Over at the Good Transgender News thread we have posted more than 1000 positive and uplifting transgender news stories and articles.
These are undoubtedly hard times for trans and queer people, but there is a lot of light in the darkness. That is why we list every positive article we can find.
Erin Reed reports that the Trump administration is deliberately defying a federal court ruling that mandates the resumption of gender marker updates on passports for transgender individuals.
Though the court order was issued two weeks prior and declared the previous ban likely unconstitutional, passport offices across the U.S. are reportedly refusing to comply.
ACLU court filings state that the government has failed to provide timelines or meaningful responses about implementation.
Applicants have been told offices are under directives to ignore the ruling unless the Supreme Court intervenes, with one official allegedly stating, “We don’t answer to courts.”
This delay affects thousands of transgender people who cannot travel unless they accept inaccurate identity documents.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that two San Francisco bookstores—Booksmith and Fabulosa Books—have stopped selling J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series in response to the author’s pledge to use franchise profits to fund efforts opposing transgender rights.
Rowling announced the launch of the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund, aimed at removing transgender protections in public and professional spaces.
Booksmith, a queer-run store, denounced the move and encouraged fans to buy used copies or explore alternative fantasy literature, offering a curated list of inclusive titles such as the Nevermoor series and His Dark Materials.
Fabulosa Books echoed the decision, criticizing Rowling’s statements and affirming its commitment to trans-inclusive values.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued a landmark ruling affirming that transgender women are legally recognized as women in India, irrespective of reproductive ability.
Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa dismissed the notion that womanhood is defined solely by the ability to bear children, calling it unconstitutional and contrary to fundamental rights.
The case involved a dowry harassment complaint filed by Pokala Shabana, a transgender woman, against her partner and his family.
Although the court ultimately dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence, it firmly established that trans women have the right to protections under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses cruelty by a husband or his relatives.
The decision builds on the Supreme Court’s 2014 recognition of a “third gender” and strengthens protections for trans women against domestic violence.
See Blade for more: Indian court rules a transgender woman is a woman
Photo of Prithika Yashini: India’s first transgender police officer
New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has tentatively won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist, gained traction through grassroots activism and strong support for the trans community, in contrast to Cuomo’s ties to right-wing figures, S. Baum reports over at Erin in the Morning.
Mamdani promises $65 million in funding for gender-affirming care, protections for trans youth and providers, and the creation of an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office.
See also: Democratic NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Is Pledging $65 Million for Trans Health Care
The Trump administration removed transgender and inclusive Pride flags from the federally governed Stonewall National Monument, replacing them with only the traditional rainbow flag.
This decision was part of broader efforts to erase transgender visibility from public spaces and federal resources, including altering historical references like the one about trans activist Sylvia Rivera.
In response, LGBTQ+ activists and New Yorkers have staged acts of resistance, bringing their own trans flags to the site and creating impromptu tributes.
S. Baum reports on the Stonewall National Monument flags over at Erin in the Morning.
A new Ipsos survey finds that a strong majority of Canadians continue to support 2SLGBT+ rights and visibility.
Compared to 2024, support has increased across various areas including same-sex marriage, adoption rights, and protection against discrimination.
Canada now ranks higher than the 26-country average, especially when it comes to companies promoting 2SLGBT+ equality.
Visibility of 2SLGBT+ people in media, sports, and public affection also saw increased support after a dip the previous year.
However, when it comes to transgender-specific issues, the landscape is more mixed. While most Canadians support anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals, fewer are in favor of health insurance covering gender transition.
A federal judge has granted class action status to all transgender individuals challenging the U.S. passport policy that restricts updating gender markers.
This major legal win means the case, initially brought by a few plaintiffs, now applies broadly to trans applicants seeking accurate “M,” “F,” or “X” designations.
The court found the policy was motivated by bias and harms trans people’s ability to travel safely. Though appeals may delay implementation, those needing to renew or update passports are advised to consider acting quickly.
The ACLU celebrated the ruling as a critical step toward privacy, dignity, and equal treatment under federal law.
Video of Zaya from Laverne Cox on Instagram. Cox writes: “A day at a time, we keep fighting. Thank you Zaya and everyone at the aclu as well as all the plaintiffs.”
Federal Judge Grants Class Status To Trans People In Passport Case In Massive Win
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a 6–3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti.
The Court’s majority avoided addressing whether anti-trans laws violate the Equal Protection Clause or if transgender people constitute a protected class.
Instead, it ruled narrowly, allowing bans based on gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder or gender incongruence, and distinguishing this from discrimination against transgender identity—creating what critics call a legal loophole for discrimination.
The dissent, led by Justice Sotomayor, sharply criticized the majority’s rationale, arguing that the Tennessee law clearly discriminates based on both sex and transgender status.
She noted that the law allows puberty-related treatments for cisgender adolescents but not for transgender youth, despite using identical medications.
In other words: The logic is that since both cis and trans people can suffer from gender dysphoria (which is not true), the ban is not discriminatory.
But to the extent cis children do suffer from something similar to gender dysphoria (as caused, for instance, by hormonal imbalances leading to body hair growth in girls and breast growth in boys), the treatment of such “dysphoria” is not banned.
The hypocrisy is mind-boggling.
Sotomayor compares this rationale to that used in Loving v. Virginia, a ruling which struck down laws against interracial marriage:
“But nearly every discriminatory law is susceptible to a similarly race- or sex-neutral characterization. A prohibition on interracial marriage, for example, allows no person to marry someone outside of her race, while allowing persons of any race to marry within their race….
Although the ruling only affects medical care, it sets a worrying precedent for future legislation targeting trans rights. Some justices indicated they’d support even broader rollbacks. Still, other court decisions protecting trans rights in areas like passports, education, and funding remain intact—for now.
Doc Impossible explores findings from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS)—the largest study of its kind with over 92,000 respondents.
She explains that the survey used snowball sampling, primarily through social media, which means it’s not fully representative but still offers substantial insights.
Key takeaways include persistent mistreatment and disrespect in healthcare settings, with 47% of respondents reporting transphobia in the past year and 21% avoiding care due to anticipated discrimination.
Doc Impossible writes:
“Healthcare providers tend to treat us crappier than they treat cis people, and it shows up in our overall health. We’re much more likely to evaluate our health as “fair” or “poor” than the general population, and 47% of us were disrespected in the last year for being trans.”
Despite these challenges, nearly 60% had started some medical transition, and over 88% desired hormone therapy—though access often remains difficult and costly.
Doc Impossible discusses the devastating mental health impact of social discrimination, with high rates of depression and thoughts about self harm, particularly linked to family rejection and violence.
However, regret after medical transition remains extremely rare:
“9% of respondents, so almost 1 in 10, detransitioned at some point. When you dive into those numbers, though, virtually all of them had detransitioned due to safety, social support, or for employment. Only 0.36% of those who’d medically transitioned at any point detransitioned at all, for any reason.”
The survey reaffirms that trans people are who they say they are, and that the greatest barriers they face are not internal, but social and systemic.
“What we’re learning about being trans from the 2022 US Transgender Survey”
See also:
“Largest Trans Survey Ever: Top Reason Trans People Stop Transitioning Is Transphobia”
“Survey of over 90,000 trans people shows vast improvement in life satisfaction after transition”
U.S. Trans Survey