Defending the Rights, Humanity, and Dignity of LGBTQIA+ Individuals Amid Rising Discrimination and Federal Rollbacks

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ individuals — particularly Black, other people of color, and women — continue to face disproportionate discrimination across society, including in healthcare, education, and employment, undermining their dignity, livelihood, and civil rights; and

WHEREAS, The NAACP has consistently reaffirmed, through resolutions in 2017, 2019, and 2023, its commitment to fighting discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals and youth, and promoting full inclusion and representation across all its units and activities; and

WHEREAS, Denying the humanity and rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals perpetuates systemic discrimination, exacerbates health and economic disparities, and hinders the pursuit of equity and justice for all; and

WHEREAS, Gender-affirming healthcare is medically necessary, evidence-based care that improves mental health outcomes, reduces suicide rates, and affirms the identities of transgender and nonbinary individuals, yet remains under attack by discriminatory legislation and policies; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQ+ youth — especially Black and transgender students — face alarming rates of bullying and harassment, with restrictive policies on inclusive curricula further compounding educational inequities and safety concerns; and

WHEREAS, Far-right political agendas, including Project 2025 and hostile executive orders, seek to roll back hard-won LGBTQIA+ rights by limiting healthcare, censoring education, and redefining gender to enforce a binary system, thereby threatening basic human rights and dignity; and

WHEREAS, The Trump administration has enacted or supported numerous discriminatory policies, including:

• Executive Order 14168, which withdraws federal recognition for transgender people and ceases funding for gender-affirming care.
• Executive Order 14183, which bans transgender people from serving in the military.
• Executive Order 14187, which restricts access to gender-affirming care for individuals under 19.
• Executive Order 14201, which bans transgender women from participating in women's sports. A proposal to drop Title IX investigations into LGBTQIA+ discrimination and implement a federal "Don't Say Trans" law to erase transgender visibility in education.

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ individuals in the workforce are twice as likely to face discrimination, with over 40% reporting unfair treatment, and Black LGBTQIA+ workers facing even higher rates of bias; and

WHEREAS, The ability to self-identify one's gender is a fundamental human right critical to personal autonomy, dignity, and freedom, yet it is increasingly under attack by policies that seek to restrict or erase transgender and nonbinary identities; and

WHEREAS, The United States' leadership on global human rights demands that domestic and international policies promote equity, including through diplomatic efforts and visible support of LGBTQIA+ communities around the world.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP unequivocally condemns all policies, practices, and initiatives — whether domestic or foreign — that deny the humanity, dignity, or rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its commitment to advocating for civil, human, cultural, political, and economic rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the workplace, education, healthcare, and beyond.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls upon all levels of government to fully fund and protect gender-affirming healthcare, inclusive education, wrap-around services, and research that affirms the identities of transgender and nonbinary people.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP supports the right of individuals to self-identify their gender in all legal and institutional settings and opposes legislation that restricts this right.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP opposes Project 2025 and similar far-right initiatives and urges governments to rescind and reject harmful policies that roll back protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP commits to educating its membership and the broader public on the challenges facing LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly Black LGBTQIA+ individuals, and to fostering inclusive policies within its own ranks and throughout society.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges U.S. foreign policy to explicitly support LGBTQIA+ rights by empowering embassies to conduct equity work, build international partnerships, and visibly support LGBTQIA+ communities by flying the LGBTQIA+ flag, and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to challenging all efforts that seek to erode or undermine LGBTQIA+ rights and dignity.