This week marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing national debate over transgender rights, with resistance efforts by trans people, allies, and advocacy groups making notable headlines across the United States and beyond. Even as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign to curtail trans visibility and access to gender-affirming care, a wave of grassroots activism, legal victories, and state-level initiatives is pushing back—sometimes successfully—against policies seen by many as hostile to LGBTQ+ communities.
At the center of the latest controversy is a sweeping directive from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Trump administration. On or before September 2, 2025, HHS sent notices to 40 states and six U.S. territories, demanding that they purge all references to "gender ideology" from materials used in the federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). States and territories have been given 60 days to comply, or risk losing crucial federal funding for sexual education initiatives targeting young people aged 10 to 19 in public institutions. The flagged content includes definitions of gender identity and expression, guidance on gender-affirming pronoun usage, and information about gender-affirming care or procedures.
According to the Autostraddle Trans News Tracker, Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison underscored the administration’s position: "Accountability is coming. Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas. The Trump Administration will ensure that PREP reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left." The administration has also threatened to cut funding to states that do not comply, a move that could severely impact the ability of public schools and youth prisons—such as those in Ohio—to provide comprehensive sexual education and protect against youth pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
While the Trump administration frames these changes as necessary to "demonstrate acceptance and respect for all participants," critics argue that erasing references to gender identity and gender-affirming care is a targeted effort to push trans people out of public life. The impact, advocates warn, could be especially dire for both trans and cisgender youth seeking accurate information and support in educational settings.
In the face of these federal actions, resistance is mounting. In Texas, trans people and their allies responded to the looming passage of Senate Bill 8—which seeks to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity—by taking over the House State Affairs Committee and staging a bathroom sit-in protest at the Texas State Capitol. Governor Gregg Abbott has vowed to sign the bill if it reaches his desk, fueling urgency among activists who are determined to keep fighting. As reported by Autostraddle, these demonstrations reflect a growing determination among trans Texans and their supporters to resist what they see as an existential threat to their rights and dignity.
Meanwhile, Illinois has taken a proactive approach to supporting its LGBTQ+ residents. Governor JB Pritzker announced the launch of IL Pride Connect, a hotline offering free legal advice and advocacy tools to protect the LGBTQ community. "IL Pride Connect will inform individuals of their rights and connect them to health and social services support – making us the only state in the nation to provide free legal advice and advocacy tools to protect the LGBTQ community," Pritzker stated. This initiative positions Illinois as a national leader in providing practical support to queer and trans people, especially as federal protections are rolled back elsewhere.
Legal challenges and victories are also reshaping the landscape. In Wyoming, U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit seeking to remove a transgender sister from the University of Wyoming’s Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. The judge wrote, "Nothing in the Bylaws or the Standing Rules requires Kappa to narrowly define the words ‘women’ or ‘woman’ to include only those individuals born with a certain set of reproductive organs, particularly when even the dictionary cited by Plaintiffs offers a more expansive definition." The dismissal, which cannot be refiled, affirms a more inclusive understanding of womanhood within the organization.
Elsewhere, a Virginia school board has sued the Trump administration to defend its transgender student policy, signaling that some local authorities are willing to challenge federal directives they view as discriminatory. The outcome of this legal battle could have wide-reaching implications for the rights of transgender students nationwide.
The fight over trans rights is also playing out at the highest levels of the judiciary. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a federal appeals court order that would allow a transgender high school student to use boys’ bathrooms, citing conflict with state law requiring facilities to be based on biological sex. This move comes just months after the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender transition treatments for minors, a decision South Carolina argues should serve as precedent. Wilson called the case a "death knell" for what he described as the "radical, hard-left agenda," emphasizing the state’s position on privacy and student safety. On the other side, Doe’s attorney Alexandra Zoe Brodsky countered, "There’s zero evidence that [our client’s] use of boys’ restrooms presents even a remote possibility of harm to anyone. But the evidence of state hostility toward him overwhelms." The Supreme Court’s decision, which could come swiftly, is being watched closely for its potential to set a national standard on bathroom access and the legal definition of gender.
Internationally, the battle for trans rights is just as intense. In the UK, the Polari Prize—an LGBTQ+ literary award—was paused for 2025 after controversy erupted over the inclusion of 'gender critical' author John Boyne. Ten other longlisted authors withdrew their works in protest, demonstrating the high stakes and deep divisions over trans inclusion in cultural spaces. In Nottingham, dozens participated in a die-in protest against new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance urging service providers to ban trans people from all single-sex facilities.
In Kenya, transgender activist Shieys Chepkosgei achieved a landmark court victory. After being arrested and indicted for "impersonation" despite possessing legal documents matching her gender identity, Chepkosgei won financial restitution and, more significantly, a court order directing Parliament to pass laws explicitly protecting trans rights. This ruling is seen as a beacon of hope for trans people in Kenya and potentially a model for other nations grappling with similar issues.
Yet, setbacks continue. The Alaska medical board has moved to restrict gender-affirming care for minors, and the University of Michigan ended such care for minors, citing federal pressure. The Trump administration has also expanded efforts to prevent federal workers and their dependents from accessing gender-affirming care, even where it is legal locally. These developments have left many trans advocates worried about the shrinking space for gender-affirming healthcare in the U.S.
Despite the mounting challenges, there are moments of celebration. Sam Nicoresti made history as the first trans comedian to win best comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. And in the world of celebrity, Charlize Theron continues to be a vocal supporter of her trans adopted daughters, Jackson and August, joining a growing list of public figures using their platforms to champion trans rights.
The struggle over transgender rights in 2025 is a story of fierce opposition, creative resistance, and hard-fought victories—both large and small. As legal battles escalate and policies shift, the voices of those most affected remain at the heart of the fight for dignity, recognition, and equality.
