Oppose Anti-LGBTQ+ Riders in State Department Appropriations Bill

Vote no on the five anti-LGBTQ+ riders attached to the State Department's Fiscal Year 2027 National Security and Department of State Appropriations Act. These measures would ban the State Department from acknowledging transgender people exist, prohibit Pride flags at State Department buildings, eliminate LGBTQ+ rights envoys, and block anti-discrimination protections for contractors. Nearly 30% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+. These riders don't just attack a small minority—they erase the reality of millions of Americans and the people we support globally. The Trans Global Gag Order would cut funding to any organization that acknowledges trans people or advocates against discrimination, weaponizing foreign aid and putting vulnerable communities at greater risk worldwide. These measures codify recent executive orders into statutory law specifically to prevent future administrations from reversing them. That's not normal policymaking—it's an attempt to permanently embed discrimination into how America engages with the world. Rep. Grace Meng is right that this crusade against healthcare and global aid puts millions of lives at risk. Strip these riders from the bill or vote against it entirely.