LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
HRC lawyer details how SCOTUS ruling impacts challenges to Trump’s anti-LGBTQ policies
CASA decision could narrow or reverse universal injunctions
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month in Trump v. CASA has broad implications for civil rights litigation, limiting the reach of a key legal tool long used to halt discriminatory policies, including in President Donald Trump’s tumultuous second term.
With a 6-3 opinion written by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court narrowed the circumstances under which federal judges may issue nationwide, or “universal,” injunctions, which can block a government policy from being enforced against anyone, not just the parties to a lawsuit.
“Thanks to this decision, we can now probably file to proceed with these numerous policies and those that have been wrongly enjoined on a nationwide basis,” President Donald Trump declared shortly after the ruling, speaking from the White House briefing room flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The White House and the president’s allies for months had accused courts of working to undermine the MAGA agenda, noting that Democratic administrations were hit with far fewer injunctions despite major losses like the 2022 order blocking former President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, which would have impacted some 40 million borrowers.
Critics, on the other hand, argued the disparity is better explained by Trump’s tendency toward lawlessness, with Article III judges acting as a check against an administration that has sought to run roughshod over vulnerable communities like immigrants or transgender Americans.
Among those who have been watching the case closely is Cynthia Weaver, senior director of litigation at the Human Rights Campaign.
In an interview following the ruling, Weaver acknowledged the legal terrain has shifted in a challenging direction but rejected any suggestion that LGBTQ rights advocates are retreating. “It really means we have to continue to do what we have always been doing,” she said, “proceeding deliberately and carefully in the type of relief we’re seeking on a case-by-case basis.”
Status of nationwide injunctions that have halted anti-LGBTQ policies
In his second term, Trump has gone after LGBTQ people on a variety of fronts. Examples include the ban on trans people serving in the military, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule allowing federally funded shelters to deny access based on gender identity, the rollback of nondiscrimination protections in health care, education, and housing, the executive order restricting the issuance of passports with gender markers other than “M” or “F,” and the sweeping policy denying Medicaid reimbursement for gender-affirming care for minors.
Until now, many of those policies have been blocked — or delayed — by federal courts issuing universal injunctions.
But in Trump v. CASA, the court ruled that Article III judges may only extend relief beyond the named plaintiffs when it is “necessary to ensure that the plaintiffs in the case are provided complete relief,” which means many of those nationwide blocks could now be narrowed or undone altogether.
“We are very well aware that various courts, including the Supreme Court, have been engaged in animated, spirited debate over the scope of this type of relief,” Weaver said. “It’s not a surprise to the attorneys. But certainly now this case has provided us with a bit more clarity in terms of what the court finds offensive.”
While the CASA decision didn’t ban universal injunctions outright, it makes them harder to justify. That means the Justice Department is expected to file motions in the coming weeks asking judges to narrow existing injunctions to apply only to the plaintiffs named in each case.
“Courts need to be asked to do something,” Weaver said. “So attorneys have to file motions to the courts to seek relief and offer various arguments in that regard.” In practice, this means that where a lower court previously blocked a rule from taking effect nationwide, the DOJ will now argue that the relief should be limited to the specific individuals or organizations who sued.
Weaver explained, “So, for example, if there is a case, let’s say, challenging an executive order, and there was a preliminary universal injunction that was issued by the lower court, DOJ would have to ask the court to reconsider the scope of that relief in that case, because of the CASA decision.”
She added that since CASA was decided, some courts have independently — without a request from the DOJ —narrowed the injunctive relief they had previously granted.
Still, not all injunctions will be affected. “It doesn’t mean that every universal injunction that has been granted thus far will necessarily be” undone, Weaver said. “They will have to do a case-by-case analysis, looking at the facts, the circumstances in which the plaintiffs are moving forward with the challenged action.”
Some cases already feature diverse plaintiff pools that could soften the blow of CASA. “There are individual persons as plaintiffs, but there are also organizations that are already plaintiffs in those cases as well,” Weaver said. “Because there’s a mixed combination of varying plaintiff types, the CASA decision may have less of an impact in those cases.”
In other words, cases already structured to represent a broad class of affected people, or those supported by robust membership organizations, may still be able to achieve broad relief.
The class action tradeoff
One of the alternatives suggested by the conservative justices on the court is for plaintiffs to seek class certification, which would permit judges to grant relief on behalf of everyone in a clearly defined group.
However, the approach is considered more difficult and burdensome for litigants challenging the federal government.
“Class actions are inherently cumbersome and procedure heavy,” Weaver said. “It takes time for the district court to decide whether to certify the class,” and “the ruling on the class certification can be immediately appealed. It’s subject to interlocutory appeal. That, in itself, can slow down litigation.”
Another obstacle: Only individuals — not states — can serve as class representatives. “So the burden falls on an individual to go forward,” Weaver said, “and there’s no guarantee that the court will allow the individual to proceed anonymously or with a pseudonym.”
That’s a major concern for undocumented people as well as for LGBTQ plaintiffs, who often risk harassment, employment discrimination, or violence by adding their names to a federal court filing.
“There are circumstances under which it will be very unsafe for the plaintiff to go forward,” Weaver said. “So then in those cases, like in the CASA case, it is for the plaintiffs to make the argument to the court why they are entitled to this type of relief.”
Courts must then balance that request against due process and public interest concerns, deliberations that can take time and add to the burden facing plaintiff-litigants.
Pressure on plaintiffs and their resources
The cumulative effect of all this is an added burden on plaintiffs — and the lawyers who represent them.
“Litigation takes a long time,” Weaver said. “The plaintiffs in our cases already have to weigh the risks of serving [in that role], going through the roller coaster of the case. They already know that. It takes so much resilience and commitment and courage to put yourself out there for this.”
HRC has longstanding partnerships with law firms that donate their time, and Weaver stressed that “we are very grateful for the pro bono law firms that have worked with us over the years and are continuing to do so.” She added, “It is so important to have lawyers who can make independent decisions and be competent to provide services to people who need it.”
Weaver acknowledged that litigation is expensive. “If we’re talking about resources, resources are already strained — not only from this administration, but from the prior several years amid states’ attacks on LGBTQ rights,” she said.
At the same time, she said, “The way the movement has been nimble and learned different areas of law and strategy has been very inspiring.”
Despite the added complexity CASA introduces, Weaver expressed confidence that LGBTQ advocates and others involved in impact litigation for civil rights causes will adapt. “We still have clients with individual needs and clients who have injury to them and harm to them because of specific government actions, laws, policies,” she said. “They will not stop us from being strategic and thinking creatively around cases that could be successful and bring relief for our community.”
For Weaver, the CASA decision is a reminder that civil rights litigation doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
“This case underscores the importance of how all of the issues across different movements are still entwined with each other, specifically at this moment,” she said. “We’ve been working across movements for many years, but I think this is a moment where we should really strengthen those relationships.”
HRC and other legal organizations are now in a period of recalibration. “I just want to stress that it’s a case-by-case evaluation,” Weaver said. “Because it is so crucial what the factual record looks like; facts still do matter.”
“There are so many advocates and lawyers who have been working on these issues,” she said, “and when we’re in it together, it feels a little bit more manageable.”
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Marsha P. Johnson Institute announces new executive director
Chastity Bowick to succeed Elle Moxley
Chastity Bowick is the new incoming executive director of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
Current executive director Elle Moxley is stepping down after six years.. She founded the organization in 2019 as a national nonprofit dedicated to the protection of Black transgender people.
“Marsha lit the path, and Elle carried that fire by building an institute rooted in truth, survival, and joy. I step into this role not to replace that legacy, but to carry it forward as part of one continuous story,” Bowick said.
Bowick is a trans activist, consultant, and model. She is the former executive director of the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, a crisis agency for the state’s trans community.
The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts awarded Bowick the 2016 Belynda Dunn Award for Bowick’s leadership in providing transgender health programming at AIDS Project Worcester. She also served on the board of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition for four years.
Bowick is currently the CEO of Chastity Bowick Consulting and Talent Group, which provides services and programs meant to empower trans women of color to advocate for and with the trans community.
Moxley told the Washington Blade in 2022 that her decision to launch the Marsha P. Johnson Institute “was in response to the consistent murders that were being reported of Black trans women across the country.”
Based in Columbus, Ohio, the group offers advocacy and artistic fellowships alongside state-specific resources, including a trans bill of rights toolkit.
“The Marsha P. Johnson Institute was never mine alone; it has always belonged to the community. Marsha inspired this institute through her unapologetic fight for freedom and her human rights, and I carried that legacy forward by building an organization rooted in those same values,” Moxley said.
Bowick stated she aims to both uphold Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy and Moxley’s foundational work “as part of one continuous story.”
“To the extremists and lawmakers who legislate against our humanity: we are still here, our voices will not be silenced, and we are not going anywhere. Together, we will honor the foundation and build higher,” Bowick said.
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is partnered with a variety of companies and other groups that share similar values, ranging from H&M to Planned Parenthood, according to the organization’s website. Singer Lizzo also previously donated $50,000.
Learn more about the Marsha P. Johnson Institute at its website.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
HRC’s 2025 National Dinner champions LGBTQ equality amid right-wing attacks
The Human Rights Campaign held its annual National Dinner on Saturday, a cornerstone event aimed at raising both funds and awareness for the ongoing fight for LGBTQ equality in the United States. For the first time in more than two decades, the gala was hosted at the Washington Hilton, moving from its traditional home at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The change in venue marked not only a physical shift but a reflection of evolving priorities, including enhanced security and a more intimate guest list, according to attendees who have been coming to the gala for years.
Despite these changes, the event was sold out, with approximately 2,500 supporters filling the International Ballroom. Ticket prices ranged from $450 for general admission to $1,250 for premium seats, with full tables of 12 reaching $15,000. The gala remains HRC’s single largest annual fundraiser, drawing some of the most prominent voices and allies in the LGBTQ community.
The evening’s atmosphere was a study in contrasts. Smiles and fashionable ensembles could be seen at every turn, yet there was an undercurrent of somber reflection as conversations throughout the night frequently turned to the ongoing fight for equality, particularly in light of attempts to roll back protections like Obergefell v. Hodges and the Trump administration’s crusade to ban gender-affirming healthcare. Notably absent from discussions was the recent shooting of Charlie Kirk, despite HRC’s public pressure on the Wall Street Journal to retract its erroneous reporting linking the suspect to the transgender community.
The evening’s program, which lasted more than four hours, was led by HRC President Kelley Robinson, who has guided the organization since late 2022. Robinson, a former executive director of Planned Parenthood, delivered a stirring address that balanced acknowledgment of progress with the stark reality of continuing challenges.
“It can be really hard to dream when we are living in a nightmare,” Robinson said. “These are not ordinary times. There is nothing ordinary about ripping parents from their children, cutting billions from programs that keep people alive, or trying to erase our marriages. Love is still love.”
She continued, emphasizing the intrinsic role of LGBTQ advocacy in American history.
“This is our country. We have paid for it in marches and vigils, in court cases and funerals, in freedom songs and in blood. This is our inheritance,” she said. “This is our damn country too… Every seed we plant turns backlash into breakthrough. Every act of courage can turn despair into determination. Every dollar we raise brings us one step closer to equality. One day soon, we will be more familiar with joy than we are with grief. One day soon, we will feel as safe under the American flag as we do under the Pride flag… We’ve got to choose hope anyway. We’ve got to choose love anyway. We’ve got to choose joy anyway.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was also in attendance, delivered a rousing speech that acknowledged the ongoing marginalization of LGBTQ people, particularly transgender individuals, while celebrating the progress Maryland has made in protecting its citizens.
“Silence will never be forgotten. I am drawn to those who are unafraid, and in President Robinson, HRC has exactly that kind of leader,” Moore said.
He went on to critique policies that continue to harm LGBTQ Americans—without directly naming the Trump administration—and underscored Maryland’s steadfast protections for its LGBTQ population.
“Nobody should ever have to walk around and feel like they have to justify their humanity in Maryland—or anywhere in the United States,” he said. “We don’t get to pick the times we live in—those times pick us. The only question is, when the moment comes, do we run or do we lead? HRC was built in a moment like this—not when it was easy, but when it was hard. And that is why HRC is built to lead right now… Those who seek to destroy will fade away and be forgotten. But those who stand up for equality and justice will be everlasting.”
Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.), the first transgender person elected to Congress and a former HRC staff member, delivered the evening’s keynote. Her speech focused on the urgent need to defend transgender rights in the face of escalating attacks on gender-affirming healthcare for youth.
“It is balm for the soul to be with family tonight—with my parents, my brother and his husband, and my HRC family,” McBride said. “Two LGBTQ kids were a blessing in our home, and I stand before you as both an out transgender woman and a member of the United States House of Representatives.”
McBride highlighted the consequences of bans on gender-affirming care, citing a recent report from The Williams Institute showing that 40.1% of trans youth aged 13-17, roughly 120,400 individuals across 27 states, are affected.
“As a trans person, I am scared. I know millions like me are scared about where this could end for all of us,” she said.
Despite those fears, McBride emphasized dialogue and coalition-building as essential strategies for change.
“The lesson from both our progress and our current challenge is that when the public is with us, nothing is impossible—but without it, nothing is sustainable. We rejected the short-term comfort of preaching to our own choir and instead found the courage to grow our congregation. We welcomed imperfect allies and created room for people to grow—with space and grace.”
She concluded by urging attendees to channel their energy into positive action, including supporting organizations like HRC.
“The answer to that hate is not more hate. That love invites people in. That joy grows our ranks, and hope—infectious and inviting hope—is the only way forward.”
Artist Amy Sherald, celebrated for her evocative depictions of LGBTQ Americans, was honored with the “Ally for Equality” award. Sherald’s work, including her controversial painting “Trans Forming Liberty,” which reimagines the Statue of Liberty as a transgender woman, recently faced censorship at the Smithsonian, highlighting the ongoing challenges artists encounter when addressing LGBTQ visibility. The painting is instead being exhibited at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
“If there’s irony in a painting called Transforming Liberty being censored in America, it’s that the ideas behind it—visibility, dignity, and freedom—are louder than any wall it can hang on or be taken down from,” Sherald said. “That painting was a love letter to my trans friends and the trans community—but when it was censored, it felt like someone had tried to paint over me too. The thing about art and truth is, you can try to cover it up, but it never disappears.”
Sherald, who is straight, is known for her greyscale portraiture, which avoids traditional black-and-white representations of skin tone, instead capturing a spectrum of human experience. Her work often reinterprets classic American iconography—like “V-J Day in Times Square” or the Statue of Liberty—to reflect a diverse, queer, and inclusive vision of the nation.
“This room is the living portrait of liberty and progress,” Sherald said. “You are what freedom looks like when it transforms.”
Music also played a central role in the evening. Former American Idol contestant David Archuleta performed alongside the 10-member Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., delivering his original song “Home” before shifting into a spirited rendition of George Michael’s “Freedom.” Archuleta, who spoke candidly about stepping away from the Mormon Church despite his family’s deep ties, captivated attendees in a greyscale cutout suit without a shirt beneath, while many guests danced in the ballroom.
Non-binary singer Vincint closed the evening with two performances, including the popular “Take Me Home,” leaving the crowd energized and inspired.
The gala also featured an ambitious auction and raffle, with prizes ranging from a three-day trip to Cocoa Beach and tickets to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, to a luxury Tahiti cruise for two. A brand-new 2025 Lexus RZ was among the coveted auction items. HRC highlighted the “Worth It” initiative during the evening, aimed at helping LGBTQ individuals reach key financial goals, reinforcing the organization’s broader mission to empower the community beyond advocacy and visibility.
Throughout the dinner, videos celebrating HRC’s history underscored the enduring struggle for equality. From its founding in 1980 to its fight against the AIDS epidemic and its advocacy for marriage equality, the organization now claims a membership of 3.6 million. Clips also highlighted HRC’s recent “American Dream” initiative, designed to bridge societal gaps and ensure all Americans, including LGBTQ individuals, can access opportunities traditionally denied to marginalized communities.
Andry Romero, a gay man who was deported, was recognized as part of HRC’s continuing call to protect LGBTQ lives. Board members honored corporate sponsors and past members of the board who had passed away, highlighting the importance of inclusive workplaces and equitable treatment for LGBTQ employees.
Comedian Dana Goldberg offered a moment of levity while maintaining the night’s central theme of resilience.
“You will never erase this community. We are here to stay…we have to keep our joy. They can’t take that from us,” Goldberg said. She also reminded guests that small acts, like donating through the Lyft app’s “round-up” feature, have collectively raised millions for HRC initiatives.
As the evening drew to a close, it was clear that while the challenges facing the LGBTQ community are significant, the spirit of resistance, hope, and solidarity remain strong. The 2025 HRC National Dinner celebrated not just the progress that has been achieved, but also the courage, creativity, and resolve required to continue fighting for equality.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Funding cuts force LGBTQ organizations to curtail programs
‘Nobody takes care of us better than ourselves’
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, the LGBTQ community and its organizations have faced many setbacks, including funding cuts and program withdrawals; however, many are still fighting to move forward.
“We need to build community and galvanize together,” Phillip Alexander Downie, CEO of Live In Your Truth in Montgomery County, said. “That’s extremely important right now. Our federal government isn’t providing … the necessary protections, resources, free, warnings, and funding that’s needed.”
Downie said the abrupt halt of funding with partner organizations, like the Department of Health and Human Services, limits community members from receiving Live In Your Truth’s full services. Downie provided an example of their free on-site STI testing funded by incentives and community grants, but since the funds have decreased, the incentives no longer cover the testing.
“It’s unconscionable,” he said. “I mean, you’re cutting funds from the most underserved, your most vulnerable, your most marginalized population. You were telling the folks and community members who have the least that they should be silent and should have even less. It’s extremely disheartening.”
Renee Lau, administrative assistant for special projects coordinator for Baltimore Safe Haven, said the funding cuts have depressed many of the organization’s employees, but they all decided to keep moving forward.
“We’re going to be the advocates that we’ve always been,” Lau said. “We thought we were going to have a miserable (Baltimore) Trans Pride this year, and we ended up with three times more than we did the year before.”
Along with a new record of 15,000 people showing up to their Baltimore Trans Pride, Lau said Baltimore Safe Haven plans to have two harm reduction centers and has even received a donation of a medical RV to do their own mobile HIV testing.
“There are people stepping up to the plate, knowing that Maryland Safe Haven is the largest, not only transgender organization, but community organization,” Lau said. “It is an issue that we’re not (getting) that funding, but it is not an issue that is going to let us fear it. We stand strong.”
Cathy Renna, director of communications for the National LGBTQ Task Force, said queer and progressive organizations are facing serious economic impacts, from both administration policies and budget cuts.
“What we’ve seen is the down trend in support from entities that have sponsored us in the past (and) corporations that have funded things like Pride,” Renna said. “It’s a very serious time for us.”
Renna said the organization was able to pivot and adjust with fewer financial resources from their time and lessons learned during COVID-19; however, she said the most concerning thing since the budget cuts are the lack of resources for direct services.
“As an organization, we work on policy, we work on the ground,” she said.
Now, without their funding, Renna said the organization is not able to provide the resources they once used to, like direct services to young people in crisis or people living with HIV.
Similar to the National LGBTQ Task Force, Downie said many of Live In Your Truth’s outreach programs have been “the first to go.”
He said that while the community directly comes to them to receive their services, the services have diminished significantly, causing things like disease testing numbers to decline. With less disease tracking, Downie said it led to less public health mitigation for diseases that disproportionately affect queer communities, the Black and Brown communities, immigrant communities, and the disabled population, as well.
“It is just another step in dismantling systems for those who need protection,” Downie said. “Our freedoms are being eroded, as we all see what’s taking place right now. We have a current presidential administration that is looking to erode the rights and constitutional rights and freedoms of our community members.”
To shift today’s political climate, Renna said the National LGBTQ Task Force is pushing people to stand up to what she called an “attack on our democracy.”
“This is not just about queer folks,” Renna said. “This is about climate change. This is about immigration rights. This is about racial equity. I mean, women’s rights, reproductive rights, popular autonomy.”
She recalled the No Kings Day protests, a series of protests against Trump that took place across the country on June 14, and said that collaboration, solidarity, and understanding are what will help the LGBTQ community overcome its setbacks.
“Nobody takes care of us better than ourselves,” Renna said. “We can get through this together. We also have to not lose hope. We have to lean into finding joy, finding queer joy.”
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