LGBTQ Legal Issues

Supreme Court sharply questions law banning conversion therapy

The Supreme Court sounded deeply skeptical Tuesday about a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for gay and transgender minors, suggesting the justices may scuttle the statute and similar restrictions in nearly 30 states.

Oct 7, 2025 1:28 PM CDT

Chief justice’s legacy, emergency docket, president’s power likely themes of new SCOTUS term

Three themes are likely to dominate the new U.S. Supreme Court term, which is set to begin Oct. 6, the first Monday of the month. (Despite the budgetary shutdown of the federal government, the court is expected to operate as normal on its fees and reserves—at least for now.)

Oct 2, 2025 9:53 AM CDT

LGBTQ rights lawyer faces federal indictment for testimony in ‘judge shopping’ probe

A lawyer working for an advocacy organization for the LGBTQ+ community is facing a federal indictment alleging that he made false statements while testifying in an inquiry into "judge shopping."

Sep 11, 2025 12:15 PM CDT

First Amendment likely protects student drag show at West Texas A&M, 5th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled for an LGBTQ+ student group and two of its leaders who contended that their First Amendment rights were violated when officials at West Texas A&M University canceled a charity drag performance show on campus.

Aug 21, 2025 11:04 AM CDT

Fewer will qualify for student loan forgiveness under proposed new guidelines; will sanctuary jurisdictions be disqualified?

Proposed changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program published Monday would revoke eligibility for borrowers working for nonprofit and government organizations deemed to have a “substantial illegal purpose,” a term with a broad definition.

Aug 19, 2025 12:05 PM CDT

Once-jailed county clerk asks Supreme Court to overturn right to same-sex marriage

A county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 decision finding that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right.

Aug 13, 2025 12:08 PM CDT

Transgender teacher likely to fail in First Amendment challenge to Florida pronouns law, 11th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled against a teacher who challenged a Florida law barring K-12 public school employees from communicating their preferred pronouns to students in the classroom if they don’t comport with their sex assigned at birth.

Jul 7, 2025 11:40 AM CDT

Supreme Court to review bans on trans athletes in female sports

The Supreme Court announced Thursday that it will take up a pair of cases next term dealing with the contentious issue of transgender athletes competing in school sports.

Jul 3, 2025 9:31 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court’s term was all about taking sides on the ideological divide

The court’s October 2024 term, which ended June 27, presented a number of cases that posed politically controversial issues concerning the aspects of the culture wars and challenges to the actions of President Donald Trump.

Jul 2, 2025 9:00 AM CDT

SCOTUS rules for parents with religious objections to LGBTQ storybooks in schools

Parents with religious objections to LGBTQ-inclusive storybooks in public schools are likely to succeed on their constitutional claim that the school board must give them an opt-out option, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision Friday.

Jun 27, 2025 10:29 AM CDT

Barrett belies claims of leftward drift as Supreme Court upholds ban on some medical treatments for trans minors

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Wednesday that Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Jun 18, 2025 10:04 AM CDT

Transgender lawyers are resilient, but level of fear is real, says business consultant and coach

While June is Pride Month, Dru Levasseur, a transgender attorney, thinks it’s a somber time for the trans and nonbinary community.

Jun 12, 2025 3:03 PM CDT

Straight white woman doesn’t have to present special evidence to sue under Title VII, Supreme Court rules

A straight white woman does not have to clear a higher hurdle to bring a reverse bias claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday.

Jun 5, 2025 11:22 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS takes on multiple challenges to executive orders from Trump administration

The first four months of Donald Trump’s second term as president have been unlike anything in American history with the issuance of a large number of executive orders, many of which are of dubious constitutionality and legality.

Jun 4, 2025 12:13 PM CDT

Bryanna Jenkins advocates for the Black transgender community

“I saw law school as the natural next step after my organizing and activism work,” says ABA member Bryanna Jenkins, who graduated from the DePaul University College of Law in 2019. “I wanted to figure out how I could use the law as a tool to push forward my agendas for helping the trans community and helping Black folks.”

Jun 1, 2025 12:40 AM CDT