Supreme Court ruling

Reuters reported on June 17 that the US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Catholic adoption group that refused to work with Gay foster parents. The justices decided, 9-0, that Philadelphia's refusal to work with Catholic Social Services violated the First Amendment's guarantee of the free exercise of religion.

Justice Dept. weighs in on anti-Trans laws

Reuters reported June 17 on the US Justice Department's statement condemning Republican efforts to curb Trans rights with state laws. Lawyers from the Justice Department have urged a West Virginia judge to strike down the law banning Transgender girls from competing in girls' sports in schools. Department lawyers sent a similar statement to a judge in Arkansas, who is overseeing a trial about the state's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

Gender-confirmation surgery for Trans service members

The Associated Press reported on June 17 that the US Department of Veterans Affairs is making moves to provide gender-confirmation surgery to Transgender service members. Secretary Denis McDonough described the development as a matter of saving the lives of service members, and a kind of reconciliation in light of the US military's treatment of LGBTQ people in the past.