Trump Forced to Restore $6.2 Million in Funding to LGBTQ+ Nonprofits After Federal Lawsuit
- Deborah Iroegbu
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
In a landmark decision, Trump restores LGBTQ+ funding after a federal court ordered the reinstatement of $6.2 million in grants to nine LGBTQ+ and HIV-focused nonprofits.across the U.S., following a successful legal challenge led by Lambda Legal.
This victory not only safeguards essential services but also reaffirms constitutional protections for organizations supporting some of the country’s most marginalized communities.
Back in February, the Trump administration initiated actions to terminate equity-based grants by enforcing three controversial executive orders:
Executive Order 14168: Defined gender strictly as male or female assigned at birth.
Executive Order 1415: Sought to end programs considering race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.
Executive Order 14173: Targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in federal grantmaking.
These orders directly threatened programs that served LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender youth, queer communities of color, and those working at the intersections of gender and HIV prevention.
In response, Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of nine organizations affected by the funding freeze. Among them were:
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Los Angeles LGBT Center
GLBT Historical Society
Prisma Community Care
NYC LGBT Community Center
Baltimore Safe Haven
Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center
FORGE
San Francisco Community Health Center
The case, San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump, was brought before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. On June 9, Judge Jon S. Tigar granted a preliminary injunction, effectively blocking the implementation of Trump’s executive orders.
In a powerful 52-page ruling, Judge Tigar stated that the executive orders:
“Reflect an effort to censor constitutionally protected speech and services promoting DEI and recognizing the existence of transgender individuals.”
He further wrote that these attempts by the executive branch likely violated the First Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the Separation of Powers, and warned:
“Even in the context of federal subsidies, [the Executive branch] cannot weaponize Congressionally appropriate funds to single out protected communities for disfavored treatment or suppress ideas it does not like.”
The ruling marks a critical pushback against attempts to defund or silence LGBTQ+ organizations, especially those working on the frontlines of HIV prevention, racial justice, and gender equity.
In a statement following the win, Lambda Legal’s senior attorney Jose Abrigo said:
“When we fight, we win. We know the battle is far from over… but the cause is too important, and the need too great, for us to lose heart.”
Likewise, SF AIDS Foundation CEO Dr. Tyler TerMeer posted on Instagram:
“We are relieved — but make no mistake, we are also resolute.”
Though this case took place in the U.S., its implications resonate across borders. Legal decisions like these set precedents, strengthen public discourse on LGBTQ+ rights, and show the power of collective resistance against state-level discrimination.
As an organization exclusively focused on LBQ+ women in the Global South, LesbianGlobal understands the ripple effects of funding cuts and policy rollbacks. This win is a timely reminder that visibility, legal resistance, and public pressure matter—and they work.
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