In August, California recognizes Transgender History Month! Find or host an event near you, learn about transgender history, or advocate for your city or state to recognize Transgender History Month.

Our former client, Logan Ireland, has become the de facto face of the recent decision by the United States Airforce to revoke lifetime retirement benefits for transgender service members who chose early retirement to avoid involuntary separation from the military for being transgender. The Airforce cited Trump’s “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness” policy in their decision.

NCLR’s Legal Director Shannon Minter discussed NCLR’s work on this issue with several media outlets and you can read more in The Advocate, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Regarding Logan, Shannon told the Advocate: “He is highly decorated, with multiple medals recognizing his critical contributions to the United States Air Force. The Air Force is breaking a direct commitment to service members who have already been granted early retirement. This is a double betrayal—first forcing transgender service members to leave after promising them they could serve, and now rescinding their ability to obtain early retirement after granting it. The financial consequences are devastating and mean that service members who have devoted their lives to our country receive nothing.”

On July 24, Kim Davis, a former Kentucky County clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the case. There is a lot of buzz about this petition, and some people may think it means that the Supreme Court will be deciding the case, but that is simply not true. Slate recently published an excellent article reviewing the facts, which we encourage you to read.

It’s very unlikely that the court will choose to review this case, but NCLR is watching this news carefully, and will always been ready to defend our right to marry who we love!

NCLR Senior Staff Attorney Amy Whelan wrote a piece for the Daily Journal titled “How Trump’s War on DEI and Trans Rights Hit a Legal Wall.”

Staff Attorney Rachel Berg was in Tucson federal court last week arguing our motion for a permanent injunction on behalf of the Arizonianindividuals we are representing who want to change the sex marker on their birth certificate but have not undergone surgery. We are challenging Arizona’s law that requires individuals to demonstrate proof of surgery to change the sex marker on their birth certificate.

NCLR’s Own Shauna Madison is On The Rise!

Congratulations to NCLR’s Vice President of People, Culture and Equity and Compliance Counsel Shauna Madison, who is one of the recipients of the American Bar Association’s 2025 On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyer’s Award!

The On The Rise Award program provides national recognition for ABA young lawyer members who exemplify a broad range of high achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal and community service. We couldn’t agree more!

NCLR’s Sport Consultant Helen Caroll was inducted into Sports Equality Foundation’s LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame. Alongside names like Diana Taurasi, Carl Nassib, Schuyler Bailar, Carl Nassib, and Sue Bird, Caroll was given this honor for her long and dedicated career advocating for better inclusion for all LGBTQ people in sport. In her career she has led NCLR’s Sports Project, offered expertise to NCLR’s sports case work, worked in collaboration to write inclusive NCAA policies and guidelines, and now she is on the leadership team of NCAA Common Ground initiative – something she founded.

August is National Make a Will Month, and we hope you plan to leave a legacy! Making NCLR a beneficiary of your will is an investment that ensures NCLR will be here to combat injustice and protect the rights of LGBTQ people well into the future.

Members of the Kathryn Friebe Legacy Circle, our family of supporters who choose to include NCLR in their estate planning, are making a commitment to LGBTQ rights and safeguarding the future of LGBTQ equality for generations to come.

For more information about including NCLR in your will, visit our Bequest or Planned Gift page or contact our Advancement team at development@ncl​rights.org.

Kaiser to Stop Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Minors, Leaving Trans Kids With Fewer Options – KQED

DOJ Denies Existence of Transgender People in Stunning Court Filing Defending Trump’s Military Ban – The Advocate

Exclusive: US Air Force Denies Early Retirement for Group of Transgender Service Members – Reuters

‘Dangerous’: How a Top Civil Rights Attorney Describes Attack on Trans Health Care – KQED

Air Force Denies Early Retirement for Transgender Men and Women – The New York Times

Join the Oakland Ballers for Pride Night!

The Oakland Ballers (aka the B’s) are Oakland’s one and only professional baseball team. In just over a year, the Ballers built a ballpark in West Oakland at historical Raimondi Park, had 4 players receive contracts by MLB franchises, signed the first female pitcher in Pioneer League history, welcomed nearly 100,000 fans to games, made the playoffs, brought over 4,000 fans into the ownership group, elected a fan representative to our board, and sold over 11,000 hats. The Oakland Ballers are dedicated to delivering a joyful, community focused experience for Oakland and the entire East Bay. You can join the Ballers for their Pride celebration game on August 22 at 6:30! Start Oakland Pride a little early with baseball, food, drink, and giveaway. Use code NCLR25 for 25% off your tickets. Get your tickets.

Oasis 8th Annual Community Celebration

Join Oasis for their 8th Annual Community Celebration on Friday, September 12, from 6–9pm at Oakstop Event Hall in Oakland.

There will be music, performance, community, and stories that remind us why advocating for LGBTQ+ immigrants is crucial.

Sliding scale tickets are available. RSVP today!.