Advocates for transgender youth vowed to keep fighting Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked — at least temporarily — a California po…

Scouting America says it's keeping its new name and preserving its service to the 200,000 girls who participate in its programs following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement it's altering several policies at the urging of the Pentagon. One of the policies targets transgender youths. Hegseth made the announcement Friday. Hegseth has criticized Scouting America's historic rebrand in 2024 from the Boy Scouts and other changes he sees as part of "woke culture." Scouting America began allowing gay youths in 2013, ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015 and announced in 2017 it would accept transgender students. The Texas-based organization didn't mention the policy change targeting transgender youths in a statement Friday.

The Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Lower courts ruled for the transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans. But the conservative-dominated Supreme Court gave no indication after more than three hours of arguments Tuesday that it would follow suit. Instead, at least five of the six conservatives on the nine-member court indicate they'll rule the laws don't violate either the Constitution or the landmark Title IX law. Title IX prohibits discrimination in education and has produced dramatic growth in girls and women's sports.

The head of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has urged white men to report workplace discrimination based on race or sex. Andrea Lucas, a critic of DEI initiatives, posted on social media Wednesday, encouraging affected individuals to contact the agency. Her post followed Vice President JD Vance's criticism of DEI. Critics argue Lucas misunderstands DEI, which aims to create fairness for all, including white men. Former EEOC Chair Jenny Yang calls Lucas' focus on white men "problematic." Lucas has prioritized addressing DEI-related discrimination since becoming acting chair in January.

A majority of Supreme Court justices seem to be leaning in favor of a Christian counselor who is challenging bans on LGBTQ+ "conversion therapy" for kids as a violation of her First Amendment rights. Her lawyers argued Tuesday that the laws passed in about half of U.S. states wrongly restrict voluntary, faith-based therapy. President Donald Trump's administration is backing her challenge to Colorado's law. The state argues the measure simply regulates licensed therapists by barring a practice that's been scientifically discredited and linked to serious harm. But the conservative-majority court seemed unconvinced that states can restrict talk therapy aimed at changing feelings or behavior while allowing counseling that affirms kids identifying as gay or transgender.