Housing segregation in America has historically shaped the formation of 'gayborhoods,' with white privilege allowing white gays and lesbians to find homes in city centers, often displacing Black and immigrant queer communities. These communities had established a public presence despite racial segregation, with figures like William Dorsey Swann leading drag balls in Washington D.C. since the 1880s. The growth of government agencies and the military during the Great Depression and World War II brought many gay white men to cities, who then enforced racial segregation. Despite the Fair Housing Act of 1968, discriminatory housing practices continued, affecting queer urban life. The AIDS crisis in the 1980s further influenced housing discrimination against gay men. More recently, the legalization of same-sex marriage and rising housing costs have shaped queer urban life, while transgender people, particularly those in poverty or facing employment discrimination, continue to face significant housing challenges.

The ACLU has established a nationwide system to track and categorize anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures, aiming to prevent them from becoming law. The organization collaborates with affiliates, coalition partners, activists, and engages with lawmakers to educate the public on the harms of these bills. The ACLU also legally challenges bills that restrict LGBTQ rights, such as those limiting health care access, public accommodations, school participation, free speech, and the ability to update gender information on IDs. The ACLU's legal staff reviews each bill, focusing on those that explicitly target LGBTQ rights, while not currently tallying bills with a disparate impact on LGBTQ people, such as abortion restrictions.

During LGBTQ History Month, the ACLU is preparing to challenge Arkansas's law that bans health care for transgender adolescents in court. A special conversation featuring Gillian Branstetter, Chase Strangio, and Jules Gill-Peterson discusses the upcoming case of Brandt v. Rutledge and the historical context of transgender rights activism.

Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Health, has been guiding the state through public health crises, including the opioid overdose crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. As a transgender woman in a high-power role, she has faced a campaign of ridicule and transphobia, which has intensified with her handling of the pandemic. Incidents include being misgendered by a radio host and a tavern naming a menu item mockingly after her. Levine has responded by condemning intolerance and advocating for LGBTQ acceptance. The article argues that the attacks on Levine are rooted in both misogyny and transphobia, and that recognizing the overlap between the two is crucial in the fight against gender-based discrimination.

At the Supreme Court, LGBTQ+ advocates rallied in support of Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman whose rights case was being heard. The Westboro Baptist Church protested nearby, while the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a far-right legal group, argued against transgender rights inside. The ADF tries to distance itself from overt bigotry, but its internal style guide and actions reveal a deep-seated bias against LGBTQ+ individuals. The article argues that civility should not mask the harm of institutionalized bigotry and that organizations like the ADF, Family Research Council, Heritage Foundation, and Federalist Society are working towards a world without LGBTQ+ people.

The article discusses the violence faced by transgender people in the United States, highlighting the recent murder of Ashanti Carmon and the broader issue of targeted violence against the transgender community. It criticizes the notion that the crisis is a 'myth' and emphasizes the need for the Equality Act, which would extend federal nondiscrimination laws to LGBTQ people. The article also presents statistics on unemployment, poverty, and violence faced by transgender people, particularly Black transgender women, and calls for acknowledgment and action to address transphobic violence.

The article discusses the challenges transgender individuals face in accessing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) through traditional medical channels in the United States. Due to long waiting lists, high costs, and discrimination from medical professionals and insurance companies, many transgender people turn to DIY HRT, ordering hormones like Estradiol and Spironolactone from online pharmacies without prescriptions. Online communities, such as Reddit's r/TransDIY, provide support and share information on managing HRT independently. The article highlights the risks associated with unregulated online pharmacies and self-administering hormones, including potential health risks and the possibility of receiving counterfeit medications. It also touches on the legal aspects of ordering prescription drugs online and compares the current situation to the buyers clubs of the AIDS crisis. The article suggests that while some individuals prefer the control DIY HRT offers, many would prefer safer and more legitimate health care options.