LGBTQ+ Rights and Sexual Freedom 

September 2, 2026

It is officially Sexual Freedom Month. This September, we at the Woodhull Freedom Foundation will be centering our attention, as always, on our fundamental human right to sexual freedom. And we firmly believe that LGBTQ+ rights are inextricable from our right to sexual freedom.

LGBTQ+ rights are under relentless legislative attack. This year alone, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has tracked 528 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the U.S. The sheer number of bills is astonishing, and they threaten devastating consequences for people throughout the country. There are bills that create barriers to acquiring accurate IDs, restrict access to appropriate health care, and limit free speech, expression, and access to public accommodations.

We at Woodhull know that these anti-LGBTQ+ bills are also anti-sexual freedom bills, and that they infringe on other fundamental human rights as well. Being able to have accurate gender information on IDs and records is necessary so people can safely travel, apply for jobs, and access government services. Being able to express ourselves freely is necessary to protect our access to information and our participation in democracy. Being able to access the healthcare we need is necessary so we can live our lives as fully as possible. Being able to use the restroom safely is necessary so we can go to school, work, and freely access public spaces.

As we celebrate Sexual Freedom Month, we will highlight all that sexual freedom encompasses, including LGBTQ+ rights. Sexual freedom — and LGBTQ+ rights — are at the heart of human dignity, equality, and civil liberties embodied in both the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are many ways to join Woodhull in our work to advocate for our right to sexual freedom, including through signing up for our mailing list or making a donation.