Perryman: “The administration is weaponizing the government against the rights of the American people and against LGBTQ people.”
Perryman: “As I think about the months ahead, which will be challenging, I’m just really looking forward to continuing to have a team that’s able to be there for people that in this time are choosing courage.”
Washington, D.C. – To honor Pride Month, Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman was interviewed by Chris Kane of the Washington Blade to discuss Democracy Forward’s work to defend the rights of the LGBTQ+ community amidst rising threats. Since President Trump’s inauguration, the Trump-Vance administration has launched an unprecedented attack on LGBTQ+ rights as it implements its Project 2025 agenda. Since January, Democracy Forward has filed more than 70 legal actions and launched 90 investigations, securing significant victories that protect LGBTQ+ individuals from harmful policies.
Key Perryman Excerpts from interview:
- On the rising threats to LGBTQ rights: “Of course, this is an administration that’s already shown that it’s very focused on rolling back the rights of the LGBTQ community. In many instances, we’ve co-counseled and developed cases alongside Lambda and other groups specifically and exclusively focused on LGBTQ rights.”
- On the Trump-Vance administration’s weaponization of the federal government against LGBTQ people: “The administration is weaponizing the government against the rights of the American people and against LGBTQ people. Those types of matters that really involve the mechanics of the federal government and how it’s being weaponized against the American people, those are areas where Democracy Forward has had particular expertise and has been a core player.”
- On the resilience of the LGBTQ community and the courage of the American people standing up for democracy: “We know there’s a lot of fear. What I’m looking forward to at our work at Democracy Forward is how we get to be alongside the people and communities in this country that even though they are afraid, and even though they are scared, they are making the choice to choose courage and to step forward and say, we can build some community together. We see that happening in our work every day with all of these amazing plaintiffs and groups that we are representing. While big, storied institutions are not standing up the way they need to, in this time, the American people really are and at Democracy Forward, we get a front row seat to that, which is a real honor. As I think about the months ahead, which will be challenging, I’m just really looking forward to continuing to have a team that’s able to be there for people that in this time are choosing courage.”
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.