How Project 2025 Could Impact the LGBTQ+ Community Under the New Administration

With Donald J. Trump as the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the LGBTQ+ community is facing a period of uncertainty, especially regarding the implications of Project 2025—a comprehensive conservative policy plan aiming to reshape federal institutions and policies. Here’s a closer look at what Project 2025 could mean for LGBTQ+ rights and the community’s broader well-being.

What is Project 2025?

Project 2025 is a roadmap spearheaded by conservative think tanks, including the Heritage Foundation, intended to reshape the federal government to align with specific conservative values. The plan encompasses policy adjustments in healthcare, education, and civil rights, among others, with the aim of consolidating certain executive powers and limiting or revising specific protections and policies developed in recent years.

Key Areas of Impact for the LGBTQ+ Community

1. Healthcare Access and LGBTQ+ Protections
   One of the first anticipated impacts of Project 2025 could be felt in healthcare, as the project suggests revisiting policies surrounding gender-affirming care and trans-inclusive healthcare services. Federal regulations currently supporting access to gender-affirming care and protection against discrimination may be under review, which could result in a rollback of protections in healthcare settings for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

2. Employment and Workplace Protections
   Employment protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, could be reassessed. The 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which affirmed that Title VII protections against discrimination “because of sex” also cover sexual orientation and gender identity, may come under scrutiny if efforts to reinterpret these rights gain momentum.

3. Education and Youth Rights
   Policies affecting LGBTQ+ students and youth may also face significant changes. Project 2025 emphasizes increased parental rights and aims to reshape policies that could limit affirming resources for LGBTQ+ students in schools, including curriculum choices, access to school counselors, and gender identity acknowledgments. For many LGBTQ+ students, these changes may increase challenges around finding support within educational settings.

4. Religious Freedom vs. Civil Rights
   A focus on “religious freedom” within Project 2025 suggests that businesses and organizations may gain broader leeway to cite religious beliefs in refusing service to LGBTQ+ individuals. This could impact areas such as public accommodations, healthcare, and even adoption services, potentially complicating access to essential services for LGBTQ+ families and individuals.

5. International LGBTQ+ Rights
   Project 2025 could also shift U.S. positions on LGBTQ+ rights in foreign policy. LGBTQ+ rights advocacy has been a focus in certain U.S. diplomatic missions, supporting LGBTQ+ rights activists abroad. A policy shift may reduce these initiatives, which could send a concerning message to other nations about the U.S. commitment to human rights for LGBTQ+ people globally.

Community Response and Advocacy

In light of these potential impacts, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are mobilizing to respond to Project 2025. Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the ACLU are likely to play pivotal roles in challenging any rollbacks in court, as well as educating the public about how policy changes may affect them. Additionally, local and state-level protections for LGBTQ+ rights may become even more vital in safeguarding access to healthcare, workplace protections, and educational resources.

Looking Forward

The LGBTQ+ community has historically shown resilience in the face of challenges, often organizing at grassroots and community levels to advocate for civil rights and protections. While the exact outcomes of Project 2025 remain to be seen, awareness, organization, and informed voting will be essential in advocating for the rights and protections that matter most to the community.