Anti-Trans Legislation: A Tool to Erode U.S. Democracy
Published: July 22, 2026
Author(s): Deekshita Ramanarayanan, Sammy Luffy
Topic(s): Special Report, Transgender Communities
Region: National
The Anti-Trans Legislation: A Tool to Erode U.S. Democracy Issue Brief outlines the latest data at the intersection of legislation attacking the rights and wellbeing of transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary communities (TGNCNBi) and broader ongoing efforts to erode democracy in the United States. This resource includes data about the impact of discrimination on the mental and physical health of transgender people of all ages and particularly, the health and wellbeing of transgender and gender expansive youth. The issue brief also includes an analysis of recent trends in anti-LGBTQ legislation, relevant executive actions, and connections to ongoing anti-abortion and anti-democracy efforts across the country. The latest philanthropic data on funding for TGNCNBi communities generally, as well as an analysis of trans funding, trans populations, and anti-trans bills by state also make it clear where additional philanthropic investment in trans-led organizing is most needed at this critical time.
This issue brief was sponsored by the Equality Fund at The Boston Foundation and features a call to action that was co-authored by M. Scott Knox, Executive Director of the Equality Fund at The Boston Foundation, and Tre’Andre Valentine, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. Funders for LGBTQ Issues would like to thank the following individuals and institutions that reviewed and provided feedback on this issue brief: Vivian Topping, Mario Guevara, Jenn Curtin, and Fran Hutchins from the Equality Federation; Logan Casey from the Movement Advancement Project (MAP); Francesca Baroni from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC); and Jenna Patel at the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP).
About these Issue Briefs
In the past several years, LGBTQ* communities have been at the crosshairs of a coordinated and vicious strategy to strip away our rights. In the United States, these attacks on bodily autonomy have taken the shape of executive actions and state legislation seeking to criminalize queer and trans existence–from the administration’s targeting of trans youth, to blocking global aid recipients from supporting trans rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and the nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed in state legislatures across the country thus far in 2026, an intersectional response from philanthropy is needed.
The impact of these attacks are vast and far-reaching, with Black and Brown people, immigrants, and not only rural, but global LGBTQ communities left most vulnerable. In this context, Funders for LGBTQ Issues’ 2024 Annual Resource Tracking Report found a 15% decrease in philanthropic investment for LGBTQ communities and issues in the United States. This translates to a staggering $31.2 million drop from 2023 during a time when our communities are under attack. Similarly, funding awarded for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities decreased by 9% from 2023 to 2024 as TGNC communities are being relentlessly targeted.
To strengthen philanthropy’s understanding of how the needs of LGBTQ communities intersect with related social justice issues and make the case for increased investment during this time of crisis, Funders for LGBTQ Issues is releasing a series of issue briefs offering a queer lens to intersectional topics, such as immigration, disability justice, and HIV/AIDS. The briefs will include relevant data at the intersection of the issue and LGBTQ communities, as well as provide actionable steps for grantmakers to center these issues in their grantmaking strategies. We believe this series will offer a critical case-making tool for funders across the philanthropic sector to engage more proactively in the urgent needs of our communities.
*Throughout this resource, the acronym “LGBTQ” is inclusive of LGBTQ communities and individuals in all our diversity, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual, agender, two-spirit, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and all persons who identify as LGBTQ+.
