Nine LGBTQ+, health, and HIV organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a series of executive orders that they say deliberately erase transgender individuals and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that these policies severely hinder their ability to provide critical healthcare services, especially to marginalized communities.
A Direct Attack on LGBTQ+ Organizations
The executive orders eliminate equity-based grants, prohibit federally funded organizations from engaging in DEI programs, and enforce the administration’s stance that only two genders exist—male and female. The lawsuit asserts that these actions put LGBTQ+ organizations at risk of losing vital federal funding, jeopardizing services that have historically supported communities disproportionately affected by systemic discrimination.
“The Executive Orders together target Plaintiffs and the people they serve for opprobrium and exclusion from services that receive federal financial assistance because of who they are,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs, represented by Lambda Legal, are seeking a temporary injunction to block enforcement of the orders while litigation continues. They argue that the policies violate constitutional rights and unjustly penalize organizations that recognize and affirm transgender identities.
Health Services at Risk
For many of these organizations, the executive orders don’t just threaten their missions—they threaten lives.
Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, said the government’s freeze on the organization’s federal funding was an intimidation tactic meant to silence them.
“It’s an attempt to make us disappear,” TerMeer stated.
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, has long provided essential HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services to at-risk populations, including transgender individuals and communities of color. The loss of funding could drastically cut their ability to reach those who rely on these life-saving services.
Jose Abrigo, director of Lambda Legal’s HIV Project, emphasized that these executive orders create an existential crisis for organizations that are required by the government to focus on minority health initiatives.
“A lot of the services they provide are required by the government to target services to minority populations—specifically Black, Indigenous, Asian, and transgender communities—because empirical data shows that these populations need targeted services,” Abrigo explained. “By stripping away our ability to acknowledge systemic discrimination, we’re being set up to fail.”
The Ripple Effect of Erasing Trans Identities
Organizations that support transgender individuals say the executive orders are a blatant effort to erase their existence from public life.
Carla Smith, CEO of the LGBTQ Community Center in New York, a plaintiff in the case, warned that the implications of these policies could set LGBTQ+ rights back decades.
“We’ve made so much progress over the years, and yet now we’re being forced into the closet again,” Smith said. “Community members are being dehumanized and left without access to the support that has been their lifeline.”
Her organization, founded during the height of New York’s AIDS epidemic, has been a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ activism and community-building for over 40 years. Today, it offers services ranging from mental health and addiction treatment to family counseling and job training—all of which now hang in the balance due to the funding threats.
“How can an LGBTQ+ center exist without recognizing the existence of trans folks?” Smith asked. “How can an HIV organization exist if they cannot recognize the fact that HIV disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities?”
Disrupting Essential Care
For Jessyca Leach, CEO of Prisma Community Care in Phoenix, these executive orders aren’t just discriminatory—they actively prevent health professionals from doing their jobs.
“If we cannot recognize a gender-expansive individual for who they are, we can’t provide them with health care. It’s impossible,” Leach said.
Prisma, formerly known as the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, offers primary care, mental health services, reproductive health, and addiction treatment to thousands of people across Maricopa County, Arizona. The center recently lost access to grant funding awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) after the CDC cited compliance with Trump’s executive orders.
Without those funds, Leach briefly considered shutting Prisma’s doors—an outcome that would have devastating consequences not only for LGBTQ+ individuals but for the entire community, particularly low-income residents who rely on its programs.
“The downstream effects are devastating,” Leach said. “By trying to take down organizations like mine, they’re not just hurting LGBTQ+ people—they’re harming thousands of vulnerable individuals who depend on us.”
A Coordinated Effort to Erase LGBTQ+ Identities
These executive orders are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to roll back transgender rights and erase LGBTQ+ identities from federal policies and programs.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has signed multiple orders targeting transgender individuals, including directives to remove references to transgender and nonbinary people from government websites. Over the weekend, protests erupted outside the Stonewall National Monument in New York after the National Park Service altered language on its website, shortening “LGBTQ” to just “LGB.”
The administration has also moved to end federal support for gender-affirming treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for transgender youth up to age 19. A separate education-related order seeks to ban social transitioning in schools, making it illegal for teachers to acknowledge or respect a student’s gender identity without parental consent.
A Fight for Survival
For organizations like Baltimore Safe Haven, a transgender-led nonprofit in Maryland, these policy changes feel like a direct attack.
“We are devastated by this administration’s efforts to erase transgender people,” said Renee Lau, a senior coordinator with the organization. “But it’s not just trans people who are affected. We provide services for everyone—regardless of gender, race, or background. If these orders succeed, thousands of people will lose access to housing, healthcare, and life-saving support.”
The Bottom Line
The lawsuit against the Trump administration aims to overturn these executive orders and restore funding to LGBTQ+ and minority-focused programs. Advocates say the outcome of this case could determine the future of essential services that thousands rely on daily.
John Peller, president of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, put it bluntly, “This is a moment where we need the community to stand up and fight back.”
As legal battles unfold, organizations and advocates urge the public to take action by contacting their representatives, protesting discriminatory policies, and supporting nonprofits working to protect LGBTQ+ rights.
“This is not just about us,” said Lau. “It’s about the entire community. And we won’t go down without a fight.”
