FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts
[email protected]
410-576-7009
BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, as part of a coalition of 18 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief supporting a legal challenge to President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives and programs that support transgender individuals.
Attorney General Brown and the coalition filed their brief in San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump before the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. At issue on appeal are several provisions in executive orders that direct agencies to terminate federal funding for grants that are “equity-related” or promote “gender ideology.” The plaintiffs in the case argue that these funding provisions impose unlawful burdens on organizations that provide critical services to LGBTQ+ communities – many specifically supporting transgender individuals.
“These discriminatory and unlawful executive orders threaten the funding of nonprofits like Baltimore Safe Haven, a plaintiff in this case that helps transgender Marylanders access critical health services like HIV prevention,” said Attorney General Brown. “We cannot stand by while vague federal mandates force our nonprofits and charitable organizations to choose between their missions and their survival.”
In their brief, the attorneys general maintain that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs are lawful, beneficial, and ensure compliance with federal civil rights statutes. The coalition also explains how the challenged provisions in the executive orders harm their states, residents, and businesses by denying them the many valuable benefits associated with workplaces, schools and communities that have adopted practices related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Additionally, the attorneys general explain that the funding provisions related to “gender ideology” unlawfully terminate grants and other awards that support critical services and lifesaving health care for transgender individuals. Not only does this discriminatory directive harm the organizations that rely on this funding, but it also harms the health and well-being of transgender residents who rely on these services and who are already among the most vulnerable members of our society.
A district court granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction, but the administration appealed. Attorney General Brown and the other attorneys general are urging the appeals court to uphold the injunction.
Joining Attorney General Brown in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
###