Rainbow Families is hosting a special Town Hall on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM at the Human Rights Campaign's Headquarters in NW DC. The event will focus on legal protections for LGBTQ+ marriages and parental rights, advocating for pro-LGBTQ+ policies in our schools, and how to maintain our mental health well-being during this difficult time for many of us. So, why are we hosting this event?

Since 2022, there has been a concentrated effort to roll back rights and freedoms for LGBTQ+ people with a specific focus on stopping LGBTQ+ inclusion in our schools and transgender people's rights and health care. This fight started on the state level with book bans and curriculum censorship such as Florida's "Don't Say Gay/Trans" bill that made it illegal for teachers to discuss LGBTQ+ people, families, or topics in public schools. The attacks increased with bans on life saving, age-appropriate gender affirming medical care for transgender minors and even some transgender adults. Over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state houses across the country in the last three years alone.

This year has seen more attacks on LGBTQ+ people including the ban on transgender people serving in the US military and cuts to HIV-related programs. And now we are seeing the first challenge to the historic Obergefell Supreme Court Decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

Many of our Rainbow Families are scared and unsure how to protect themselves and their families. Many of our Rainbow Families are disheartened to see the roll back of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and books in our public schools. And many of our Rainbow Families are dealing with mental health distress navigating the current polarized political climate. This is why we are bringing our community together for an in-person event in November. It's time we had a serious conversation about how to protect our families, our schools, and our mental health.

We hope you will join us for the Rainbow Families' Town Hall: Conversations about Our Families, Our Schools, & Our Mental Health on Saturday, November 15th 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM in-person at HRC's Headquarters in NW DC. Visit https://rainbowfamilies.org/events/ to register today.