In 2025 we saw a decided increase in disturbing and frightening activity aimed at our community. Despite warnings about a second Trump presidency armed with a MAGA guide book, few of us expected so much.
Here’s our look back at the good, bad and ugly.
JANUARY
LGBTQ+ marriages surge before Trump inauguration day
In a National Public Radio (NPR) report from New York City, not only had the metropolitan hub seen an increase of vows taken, there were also 33 percent more licenses issued compared to the same time last year, according to the city clerk.
Trump’s potential cabinet picks are detrimental to the lives of LGBTQ+ Americans
On Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. His cabinet picks, Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Scott Bessent (Secretary of the Treasury), Pete Hegseth (Secretary of Defense), Pam Bondi (Attorney General) and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Secretary of Health and Human Services), read like the cast of a horror movie hell-bent on erasing the entire LGBTQ+ community.
Trump erases actions on LGBTQ+ equality and orders withdrawal from Paris climate agreement
Just hours into his second term, President Donald Trump signed some of his first executive orders as an arena crowd of thousands cheered a U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. Among his other moves, he reversed Biden’s executive orders on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation; Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Individuals; and signed an executive order recognizing only two sexes, male and female.
FEBRUARY
Mark Robinson dismisses own suit against CNN
After denying allegations made by CNN and a former porn store clerk, Louis Money and suing each for libel, former NC Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson officially dropped all lawsuits against both parties and announced he would not run for office next year, “nor do I have plans to seek elected office in the future.”
Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s school sports
The orange elephant in The White House signed an executive order Feb. 5 prohibiting transgender athletes from competing on women’s sports teams he deemed as inconsistent with their gender. Throughout his campaign he pledged to “keep men out of women’s sports,” signing the order just two weeks after he took office.
South Carolina gay investor confirmed as Trump’s treasury secretary
Among the confirmations made by Congress during the early part of the year, Scott Bessent, an openly gay billionaire hedge fund manager and investor, was voted in as President Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary. His confirmation makes Bessent the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ official in United States’ history. The position places him fifth in line to the presidency, following the secretary of state. Said Massachusetts Senator and LGBTQ+ ally Elizabeth Warren: “A billionaire who supports more tax cuts for every single billionaire in America, is not someone who is watching out for hardworking families.”
Kennedy Center and Stonewall monument join the list of organizations affected by Trump’s administration
Following orders from Donald Trump, the National Park Service joined in on the trans and queer erasure train when it removed references to transgender individuals and people who identify as queer from the National Park Service website for the Stonewall National Monument. The entire board of the Kennedy Center (18 individuals) were dismissed and replaced by conservative Trump appointees in order to block any presentations related to LGBTQ+ culture.
MARCH
Gallup poll finds nearly 1 in 10 in U.S. identify as LGBTQ+
The polling of 14,000 adults showed that 9.3 percent identified as LGBTQ+, including 5.2 percent identifying as bisexual, two percent as gay, 1.4 percent as lesbian and 1.3 percent as transgender. Applied to a national population of 341 million people, that would be 31.7 million LGBTQ+ adults, including 17.7 million bisexual people, 6.8 million gay people, 4.8 million lesbians and 4.4 million transgender people.
APRIL
Disney refuses to opt out of HRC’s Corporate Equality Index
In an annual meeting for Disney shareholders, investors overwhelmingly voted to turn down a proposal that would pull the company out of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index.
Mural of N.C. drag legend Brandy Alexander accidentally painted over
A significant part of Charlotte’s queer history vanished when, according to new property owners, a mural at the rear side of a structure located at 1510 Central Avenue, an homage to the late drag legend Brandy Alexander was painted over accidentally.
Carolina’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce announces grand opening of Impact Center
The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce announced the grand opening and rainbow ribbon cutting ceremony for the Impact Center, located at 2838 Queen City Drive, Suite A, in Charlotte. With 2,800+ square feet, the center serves as the administrative home of the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce & The 628 Foundation; a non-profit incubation space supporting emerging organizations dedicated to social impact; a co-working and training hub providing resources and guidance for entrepreneurs and small business owners; a multipurpose room for educational programs, events, workforce development initiatives and professional training; a Wi-Fi lounge and collaboration space and a pod and media space for content creation and education.
Journalists who use pronouns are the latest reason for White House Press to avoid questions
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the following: “As a matter of policy, we do not respond to reporters with pronouns in their bios.” Her explanation? “Any reporter who chooses to put their preferred pronouns in their bio clearly does not care about biological reality or truth and therefore cannot be trusted to write an honest story.”
MAY
Pope Francis dies one day after meeting with U.S. VP JD Vance
Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff in the role, passed away at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. He had just met the day before with American Vice President JD Vance.
25th anniversary World Pride held in Washington, D.C.
WorldPride 2025, marking the 25th anniversary of WorldPride and DC’s 50th Pride, took place in Washington, D.C. from late May to early June 2025, featuring huge events like the Capital Pride Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, concerts with artists like Shakira and Khalid, numerous festivals, art exhibits and community gatherings.
Supreme Court sides with Trump on transgender military ban
On May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court, in an unsigned 6-3 order, allowed the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender people in the military while legal challenges continue in lower courts. The order lifted nationwide injunctions that had previously blocked the policy’s implementation.
JUNE
Big beautiful bill spells big ugly trouble for LGBTQ+ healthcare
The law cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, which disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community, as an estimated 19% of LGBTQ+ adults and 28% of trans adults rely on Medicaid for health insurance. The cuts are projected to cause 11.8 million people to lose health coverage by 2034.
Sponsorships drop for U.S. Pride events
Major corporations like Mastercard, Nissan, Boeing and Comcast reduced or pulled support because of economic pressures, political shifts around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and backlash from conservatives threatening to withhold expenditures. This led to budget shortfalls for many Pride organizations across the country.
JULY
North Carolina County elections boards shift from democratic to GOP control
Under a new law that took appointment power away from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, State Auditor Dave Boliek appointed a Republican majority state elections board that extended to all 100 counties flipping local boards from Democratic to GOP control.
Trump admin cuts LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline
The specialized “Press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth on the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was terminated by the Trump administration July 17. While the action was viewed largely as anti-LGBTQ+ pandering to Trump’s MAGA support base, the service continues to offer counseling for anyone of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Community members in need have also been encouraged to contact The Trevor Project directly.
Trump’s big (ugly) beautiful bill passes and poised to become law
The legislative package known as “Trump’s big beautiful bill” was signed into law by Donald Trump in July 2025. The bill passed the House by a narrow margin of 218-214, after passing the Senate 51-50 with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
USNS Harvey Milk only ship renamed
Initially the Trump administration claimed it was going to rename several ships that were viewed by conservative staffers and supporters as “woke” or “divisive,” however, in the end, only one ship name was changed: The USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship honoring the slain gay rights icon. Renamed the USNS Oscar V. Peterson by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the renaming, timed during Pride Month, sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates who recognized it as an erasure of Milk’s contributions.
AUGUST
As culture wars flared up under Trump, North Carolina lawmakers pass anti-trans bills
In the wake of Trump and his minions’ anti-trans tirades, North Carolina’s Republican party just couldn’t wait to follow suit. North Carolina Republicans successfully passed bills in 2025 with provisions that restrict the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people, primarily by overriding gubernatorial vetoes. Key legislation passed into law in 2025 includes HB 805, “Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors.” This act defines “sex” based on reproductive anatomy and function at conception or birth for administrative rules and public policies. The law also changes the process for updating sex designations on birth certificates, and prohibits state funding for gender transition treatments for incarcerated individuals. SB 442, the “Parents Protection Act” states that a parent or caregiver is not considered abusive or neglectful solely for raising a child according to their biological sex or not affirming a child’s gender identity. It also prohibits adoption agencies from denying placements based on a prospective parent’s stance on gender transition.
Andry Romero released from El Salvador, returned to Venezuela
Venezuelan citizen and openly gay man Andry Hernández Romero was arrested by U.S. immigration authorities in August 2024 after entering the U.S. legally at the border to attend a prearranged asylum appointment. He was held in a U.S. detention center for several months before being deported to El Salvador in mid-March 2025. He was later released from the CECOT prison after 125 days in detention, and arrived back in Caracas, Venezuela, shortly after. Since his return, Romero has been working to rebuild his life and is speaking out about the abuse and torture he and others endured in the Salvadoran prison.
American airlines defends pro LGBTQ+ policies, reject opposing stockholders
American Airlines successfully defended its pro-LGBTQ+ policies and commitment to diversity by overwhelmingly rejecting a shareholder proposal that sought to end its participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, with shareholders voting nearly 98% against the anti-DEI measure, reinforcing AA’s stance as a leader in LGBTQ+ inclusion despite growing political pressures.
SEPTEMBER
Trans gun ban would show further disregard for the Constitution
Officials in the Trump Justice Department reportedly weighed the idea of banning gun ownership by transgender people in September 2025. The idea came about in response to a mass shooting in Minneapolis carried out by a person identified as transgender. To date no such law has been passed. Surprisingly, the idea was even panned by the NRA.
Tennis icon Martina Navratilova joins Carolina Ascent as minority owner
It’s true! Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is a minority owner of Carolina Ascent FC, the Charlotte-based women’s professional soccer team in the USL Gainbridge Super League. She bought a minority stake, about 3-5%, and was attracted by the club’s determination and focus on gender equity, a cause she’s championed throughout her career.
Pope Leo XIV reaffirms welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics
Pope Leo XIV met privately with Jesuit Father James Martin in a half-hour audience inside the library of the Apostolic Palace. The meeting marked one of the first significant signals from the new pontiff regarding his pastoral approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. Martin, known internationally for his LGBTQ+ ministry described the encounter as both “very consoling and very encouraging.” By granting a publicized audience to Father Martin and endorsing his ministry of outreach, the pope sent a message of continuity to LGBTQ+ Catholics worldwide.
LGBTQ+ Americans less religious survey funds
Pew Research Center data showed that just under half of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. (48 percent) identify with a religion, compared with 73 percent of non-LGBTQ+ adults. That leaves 52 percent of LGBTQ+ individuals describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” while only 26 percent of non-LGBTQ+ Americans fall into those categories.
OCTOBER
Conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors goes before SCOTUS
As of this writing, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has heard oral arguments in the case of Chiles v. Salazar, a challenge to Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors. The core legal question is whether the state law violates a licensed therapist’s First Amendment right to free speech. A decision has yet to be reached.
NOVEMBER
Creators of project 2025 urge FBI to designate members of trans community as terrorists
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025, formally petitioned the FBI to create a new domestic terrorism category called “Transgender Ideology-Inspired Violent Extremism” (TIVE). The FBI has not yet shown the request to be a priority.
New presidential poll shows Pete Buttigieg ahead for Dems
A Granite State poll showed that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leads among likely 2028 Democratic primary voters in the state of New Hampshire.
Trump releases gay Republican George Santos, state may send him back to jail
Donald Trump commuted former Rep. George Santos’s federal prison sentence for fraud, releasing him immediately from federal custody. However, the federal release doesn’t stop state charges. Santos can still face separate state-level investigations or potential charges, which could still lead to state jail time.
Supreme Court dismisses Kim Davis’s same sex marriage argument
The Supreme Court, rejected an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis in which she asked the justices to overturn the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The decision not to hear the case leaves the right to same-sex marriage established by Obergefell v. Hodges in place and Davis responsible for $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees.
DECEMBER
Disco artist, historic gay icon Gloria Gaynor accepts Kennedy Center award from Trump
Dance music and LGBTQ+ icon Gloria Gaynor, 82, accepted a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors medal presented by Donald Trump in December 2025. The announcement unearthed that Gaynor is a MAGA donor and supporter, despite the fact her career success was largely due to her LGBTQ+ fan base. Known for such seminal gay anthems as “I Will Survive,” “I Am What I Am” and “Never Can Say Goodbye,” Gaynor had previously indicated in a mid-1990s interview that her religious beliefs were at odds with the LGBTQ+ community.