As we prepare to celebrate Pride Month in June and head into the second half of 2026 — just months away from the midterm elections — it’s clear we are facing some of the most coordinated and dangerous attacks on LGBTQ+ people in decades. But Silver State Equality was built for moments like this, and we will never back down when our community is under attack.
Since 2019, we have been planting the seeds of equality in every corner of Nevada. Today, those seeds have grown into a powerful movement that cannot be ignored. Our strength comes from an extraordinarily talented staff and the unstoppable dedication of volunteers, advocates, and allies who continue to show up for this community time and time again. You are the heartbeat of this movement, and you are the reason bigotry, ignorance, and hate will never win.
This year, Silver State Equality is inviting everyone to “Rise Up”, because progress happens when people take action in ways that work for them. Whether that means voting, organizing, learning your rights, canvassing, volunteering, donating, or simply having conversations in your community, every action matters.
The challenges ahead are real, but so is our power. And our greatest victories are still ahead.
VEGAS
Join us on Friday, September 25, 2026 for the annual Silver State Equality Awards at Soleia Las Vegas at The Vanderpump Hotel, Vegas’ hottest new venue and the creation of Lisa Vanderpump, last year’s Silver State Equality Equality Visibility Award recipient. This year’s honorees and special guests will be announced soon! Ticket and sponsorship information is now available
Silver State Equality Expands HIV Educational Efforts through Gilead Grant
Thanks to the generous support of Gilead Sciences, Silver State Equality is proud to launch an expanded initiative to make HIV prevention information more accessible. Our goal is to ensure community members
have the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health.
This summer, we’ll launch a fully updated HIV resource page featuring the latest advancements in testing, prevention, and treatment. You’ll also see Silver State Equality at Pride celebrations across Nevada this fall, where we’ll be sharing up-to-date information on HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, along with practical tips for starting conversations with healthcare providers and partners.
U.S. SUPREME COURT UPDATE
Chiles v. Salazar
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” for minors likely violates the First Amendment in the case of Chiles v. Salazar. This ruling has weakened the ability of state licensing boards to regulate healthcare by reframing certain therapeutic practices as protected speech, potentially limiting oversight of conversion therapy and other areas of evidence-based care.
For the time being in Nevada, strong protections remain in place. In 2017, the Nevada Legislature enacted SB201, legislation sponsored by former State Senator and Silver State Equality founding member David Parks and signed into law by then Governor Brian Sandoval, prohibiting licensed providers from subjecting minors to
conversion therapy. These safeguards were designed to protect young people from stigmatizing and harmful practices. Defending them is essential to ensuring LGBTQ+ youth across our state are treated with dignity, and have access to evidence-based care and the full protection of the law.
Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice rejected by every major medical and mental health organization in the country. Decades of research confirm that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are ineffective and can cause lasting psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide.
Silver State Equality will continue working with state leaders and community partners to ensure Nevada remains a place where LGBTQ+ people are protected from these abusive practices.
ELECTION WATCH
The Nevada Biological Sex Requirements for School Sports Programs Ballot Proposition
This November, Nevada voters could be asked to decide whether transgender girls should be banned from participating in school sports. The proposed constitutional amendment is currently in the signature-gathering phase and has not yet qualified for the 2026 ballot. Silver State Equality is already working alongside coalition partners to educate the public and mobilize opposition to this harmful measure. This effort is part of a coordinated national campaign targeting transgender people through ballot initiatives and legislation. Across the country, opponents are pushing policies that seek to exclude transgender youth from sports, restrict access
to bathrooms and locker rooms, and limit access to healthcare.
In states like Maine and Colorado, anti-trans ballot measures are already moving forward ahead of the November election. Meanwhile, states like Ohio have enacted similar restrictions through legislative action. These attacks are designed to stigmatize transgender people and roll back protections that allow LGBTQ+ people to live openly and safely.
Silver State Equality will continue fighting to ensure Nevada remains a state where every person — including transgender youth — is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
2026
Getting out the vote
The 2026 election is a critical opportunity to elect strong champions for not only LGBTQ+ rights, but every citizen’s civil rights. Silver State Equality is meeting this moment by organizing, mobilizing and turning out the vote in record numbers.
The following is a partial list of 2026 endorsements. For a full list of Silver State Equality endorsed pro-equality candidates, visit our elections page.
BALLOT MEASURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Ballot Measure 6: Vote YES to protect reproductive rights
Ballot Measure 7: Vote NO to prevent voter suppression
