AP Special Report Trump opened the door to the LGBTQ+ community. Now activists say he's their top threat CHRIS MEGERIAN and JILL COLVIN Associated Press Jun 9, 2025 Jun 9, 2025 Updated Dec 11, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — When he first ran for office, Donald Trump appeared to be a new kind of Republican when it came to gay rights.kAm*62CD 62C=:6C[ 96 @G6CEFC?65 E96 CF=6D @7 9:D @H? |:DD &?:G6CD6 A2862?E E@ 2==@H 2 EC2?D86?56C 4@?E6DE2?E E@ 4@>A6E6] w6 D2:5 r2:E=J? y6??6C 4@F=5 FD6 2?J 32E9C@@> D96 H2?E65 2E %CF>A %@H6C] w6 H2D E96 7:CDE AC6D:56?E E@ ?2>6 2? @A6?=J 82J A6CD@? E@ 2 r23:?6E\=6G6= A@D:E:@?]k^AmkAmw@H6G6C[ D:?46 96 C6EFC?65 E@ @77:46 E9:D J62C[ %CF>A 6?82865 :? H92E 24E:G:DED D2J :D 2? F?AC64656?E65 2DD2F=E @? E96 {vq%"Z 4@>>F?:EJ] %96 E9C62E 7C@> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 4@?EC2DED H:E9 (@C=5 !C:56 46=63C2E:@?D E2<:?8 A=246 E9:D >@?E9 :? (2D9:?8E@?]k^Am kAmQ(6 2C6 :? E96 52C<6DE A6C:@5 C:89E ?@H D:?46 E96 96:89E @7 E96 pxs$ 4C:D:D[Q D2:5 z6G:? y6??:?8D[ H9@ =625D {2>352 {682=[ 2 =@?8E:>6 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@?] Qx 2> 566A=J 4@?46C?65 E92E H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ D66 :E 2== 36 E2<6? 2H2J :? E96 ?6IE 7@FC J62CD]Qk^Am People are also reading… Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 How to vote early in Franklin County for Virginia redistricting amendment Franklin County proposes increasing real estate, meals taxes The future of fishing at Smith Mountain Lake could hinge on this decision Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Review: Too many films inspire janky ‘Bride!’ Rocky Mount businesses to host pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day Roanoke police officer needlessly shot intellectually disabled man: lawsuit SML Gives Day raises nearly $400K for nonprofits in Franklin, Bedford counties kAm%CF>AVD 5676?56CD :?D:DE E96 AC6D:56?E 92D ?@E 24E65 :? 2 5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ H2J[ 2?5 E96J A@:?E E@ AF3=:4 A@==:?8 E92E D9@HD H:56DAC625 DFAA@CE 7@C A@=:4:6D =:<6 C6DEC:4E:@?D @? EC2?D86?56C 2E9=6E6D]k^AmkAmQw6VD H@C<:?8 E@ 6DE23=:D9 4@>>@? D6?D6 @?46 282:?[Q D2:5 t5 (:==:2>D[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 {@8 r23:? #6AF3=:42?D[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?ED {vq% 4@?D6CG2E:G6D]k^Am kAmw2CC:D@? u:6=5D[ E96 AC:?4:A2= 56AFEJ AC6DD D64C6E2CJ 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6[ D2:5[ QE96 @G6C2== |pvp >@G6>6?E :D 2 3:8 E6?E H6=4@>6 7@C 2== 2?5 9@>6 E@ 2 =2C86 DH2E9 @7 E96 p>6C:42? A6@A=6]Qk^Am kAm“%96 AC6D:56?E 4@?E:?F6D E@ 7@DE6C 2 ?2E:@?2= AC:56 E92E D9@F=5 36 46=63C2E65 52:=J[Q u:6=5D D2:5[ Q2?5 96 :D 9@?@C65 E@ D6CG6 2== p>6C:42?D]Qk^Am k9am!C6D:56?E:2= 24E:@?D H6C6 H:56=J 6IA64E65k^9amkAm%CF>A >256 2?E:\EC2?D86?56C 2EE24<D 2 46?EC2= A=2?< @7 9:D 42>A2:8? C66=64E:@? >6DD286 2D 96 42==65 @? r@?8C6DD E@ A2DD 2 3:== DE2E:?8 E96C6 2C6 Q@?=J EH@ 86?56CDQ 2?5 A=65865 E@ 32? 9@C>@?2= 2?5 DFC8:42= :?E6CG6?E:@? 7@C EC2?D86?56C >:?@CD] w6 D:8?65 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 5@:?8 D@ :? y2?F2CJ]k^Am kAm%CF>A 32??65 EC2?D86?56C A6@A=6 7C@> D6CG:?8 :? E96 &]$] >:=:E2CJ]k^AmkAm%9@F89 yF?6 :D C64@8?:K65 ?2E:@?2==J 2D !C:56 >@?E9[ (9:E6 w@FD6 AC6DD D64C6E2CJ z2C@=:?6 {62G:EE E@=5 C6A@CE6CD %CF>A 92D Q?@ A=2?D 7@C 2 AC@4=2>2E:@?]Qk^Am kAmQx 42? E6== J@F E9:D AC6D:56?E :D G6CJ AC@F5 E@ 36 2 AC6D:56?E 7@C 2== p>6C:42?D[ C682C5=6DD @7 C246[ C6=:8:@? @C 4C665[Q D96 25565[ >2<:?8 ?@ >6?E:@? @7 D6IF2= @C:6?E2E:@? @C 86?56C :56?E:EJ]k^AmkAm%CF>A 564=:?65 E@ :DDF6 !C:56 |@?E9 AC@4=2>2E:@?D :? 9:D 7:CDE E6C>[ 3FE 5:5 C64@8?:K6 E96 46=63C2E:@? :? a_`h 2D 96 AF3=:4:K65 2 8=@32= 42>A2:8? E@ 564C:>:?2=:K6 9@>@D6IF2=:EJ 962565 3J #:492C5 vC6?6==[ E96? E96 &]$] p>32DD25@C E@ v6C>2?J 2?5 E96 9:896DE\AC@7:=6 @A6?=J 82J A6CD@? :? E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] WvC6?6== ?@H D6CG6D 2D 6?G@J 7@C DA64:2= >:DD:@?D]Xk^Am k9am%:>6D 492?865 H96C6 %CF>A :D 4@?46C?65k^9amkAm%CF>A ?2>65 9:>D6=7 492:C>2? @7 E96 z6??65J r6?E6C 7@C E96 !6C7@C>:?8 pCED[ @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?VD AC6>:6C 4F=EFC2= :?DE:EFE:@?D[ 27E6C 7:C:?8 >6>36CD @7 E96 3@2C5 @7 ECFDE66D] w6 42?46=65 2 H66<VD H@CE9 @7 6G6?ED 46=63C2E:?8 {vq%"Z C:89ED 7@C E9:D DF>>6CVD (@C=5 !C:56 76DE:G2= :? (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r]k^Am kAm%96 6IE6C:@C =:89ED E92E @?46 =:E E96 G6?F6 @? E96 !@E@>24 #:G6C :? E96 4@=@CD @7 E96 C2:?3@H H6C6 BF:4<=J C6A=2465 H:E9 C65[ H9:E6 2?5 3=F6]k^Am kAmpE E96 (9:E6 w@FD6[ %CF>A 2:56D A@:?E65 E@ E96:C 564:D:@? E@ D6:K6 @? 4F=EFC6 H2CD DFCC@F?5:?8 EC2?D86?56C C:89ED 5FC:?8 E96 a_ac 42>A2:8? 2D <6J E@ E96:C H:?]k^AmkAmy6??:?8D 7=2E=J C6;64E65 4=2:>D E92E E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 92D?VE 366? 5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ] QpC6 J@F <:55:?8 >6n *@FVC6 E9C@H:?8 EC2?D A6@A=6 @FE @7 E96 >:=:E2CJ] %92EVD 6I2>A=6 }@] `]Qk^AmkAmw6 A@:?ED E@ E96 42?46==2E:@? @7 D4:6?E:7:4 8C2?ED 2?5 7F?5:?8 7@C wx'^pxs$ @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 s676?D6 $64C6E2CJ !6E6 w68D6E9VD @C56C E@ C6?2>6 E96 &$}$ w2CG6J |:=<[ H9:49 4@>>6>@C2E6D E96 82J C:89ED 24E:G:DE 2?5 }2GJ G6E6C2?]k^Am kAmy6??:?8D 42==65 %CF>AVD 2AA@:?E>6?E @7 @A6?=J 82J >6? =:<6 vC6?6== 2?5 %C62DFCJ $64C6E2CJ $4@EE q6DD6?E E@ 9:89\AC@7:=6 A@D:E:@?D QH:?5@H 5C6DD:?8]Qk^Am Government-politics Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade CHRISTINE FERNANDO, JACQUELYN MARTIN and GARY FIELDS Associated Press k9am{6DD E@=6C2?46 7@C E96 :DDF6D 2D E:>6 A2DD6Dk^9amkAm(:==:2>D D2:5 %CF>A >256 E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ >@C6 2446AE:?8 @7 82J A6@A=6] u:CDE =25J |6=2?:2 %CF>A[ 96 ?@E65[ 9@DE65 7F?5C2:D6CD 7@C 9:D @C82?:K2E:@?]k^AmkAmQ~? E96 H9@=6[ H6 E9:?< 96VD E96 36DE AC6D:56?E 6G6C 7@C @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] w6VD >2?2865 E@ DFAA@CE FD :? H2JD E92E H6 92G6 ?6G6C 366? DFAA@CE65 3J 2?J 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[Q (:==:2>D D2:5] Q(6 2C6 G2DE=J 2446AE65 H:E9:? @FC A2CEJ ?@H]Qk^Am kAmrC2:8 z@??@E9[ 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2 AC@76DD@C @7 4:G:= C:89ED[ 4@>A2C65 E96 &]$]V EC2;64E@CJ E@ E92E @7 #FDD:2[ H9:49 D2H 2 4C24<5@H? @? 82J 2?5 =6D3:2? C:89ED 27E6C 2 =@?8 DEC6E49 @7 >@C6 AC@8C6DD:G6 A@=:4:6D] x? a_ab[ #FDD:2VD $FAC6>6 r@FCE 67764E:G6=J @FE=2H65 {vq%"Z 24E:G:D>]k^AmkAm%CF>AVD 2AAC@249 E@ {vq%"Z C:89ED 4@>6D 2>:5 2 3C@256C D9:7E 2>@?8 #6AF3=:42?D[ H9@ 8C6H =6DD E@=6C2?E :? C646?E J62CD]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ v2==FA[ E96 A6C46?E286 @7 #6AF3=:42?D H9@ E9:?< >2CC:286D 36EH66? D2>6\D6I 4@FA=6D D9@F=5 36 C64@8?:K65 2D G2=:5 H:E9 E96 D2>6 C:89ED 2D EC25:E:@?2= >2CC:286 5C@AA65 E@ c`T E9:D J62C] %92EVD E96 =@H6DE A@:?E D:?46 a_`e[ 2 J62C 27E6C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 E92E D2>6\D6I >2CC:286 :D 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C:89E[ 2?5 2 DF3DE2?E:2= 564=:?6 7C@> 2 9:89 @7 ddT :? a_a`]k^Am kAm%96C6VD 366? 2 D:>:=2C 5C@A :? E96 D92C6 @7 #6AF3=:42?D H9@ D2J 82J 2?5 =6D3:2? C6=2E:@?D 2C6 >@C2==J 2446AE23=6[ H9:49 5C@AA65 7C@> deT :? a_aa E@ bgT E9:D J62C] s6>@4C2ED[ >62?H9:=6[ 4@?E:?F6 E@ @G6CH96=>:?8=J DFAA@CE D2>6\D6I >2CC:286 2?5 D2J D2>6\D6I C6=2E:@?D 2C6 >@C2==J 2446AE23=6]k^Am kAmp? p!\}~#r A@== 7C@> |2J 7@F?5 daT @7 &]$] 25F=ED D2:5 E96J 2AAC@G6 @7 9@H %CF>A 92?5=65 EC2?D86?56C :DDF6D]k^Am 0 comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Trump booed and cheered at the Kennedy Center while attending 'Les Misérables' The drama in the audience rivaled the spectacle on stage Wednesday at the Kennedy Center, where Trump went to the opening night of "Les Misérables." As a generation of gay and lesbian people ages, memories of worse and better times swirl The challenges and obstacles for elderly LGBTQ+ people can be daunting, activists say. Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a loss for trans rights The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by Trump's Republican administration and state governments … Can $1,000 at birth change a child's future? A Republican proposal aims to find out A House GOP proposal would create tax-deferred investment accounts for infants, starting them each with $1,000. Assuming a 7% return, that wou… France's first couple sue Candace Owens for defamation over claims that Brigitte Macron is a man France's first couple plans to seek "substantial" damages from U.S. influencer Candace Owens if she continues claiming that President Emmanuel… Florida puts rainbow crosswalks in the crosshairs, as cities face deadlines to remove them Florida cities are facing deadlines to remove rainbow crosswalks celebrating LGBTQ pride following the removal of a rainbow crossing outside O… Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute Kids In the US More Likely To Die By Guns Than Anything Else Kids In the US More Likely To Die By Guns Than Anything Else Sen. Stuart discusses the data center sales tax exemption Sen. Stuart discusses the data center sales tax exemption
Government-politics Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade CHRISTINE FERNANDO, JACQUELYN MARTIN and GARY FIELDS Associated Press
Trump booed and cheered at the Kennedy Center while attending 'Les Misérables' The drama in the audience rivaled the spectacle on stage Wednesday at the Kennedy Center, where Trump went to the opening night of "Les Misérables."
As a generation of gay and lesbian people ages, memories of worse and better times swirl The challenges and obstacles for elderly LGBTQ+ people can be daunting, activists say.
Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids, a loss for trans rights The justices' 6-3 decision effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by Trump's Republican administration and state governments …
Can $1,000 at birth change a child's future? A Republican proposal aims to find out A House GOP proposal would create tax-deferred investment accounts for infants, starting them each with $1,000. Assuming a 7% return, that wou…
France's first couple sue Candace Owens for defamation over claims that Brigitte Macron is a man France's first couple plans to seek "substantial" damages from U.S. influencer Candace Owens if she continues claiming that President Emmanuel…
Florida puts rainbow crosswalks in the crosshairs, as cities face deadlines to remove them Florida cities are facing deadlines to remove rainbow crosswalks celebrating LGBTQ pride following the removal of a rainbow crossing outside O…
A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
