Important Message for PFLAG Members and Supporters

On September 25, 2025, the president issued National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7)—accompanied by a Fact Sheet—directing a national strategy to counter domestic terrorism and political violence, and authorizing federal agencies to investigate, prosecute, and financially scrutinize individuals and organizations allegedly involved in political violence, including through tax-exempt status reviews and criminal enforcement.

The memo, which recently gained attention again after it was publicly posted, uses vague, sweeping language to define such acts, including "extremism on migration, race, and gender" and opposition to "traditional American views on family, religion, and morality." 

We understand why this has intensified fears about continuing PFLAG's work while protecting yourselves and your families.

Our trusted legal organizations have made it clear that, despite the alarming rhetoric, NSPM-7 does not create any new laws, crimes, or legal powers. Labels like "domestic terrorism organization" are designed to intimidate but carry no legal force. Your right to organize, advocate, and create support structures and spaces of belonging is constitutionally protected; beliefs and lawful actions cannot be criminalized simply because the government disapproves of them.

We will continue monitoring developments and will communicate any meaningful changes—including any updates from legal experts—promptly. Thank you for your courage and your continued dedication to your communities; they need you—and so do we.

Fighting For Our Pride

2026 Session Wrap Up

Join PFLAG National’s Advocacy Team on May 20th at 8:30 Eastern for our 2026 Legislative Session Wrap Up! Hear from our team as we review what passed, what didn’t pass, and the amazing work our PFLAG advocates did to fight for our Pride at statehouses around the country. The session will include a brief presentation, Q&A, and next steps you can take as this legislative season comes to an end. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend; whether you’re an expert advocate or just getting started in your advocacy journey, all can benefit from this webinar. We hope to see you on May 20th! Register today.

Take Action

Contact Congress
Tell your U.S. Representatives to vote NO on the “Don’t Say Trans” bill! The House could vote on H.R. 2616 — another bill attacking trans youth — within the next few weeks. If passed, it would strip federal funds from schools that acknowledge transgender people exist, whether it’s in coursework, a library resource, or even for using a student’s correct name and pronouns in the classroom. H.R. 2616 would effectively ban any books and other classroom materials that reflect the real lives and experiences of transgender and nonbinary students – as well as imposing forced outing policies on school districts around the country. 

Your member of Congress needs to hear from you NOW. Contact your Representative today and tell them to OPPOSE H.R. 2616 and get to work ensuring ALL students can get a quality public education!

Submit a comment to the FCC
Please join us and our partners in opposing an action from the FCC by signing on to our comment today! The FCC issued a notice suggesting that the TV ratings system should change to require higher ratings for children’s content featuring depictions of transgender and non-binary people. These proposed changes would send a dangerous message that the stories of our trans and nonbinary youth are too inappropriate or harmful to be shown on television, and would prevent supportive parents from being able to show their children that other people like them exist and can thrive. Far too many transgender and non-binary youth are already feeling excluded as they see their lawmakers and the media spread anti-trans rhetoric, and they deserve to see affirming depictions of lives like theirs in the programs they watch. Sign on today!

New Hampshireites
Tell Gov. Ayotte to VETO anti trans bathroom bans! The state legislature is on track to pass SIX anti-trans facilities bans. These bills would allow both public and private entities to force transgender people to use the bathroom and other sex-separated facilities based on their sex assigned at birth, rather than their gender. We cannot allow any of these bills to become law. Reach out now and tell Governor Ayotte to VETO them when they reach her desk! 

South Carolinians 
Tell Gov. McMaster to VETO H. 4756. Last week, the legislature passed H. 4756, an anti-trans facilities ban. It now awaits Governor McMaster’s signature. We need you to contact the Governor NOW and tell him to VETO this awful bill!

PFLAG in Action

PFLAG Fresno shows up to oppose Pride ban in public libraries. The chapter attended the Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 12th to oppose a proposed Pride ban in public libraries. Chapter board member Madison Nield told supervisors, "Libraries don't indoctrinate, they illuminate.” Unfortunately, the Board voted 3-2 to ban public libraries from recognizing or celebrating Pride month.

State News

Here is a sample of what’s going on around the country. You can share news from your state with [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.

Banning of nonfiction book titles more than doubles. According to a report from PEN America, nonfiction books accounted for 29%  of all book removals in school libraries in the 2024-2025 school year, representing 1,102 of the 3,743 unique titles removed from library shelves in that period. In the previous school year, nonfiction titles represented only 14% of all removed books. 

Maryland - Transgender woman excluded from fencing competition at the University of Maryland. Dinah Yukich was banned from competing at the Cherry Blossom Open, a fencing competition held at the University of Maryland and sanctioned by USA Fencing, because she is transgender. Yukich has filed a complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, arguing her exclusion from the competition violated Maryland’s anti-discrimination law.

New Jersey - State Senate advances “shield” law. The state Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee voted 5-2 on May 11th to advance a bill that would enact protections for patients and providers who access or provide legally protected health care activities, specifically, gender-affirming care and reproductive health care.

Wisconsin - Watertown School Board votes to prohibit high school band from playing song about LGBTQ+ history at spring concert. On May 12th, the school board voted 7-1 to remove “A Mother of A Revolution!” from the Watertown High School band’s May 18th concert program. Omar Thomas composed the instrumental piece in 2019 and dedicated the work to Marsha P. Johnson. 

Wyoming - Attorney General files brief defending gender marker change ban. A transgender woman is challenging a state law that bans people from updating the gender marker on their birth certificates. Attorney General Keith Kautz filed a brief in the lawsuit defending the law, arguing the law protects the accuracy and integrity of vital records. The plaintiff challenging the law contends that the law prevents transgender people from obtaining proof of identity needed for many facets of modern life without exposing themselves to harassment, discrimination, and even violence.

Federal News

NYU ​Langone Health receives federal grand jury subpoena from Justice Department seeking information about gender-affirming care. The hospital publicly announced that it was one of several institutions that received a subpoena to provide information about patients who received gender-affirming care as minors between 2020 and 2026. 

Federal District Judge blocks Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from demanding documents from medical groups related to gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary youth. On May 7th, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocked the FTC from ​demanding documents including internal communications and financial ​records from the Endocrine Society and World ⁠Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The FTC sought these documents as part of their investigation into gender-affirming care, but Judge Boasberg ruled that the FTC’s investigation was likely part of a retaliatory campaign to silence WPATH and other medical groups. 

Federal Appeals Court hears case concerning Colorado school district’s policy regarding overnight accommodations on school trips. On May 12th, the 10th Circuit Court heard oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by Colorado parents, backed by Alliance Defending Freedom, challenging Jefferson County Public Schools’ policy allowing transgender students to be placed in overnight accommodations based on their gender identity. The school district defended the policy, arguing that what the plaintiffs are seeking would force schools to single out transgender students and make them vulnerable to potential bullying and harassment. 

Justice Department (DOJ) seeks to intervene in E. Jean Carroll defamation case. The DOJ will request the Supreme Court to allow the U.S. to replace the President with the U.S. as the defendant in the defamation lawsuit. The move would require dismissal of the case because the federal government can’t be sued for defamation. A federal appeals court previously denied the DOJ’s effort to insert the U.S. as the defendant in the suit. 

FDA blocked release of studies showing COVID and shingles vaccines are safe. Scientists conducted the studies by analyzing millions of patient records and found that serious side-effects from the vaccines were rare. 

Senators send letter to DOJ urging change to federal prison housing policy. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) sent a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and to Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall III, urging them to reverse a policy directing federal prisons to house transgender inmates according to their sex assigned at birth, rather than by gender identity. The Senators argued in their letter that the policy endangered the health and safety of transgender people in federal custody and was rooted in political rhetoric rather than in medical research or evidence-based correctional practices. PFLAG National endorsed the Senators’ letter.

Global News

Canada - McGill University’s student health clinic refusing to provide hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to transgender American students. The Montreal Trans Patient Union (TPU), a Montreal-based advocacy group for trans health care, reported that American citizens under 19 are being denied HRT because doctors at McGill University are concerned about retaliation by the Trump Administration. 

Poland - Government announces it will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other European Union (EU) countries. Prime Minister Donald Tusk apologized to same-sex couples for the “years of rejection and humiliation” they suffered because Poland did not recognize their marriages.