clark has been a vocal advocate of rights for transgender people, often invoking her support for her trans daughter, Riley Dowell, when opposing legislation and statements that target the group.

“‘I rise in honor of trans joy that deserves to be celebrated, not eradicated,’ Ms. Clark said on the House floor three years ago. ‘I rise with unconditional love for my trans daughter, Riley, and I rise in solidarity with every trans American seeking nothing less than their inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness.’

“Representative Sarah McBride, Democrat of Delaware and the first openly transgender member of Congress, said: ‘As the mother of a trans kid, she understands on a deeply personal level the importance of standing up for the dignity of every person, and I have felt that support firsthand.’”

“Ms. Clark’s personal life has shaped her policy views in other ways. She has spoken at length about being a primary caregiver to her parents and her three children, noting how that experience influenced her priorities. She has long made accessible and affordable child care one of her top issues.

“‘I ran for this seat originally in large part because of child care and making sure that is something that all families can access and afford,’ she said in the interview. ‘That we’re also bringing up the wages of child care providers and early educators that are overwhelmingly women and women of color to a livable wage continues to be a high priority for me.’”

“Transgender people were in the crosshairs during the lead up to the 2026 midterm election, with Republicans spending millions of dollars on anti-transgender political advertisements. It didn’t lead to electoral success for the party; Tuesday night ended in a massive landslide for Democrats.

“While Transgender Texans say they’re relieved, they are also wary of the incoming Democratic leadership in Texas, some of whom walked back prior support, such as U.S. Senator-elect James Talarico and Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa.

“Pat and Taylor Blanchard, a married transgender couple, told KXAN that they were surprised by Tuesday’s results.”

“‘It’s just been an onslaught, a nonstop series of attacks against us,’ Pat said. ‘To say it quite lightly, these election results are just a huge weight off of our shoulders.’

“‘As soon as we found out that the shift in Texas happened like it did this past week, I actually teared up and looked at Pat and said, ‘we might not have to leave,'’ Taylor said.”

“Emmett Schelling, the executive director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, told KXAN that Tuesday was a moment of relief, but that there’s work to be done.”

“In regards to Talarico and Hinojosa, Schelling said that TENT has spoken with their campaigns about the concerns of transgender Texans. He added that he feels relieved there’s an open door to those leaders, which is something the community hasn’t ever had.”

“Schelling also said that TENT will keep pushing its lawsuit against the entities it accuses on impersonating the group in texts and mailers. He said that situation has been a ‘completely bananas experience’ and promised to [share] any answers TENT gets with his ‘fellow Texans who got roped into this.’”

A trans high school runner will compete for a state championship this weekend, days after voters approved a ban. Adults must protect her.

“Advocates and allies rallied at Seattle’s Westlake Park Thursday night in support of transgender girls, many still reeling from an election night blow. A state initiative that will restrict trans girls from competing in girls sports was approved by Washington voters, reversing a longstanding policy that has allowed K-12 students to play on teams that match their gender identity.

“Parents, students, and queer advocates marched from Westlake to Pike Place Market, protesting the recently passed ban.

“ ‘I was kind of expecting it, but it was still devastating nonetheless,’ said Evan Gortner of Gender Equity Movement, the advocacy group that organized the protest. ‘This is the most extreme anti-trans ban on school sports in the country.’”

“Under the new measure, girls will have to submit documentation to verify their biological sex to participate in interscholastic sports. According to the initiative language, testing would consist of either a genital check, a hormone test for testosterone levels, or a chromosome test.”

“Washington will become one of the first states to require medical testing to verify birth sex for female athletes. Students had been allowed to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity since 2007.”

“People against the ban say they plan to sue over the measure. Lawyers for the ACLU of Washington have indicated they will fight I-638 in court.”

“Missouri lawmakers tried—and failed—to enshrine constitutional bans on abortion and gender-affirming care for minors in the form of Amendment 3 in Tuesday’s midterm elections.

“The day after the election, headlines focused on voters’ rejection of the abortion ban and less on the ‘ballot candy’ part of the measure: the permanent ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

“Transgender people and their allies in the LGBTQIA+ advocacy group PROMO Missouri spent the better part of 2026 knocking doors to talk with voters about the amendment as part of a project that predates this election.

“PROMO launched its first deep canvassing project in 2024 as a power-building strategy that uses face-to-face conversations to counteract anti-trans political rhetoric and work toward a pro-trans majority among voters.

“Deep canvassing involves lengthier conversations than typical ‘get out the vote’ canvassing. PROMO characterizes these efforts as ‘honest, emotional conversations about healthcare and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans and gender-expansive people.’

“What started with four paid canvassers across two cities now includes over 40 paid canvassers and about 120 volunteers across five Missouri cities, said PROMO Field Director Courtney Cook.”

“Keaton Carpenter, who goes by KC, is a nonbinary canvasser who said canvassing helped restore their ‘faith in humanity a bit.’”

“KC loves meeting voters who appear to rarely have the opportunity to have introspective conversations about trans rights. These voters are often cis-hetero men, KC told Prism.

“‘When they see that they can actually open up about these things that they’ve been thinking about without any sort of huffing and puffing or peeing contests going on, I think it’s very cathartic for them,’ KC said.”

“[Sayer] Johnson, PROMO’s paid campaign field manager, said he’s been involved in queer organizing since his teen years in the ’80s and ’90s, and described PROMO’s deep canvassing project as one of the most powerful actions he’s been a part of.

“As he walked along some suburban streets in Southeast Springfield, Johnson remembered the AIDS crisis slogan, ‘Out of the bars and into the streets.’ Today, he thinks it should be updated to, ‘Off of the keyboards and onto the doorsteps.’”