After a tough year for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., House Republicans are gearing up to launch pointed attacks against the LGBTQ+ community in 2026. A recent study from the Human Rights Campaign indicates that conservative lawmakers are continuing to push anti-LGBTQ+ legislation forward, in spite of nationwide support for LGBTQ+ community.
The HRC’s study found that Republicans who support Donald Trump are working to pass 52 anti-LGBTQ riders across 12 of the must-pass FY26 federal appropriations bills. Riders are unofficial amendments to current legislation which have little to no chance of passing on their own. These changes ride on the backs of other bills to get through legislative branches.
These riders will target LGBTQ+ Americans, some include blocks on gender-affirming care, changes that would erase public data on gender identity and sexual orientation, restrict discrimination protections, and limit support and public health protections for LGBTQ+ folks, according to The Washington Blade.
The outlet also reports that congressional Republicans have also rescinded funding allocated by the Biden Administration. Via cuts to DEI programming, higher education institutions and beyond, these lawmakers have cut off crucial funding that supports the LGBTQ+ community, low-income families, trans youth, and people at high risk for HIV.
Many people expect continued attacks on the trans community from conservative legislators. According to Trans Legislation Tracker, in 2025 a total of 124 anti-trans bills were passed throughout the U.S. And another 508 anti-trans bills remain active, with around 382 failed. Proposed bills in 2026 attack trans people in nearly every aspect of public and private life, including bathroom-use, sports participation, education, and personal healthcare.
The ACLU also tracks anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S., and currently has accounted for 616 bills affecting the national queer community. Their tracker indicates what bills have been introduced and their current status whether defeated, advancing, or passed into law.
