Welcome to our weekly roundup of political issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.Over 2500 people showed up at the Iowa State Capitol on Thursday to protest the legislatures bill to remove transgender people from the states Civil Rights Act. The bill, which passed 35-15, will allow for discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment and education. Protesters chanted and sang, while debates on the legislation happened behind closed doors. State Senator William Doltzer gave an impassioned speech from the floor, reminding his colleagues of their morning recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and saying, Try to tell me that transgender people arent people, and they dont deserve liberty and justice. Try to tell me that and try to tell yourself that. Iowa becomes the first state to roll back trans civil rights in the country. The Pentagon has announced it will begin the process of identifying and discharging transgender service members. This comes a month after President Donald Trumps Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness executive order called for the dismissal of trans people from the military. SPARTA Pride, an organization for transgender individuals who currently serve or have served in the U.S. military, shared a statement about the decision. Transgender Americans have served openly and honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces for nearly a decade. Thousands of transgender troops are currently serving, and are fully qualified for the positions in which they serve.No policy will ever erase transgender Americans contribution to history, warfighting, or military excellence. Transgender service members have a unique fighting spirit and will continue to defend the constitution and American Values no matter what lies ahead.In the meantime, SPARTA Pride continues to stand in solidarity with all transgender service members.Over 2500 people showed up at the Iowa State Capitol on Thursday to protest the legislatures bill to remove transgender people from the states Civil Rights Act. The bill, which passed 35-15, will allow for discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment and education. Protesters chanted and sang, while debates on the legislation happened behind closed doors. State Senator William Doltzer gave an impassioned speech from the floor, reminding his colleagues of their morning recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and saying, Try to tell me that transgender people arent people, and they dont deserve liberty and justice. Try to tell me that and try to tell yourself that.AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)joins National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance in a lawsuit suing the Trump administration for executive orders related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver introduced a resolution to overturn same-sex marriage. Schriver and the other co-sponsors of the bill are asking for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality the law of the land in 2015. Ohio House Democrats Rep. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) introduced a companion bill to the Fairness Act that would include protections for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is helping advocates enshrine marriage equality in state statutes. A U.S. District Court in D.C. has granted a preliminary injunction against the White House Office of Management and Budgets freeze on federal grant disbursements, which jeopardized essential services nationwide. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the National Council of Nonprofits, the American Public Health Association, Main Street Alliance, and SAGE. The post The OutLook: LGBTQ+ politics & policy: February 28, 2025 appeared first on News Is Out.