By Jenise Justice
The Current Assault on LGBTQ+ Rights
In recent months, the United States has witnessed a series of federal actions that significantly impact the LGBTQ+ community. Notably, LGBTQ+ rights in the United States are under direct attack, with the federal government systematically erasing LGBTQ+ related research and resources from government websites, defunding critical health programs, and enforcing a rigid gender binary through executive orders.
These actions align with the broader agenda of Project 2025, a policy blueprint developed by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups, which seeks to eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, strip sexual orientation and gender identity from civil rights laws, and prohibit LGBTQ+ content in federally-funded institutions.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have quietly removed have quietly removed LGBTQ+-related research and public health resources, including HIV/ AIDS prevention programs and mental health services, from their websites.
Federal research grants focused on LGBTQ+ health and issues have reportedly been defunded or placed under review, endangering critical studies that inform public policy and medical care.
The administration signed an executive order titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” mandating a strict binary definition of gender—male and female—across all federal agencies. This order rescinds previous policies that recognized gender diversity and provided protections based on gender identity.
The enforcement of this binary framework disregards the existence and rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals, leading to potential discrimination in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and employment.
These policies do not exist in isolation; they are part of a well-orchestrated ideological battle that has been decades in the making. Right now, Project 2025 and its backers depend on division. They hope that LGBTQ+ people will fight alone while other civil rights organizations focus solely on racial or economic justice.
The Danger of Division and the Power of Collaboration
History offers clear warnings about the dangers of allowing divisions among marginalized groups. Attempts to separate the fight for LGBTQ+ rights from the broader civil rights movement have often led to setbacks. In the late 1960s and ’70s, some LGBTQ+ activists distanced themselves from Black civil rights organizations, fearing that aligning too closely with racial justice movements would slow the progress of gay rights. However, this fragmentation allowed conservative forces to successfully stall LGBTQ+ protections, reinforcing the idea that marginalized communities must compete rather than unite.
The AIDS Crisis and Intersectional Advocacy
The 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic was a turning point in LGBTQ+ history, demonstrating both the power of solidarity and the dangers of neglecting broader alliances. The Reagan administration’s refusal to acknowledge AIDS for years led to thousands of preventable deaths. It was only through strategic coalitions—with Black civil rights leaders, feminist organizations, and progressive religious groups—that ACT UP and other advocates were able to pressure the government into action.
Marriage Equality and the Civil Rights Framework
The landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court ruling, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, was built on the constitutional arguments established during the Black civil rights movement. Without the legal groundwork of cases like Loving v. Virginia (1967), which struck down interracial marriage bans, the legal justification for LGBTQ+ marriage rights would have been far weaker.
These victories underscore a critical truth: sustainable progress happens when movements work together rather than operate in silos. In a world that constantly defines us by categories, we must recognize how identities intersect and shape our experiences. Forgetting this history risks repeating the mistakes of the past.
What Needs to Happen Next
To combat these regressive policies and protect LGBTQ+ rights, we must:
Rebuild coalitions. LGBTQ+ organizations must actively collaborate with Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and women’s rights groups. Civil rights victories have always come through unified resistance.
Resist division. We must reject any attempts to pit marginalized groups against one another. The same forces attacking LGBTQ+ rights are also defunding reproductive healthcare, banning books, and restricting voting rights.
Support legal and grassroots efforts. The ACLU, Lambda Legal, and other advocacy organizations are on the front lines of legal battles. Supporting their efforts financially and through activism is crucial.
Educate and mobilize. This is not just an LGBTQ+ issue—it is a human rights crisis. Spreading awareness and engaging in local, state, and federal activism is essential to stopping these attacks before they escalate further.
Vote Strategically. With elections approaching, every vote matters. Policies like Project 2025 thrive when voter suppression and disengagement allow extremist agendas to take hold.
Do not panic. There is a movement surrounding every step of injustice. We must not lose sight of victory.
In closing, I must address another issue that has been overlooked in most conversations. It is my personal call to action. We must not overlook:
The Media’s Failure and the Path to Accountability
The media has largely failed us by prioritizing sensationalism, corporate interests, and partisan agendas over truth and accountability. Instead of serving as a watchdog for democracy, too many outlets amplify misinformation, ignore systemic injustices, and neglect the voices of marginalized communities. This failure has allowed dangerous policies to go unchecked and public trust in journalism to erode.
To demand a course correction, we must hold media institutions and ourselves accountable by calling for transparent reporting, ethical journalism, and a commitment to investigative integrity. Those of us who are journalists must rise to this challenge by centering truth and resisting pressure to cater to power. The public can support these efforts by funding independent journalism, challenging disinformation, and demanding fact-based, context-driven reporting.
Jenise Justice resides on the East Coast of the U.S. She is the author of Down Low Sister On Top: Celebrating the African American Bisexual Woman and curator of Bi+ Black Women Podcast, which she will be launching in June.