Resistance Report: Federal Edition (July)

We’re back with another edition of our Federal Resistance Report! The amount of breaking news coming out of Washington, D.C. is overwhelming and exhausting by design. But remember, you’re not alone! The Equality Florida team is tracking federal policies, gathering resources, and working with our legal and national partners to assess the impacts on LGBTQ Americans and to resist.

Before we jump into updates, we wanted to make sure you saw our recent action alert about DeSantis’s threats to rainbow crosswalks across Florida. You read that correctly… the Governor is crusading against rainbows.

In conjunction with recent actions by the Trump Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation issued a sweeping memo threatening to withhold funding from cities over crosswalk and roadway painting, including rainbow crosswalks. One of the crosswalks targeted is part of the Pulse Remembrance Memorial in Orlando, honoring the 49 lives – most of them LGBTQ and Latinx – stolen in one of the deadliest acts of hate violence in U.S. history.

Call on DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation to reverse this cruel and ridiculous memo right away.

Now, let’s get into some of the federal actions we’re monitoring that impact our community and ways to join us in the fight.

Supreme Court Decisions: US v. Skrmetti

Why it matters: ACLU and Lambda Legal challenged Tennessee’s ban on health care for transgender youth. At its core, this case was about whether transgender youth in Tennessee can access the same medical care that is commonly provided to cisgender youth–and whether their families can make healthcare decisions in consultation with medical professionals without the interference of politicians.

What’s happening: In a deeply disappointing decision, the Supreme Court elevated politicians over families, and upheld Tennessee’s law banning doctors from providing essential healthcare to trans youth. The Court’s ruling defies logic, finding that Tennessee’s law does not discriminate on the basis of sex or transgender status because it prohibits all minors from accessing hormone therapies to treat gender dysphoria, even though only trans people seek medical treatment for gender dysphoria. This ruling marks a dark chapter, but it’s not the end of the story, and one thing remains clear: We will keep showing up, speaking out, and fighting for a future where every child has access to the care, support, and dignity they deserve.

What’s next: This ruling has no immediate impact on Florida law, does not require states to ban transition-related care for youth, and still leaves important legal tools in place for the fights ahead. Florida’s similar law remains under review by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. While we await a decision in that case, we will continue to fight back against discriminatory government policies and actions, and stand shoulder to shoulder with LGBTQ Floridians in condemning these attacks and taking care of each other.

The community rallies together after the Skrmetti ruling at St. Pete Pride’s Trans March.

Supreme Court Decisions: Kennedy v. Braidwood

Why it matters: This case challenged a requirement that healthcare plans cover recommended preventive services–including an HIV prevention medication–at no cost to patients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

What’s happening: In an important win for our community, the Supreme Court’s decision upheld essential protections for HIV prevention and other preventative healthcare services at no cost to patients under the Affordable Care Act. In addition, this ruling protects affordable access to a wide range of essential health services–including cancer screenings, heart disease treatments, and other preventative care measures that save lives and improve public health.

What’s next: We must remain vigilant. The Trump Administration has relentlessly attacked access to healthcare and defunded critical programs at every level of government. We will continue to fight for the rights of Floridians to receive the care they need without discrimination or financial barriers, no matter what the Trump Administration does next.

Supreme Court Decisions: Mahmoud v. Taylor

Why it matters: This case challenged whether the inclusion of LGBTQ storybooks in a public school curriculum without a notice-and-opt-out provision violates parents’ First Amendment religious freedom protections.

What’s happening: The Supreme Court’s decision–which found that not providing parents an opportunity to opt students out of public school curricula likely burdens parents’ religious freedom–could open the door for more school book bans, censorship, and exclusion of LGBTQ stories from classroom materials nationwide.

What’s next: In Florida, we’ve seen how harmful book-banning policies can be. Since 2023, more than 4,500 books have already been pulled from classroom and library shelves, leaving teachers burdened with confusing mandates and students deprived of diverse, inclusive learning opportunities. While this ruling does not have an immediate impact on Florida, we remain committed to resisting censorship and are doubling down on our efforts to ensure every student can see themselves reflected in the books they read, not erased by fear-based policies driven by anti-LGBTQ extremism.

Supreme Court Decisions: Medina v. Planned Parenthood and CASA v. Trump

What’s happening: In Medina v. Planned Parenthood, the Supreme Court ruled that patients cannot legally challenge a state’s decision to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, undermining the rights of patients to see the provider of their choice. This decision creates a pathway for other states to pass laws excluding Planned Parenthood from their state Medicaid programs, even though at least 40% of Medicaid recipients rely on Planned Parenthood for essential care.

In CASA v. Trump, the Supreme Court’s decision makes it harder for federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions, which have been used to block harmful executive branch policies from taking effect across the country. This change means that policies like Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship–which prompted this Supreme Court case–could move forward while legal battles continue. It also opens the door for other controversial policies, previously blocked by judges, to be enforced in some parts of the country, while removing a critical tool used to stop or slow Trump’s agenda.

What’s next: We will continue to monitor developments related to these decisions in Florida and across the nation, so stay tuned for updates and ways to fight back!

Trump Signs Destructive Budget Reconciliation Bill

What it does: Congress’s Budget Reconciliation bill implements Trump’s agenda to expand tax breaks for the rich and ramp up deportation efforts by taking healthcare and food assistance away from millions of Americans. The original House version of the bill included sweeping attacks on medically-necessary healthcare for transgender people of all ages, by prohibiting health insurance coverage for transition-related services under Medicaid, CHIP, and private plans offered through Affordable Care Act exchanges.

What’s happening: Thanks to massive public outcry and strategic outreach by LGBTQ champions in Congress, Senate Republicans abandoned their cruel effort and removed the dangerous provisions attacking trans people of all ages. Despite sustained opposition to a deeply unpopular bill, Congress passed the bill, which the President signed on July 4.

There’s no sugar coating it–even with the removal of its explicit attacks on trans people, the budget reconciliation bill is still one of the most dangerous pieces of federal legislation ever signed into law. It puts countless lives at risk by ripping essential healthcare and food assistance away from tens of millions of Americans, and has already forced local hospitals and health centers dependent on federal funding to shutter. Its deep cuts to Medicaid threaten hard-fought progress on ending the HIV epidemic, and are so severe that those not enrolled in Medicaid will feel the impacts. It also defunds Planned Parenthood and sneaks in a “backdoor” abortion ban that blocks coverage through private insurance. These cuts to essential programs will disproportionately harm LGBTQ Americans.

What’s next: Send a message to your members of Congress, depending on how they voted, to let them know that we’re holding them accountable.

Trump Terminates LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Why it matters: The Trump Administration threatened to cut funding for the LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Lifeline in its FY’26 budget proposal. This bipartisan, evidence-based program has provided lifesaving interventions to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ youth since 2022.

What’s happening: On June 17, the Trump Administration announced it would end specialized LGBTQ youth suicide prevention services available through the nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, effective July 17. The President’s decision to rapidly terminate this program is cruel and incomprehensible.

What’s next: The Trevor Project was one of seven organizations contracted by the federal government to staff the LGBTQ option on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. While these contracts are ending, The Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis services remain fully active and accessible, independent of 988, as do several other critical suicide prevention programs. Information on how to access continuing intervention services can be found below. Sign The Trevor Project’s petition to Congress urging them to reinstate federal funding for suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth.

US State Department Ordered to Start Issuing Gender Marker Updates on Passports

Why it matters: On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order prohibiting trans and nonbinary Americans from updating their passport gender marker. Trans and nonbinary people shouldn’t be forced to carry IDs that jeopardize their safety and wellbeing, just to go about their daily lives. In Florida, cruel policies implemented by the DeSantis Administration prohibit gender marker updates on state-issued driver’s licenses and birth certificates, making the opportunity to access an accurate and affirming ID important for many.

What’s happening: On June 17, a federal court ordered the State Department to allow trans and nonbinary people to self-select their passport gender marker, and begin issuing updated passports to applicants. Although this order took immediate effect, the Trump Administration intentionally delayed its implementation. On July 2, the State Department finally issued guidance on how those seeking to update their passport gender marker can do so, opening access to trans and nonbinary people nationwide.

What’s next: Those interested in updating their passport gender marker can do so now, but will be required to submit an “Attestation Form” along with their application to indicate they are updating their gender marker in accordance with the court’s order. Since the legal landscape surrounding access to affirming passports could still evolve, the ACLU is encouraging those interested in updating their passport to initiate the process as soon as possible. For more information, visit the ACLU’s FAQs.

With Donald Trump in the White House, attacks on LGBTQ communities are ramping up, racial division is being sown at every turn, and the dismantling of our democracy is accelerating. Things are moving fast, and we want to make sure you stay informed.

Most importantly, don’t give into fear, resist at every turn, and continue to take care of each other. This is how we fought back in Florida for the past four years, throwing sand into the gears of their hateful machinery.

Together, we’ll continue to fight back to protect our communities and defend the values we hold dear.