Over the past several months, the Department of Justice has been demanding hospitals across the country turn over the private medical records of transgender young people in a blatant attempt to bully and harass medical providers and families.

This month, NCLR and our partners at GLAD Law filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop this abuse, protect families, and to stand up to this shocking and dangerous abuse of federal power. The subpoenas that the DOJ has issued to at least 20 hospitals across the country demand a wide range of sensitive information, including patient dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and home addresses—as well as sensitive medical information.

Courts have already condemned these demands, stating they lack any proper investigative purpose and amount to unlawful overreach, intimidation and harassment of patients.

NCLR has sued the Trump administration for ignoring federal protections against sexual assault in prisons on behalf of our plaintiff, Paulina Poe, who is a transgender woman currently incarcerated by the Department of Justice. Poe has been propositioned, groped, sexually harassed, and assaulted by men in her facility, and has been strip-searched by male officers — experiences the Prison Rape Elimination Act regulations were designed to prevent.

Transgender people in prison are sexually abused or assaulted at nearly 10x the rate of the general prison population.

Paulina is not asking for special treatment. She is asking for the protections Congress determined more than a decade ago that every incarcerated person deserves.

• Mandatory screening of incarcerated people, including for transgender status, to assess risk of sexual victimization.

• Individualized, case-by-case housing decisions — including whether to assign a transgender person to a male or female facility — that consider the person’s health and safety as well as any management or security concerns.

• The opportunity for transgender people to shower separately.

• A prohibition on searches or physical examinations conducted for the sole purpose of determining a person’s genital status.

• Staff training on professional, respectful, and least-intrusive search and communication practices.

These are vital safeguards developed for a population at proven, extreme risk of violent assault behind bars.

“The question is not whether these women will be sexually assaulted without these important protections put in place more than a decade ago by Congress—they will—the question is how many times. The Trump administration cannot issue a memo on a whim gutting these protections. They, like anyone else, must follow the law.” ~NCLR Senior Staff Attorney Amy Whelan.

On Saturday, we gathered for Champions for Justice to celebrate and honor the plaintiffs and leaders powering our work during this critical time. We are deeply grateful to our gala guests, hosts and sponsors for making it a truly unforgettable evening fueling the future of our movement. We are thrilled to share that we raised over $400,000!  

Guests had the opportunity to hear from emcee and comedian Irene Tu, and honorees including journalist and author Paola Ramos, transgender activist and former NCLR plaintiff Jazz Jennings, current NCLR Talbott v. USA plaintiff Captain Gordon Herrero challenging the Trump administration’s ban on transgender military service, and the Golden State Valkyries’ Andrea Fernandes. Deep thanks also to, President Imani Rupert-Gordon, Legal Director Shannon Minter, Senior Staff Attorney Amy Whelan and Board Co-Chairs Dulce Garcia and Karen Bowen for their powerful remarks about how NCLR is meeting this moment.

Watch this short, powerful video recapping how NCLR is fighting for our democracy and pushing back on Trump administration attacks on our community. 

Recently we sat down with Kerby Lynch, Board member and Interim Executive Director of the Bay Area Lesbian Archives to discuss the preservation of queer history and Directory of Dreams: Bay Area Lesbian Economies and Radical Care, 1970-1995, an exhibition currently mounted at the GLBT Historical Society Museum of archival pieces that traces the everyday labor of Bay Area lesbians who refused erasure and built community networks rooted in care, solidarity, and economic self-determination. Watch the interview to learn more about the exciting work the Bay Area Lesbian Archives is doing, and visit the GLBT Historical Society Museum to see Directory of Dreams, on view through Pride in San Francisco.

NCLR’s President Imani Rupert-Gordon will be representing NCLR as a Community Grand Marshal in the San Francisco Pride Parade on June 28th! If you would like to march with Imani in the Parade, please register with us, and we’ll send you details to attend as they become available.

The conversations we’re starting, the stories making noise, and the posts you don’t want to miss.

The Trump administration is demanding access to the private medical records of thousands of transgender kids. Learn more about what this means and NCLR and GLAD Law’s class action lawsuit challenging these unprecedented subpoenas.

The Advocate, “Lawsuit accuses Trump DOJ of Stripping Anti-Rape Protections from Trans prisoners: The National Center for LGBTQ Rights says the Trump administration unlawfully ordered prisons to ignore federal standards protecting transgender incarcerated people from sexual violence.” by Christopher Wiggins, May 7, 2026

Jezebel with Splinter, “Federal Prosecutor in Texas Subpoenas Another State Hospital for its Trans Youth Health Care Records: The subpoena, as usual, asks for an expansive amount of information, like emails, calendar entries, and text messages. But what’s different is that this one seems to entail federal criminal charges.” by Danielle Han May 14, 2026

Los Angeles Blade, “Bureau of Prisons Declines to Reconsider Transgender Inmate Policy: Democratic lawmakers raised concerns this week, lawsuit filed.” By Joe Reberkenny May 14, 2026

Mother Jones, “New York Hospital Faces Criminal Subpoena in Texas Over Trans Youth Care: This is mafia-type behavior.” by Sophie Hurwitz May 12, 2026

The Guardian, “RFK Jr. Agenda Suffers Another Loss as Trans Advocates Hail ‘Huge Step Forward’: Judge’s repeal of Trump ban on gender-affirming care for children ‘a meaningful win for patients’, experts say.” by Melody Schreiber April 23, 2026

Friend of NCLR Cameron Esposito and her wife Katy Nishimoto Dress their Baby in Style! Get your NCLR onesie and other NCLR merchandise in our store!