The Heritage Foundation vs. transgender people

by Andrea James Reviewed September 29, 2026 4 min read

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative American think tank that opposes transgender rights.

Heitage Foundation developed Project 2025, the blueprint for the second Trump Administration’s attacks on American democracy in general and trans people in particular.

Background

The Heritage Foundation was founded in 1973 by Paul Weyrich, Edwin Feulner, and Joseph Coors. It was a major influence on the Reagan Administration in the 1980s. Weyrich was succeeded as president by Frank J. Walton, who significantly increased their fundraising efforts.

In 2010, they founded Heritage Action, which expanded their profound influence in conservative American politics.

Anti-transgender activism

The Heritage Foundation has hosted anti-transgender events with “gender critical” extremists.

They have developed legislation templates and spread medical misinformation about trans and gender diverse youth.

Anti-trans events

The Heritage Foundation is an American conservative think tank. Starting in 2017, Heritage launched a series of anti-trans events, including:

Gender Dysphoria in Children: Understanding the Science and Medicine (October 11, 2017)
- Ryan T. Anderson (moderator, 2017 ADF strategy meeting [unconfirmed])
- Michelle Cretella (ACPeds, 2017 ADF strategy meeting)
- Paul Hruz (CMA, 2017 ADF strategy meeting)
- Allan Josephson (2017 ADF strategy meeting)

The Medical Harms of Hormonal and Surgical Interventions for Gender Dysphoric Children (March 28, 2019)
- Ryan T. Anderson (host, 2017 ADF strategy meeting [unconfirmed])
- “Elaine” [unaccepting parent]
- Walt Heyer [ex-trans activist] (2017 ADF strategy meeting)
- Michael K. Laidlaw
- Marian Rutigliano

Heritage held additional anti-trans panels and summits:

Sex Scandal: The Drive to Abolish Male and Female (March 17, 2017)
When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment (February 21, 2018)
The Inequality of the Equality Act: Concerns from the Left (January 28, 2019)
Fair Play? Women’s Athletics in the Age of Gender Identity (April 8, 2019)
Summit on Protecting Children from Sexualization (October 9, 2019)
National Education Survey Results: Gender Identity and Life Issues in Schools (July 23, 2020)
The Promise to America’s Children: Protecting Kids from Extreme Gender Ideology and Laws (February 23, 2021)
Policy Pulse: How the Equality Act’s Gender Ideology Would Harm Children (June 17, 2021)
Policy Pulse: How Gender Ideology Undermines Title IX (June 19, 2021)
Gender Now and Then: Critical Theory vs. the Judeo-Christian Tradition (May 11, 2022)
The Effect of Access to Puberty Blockers and Cross-Sex Hormones on Youth Suicide Rates (June 14, 2022)
Detransitioner Talks Protecting Children from Gender Medicine (January 10, 2023)
The Dangers of Gender Ideology at Home and Abroad (February 27, 2024)
Coming to a School Near You: Biden’s New Title IX Rule Puts Women, Children, Parents, and Free Speech on the Chopping Block (June 20, 2024)
The American Family in the Crosshairs: How Do Parents Fight Back? (December 3, 2024)

In January 2019, Heritage Foundation convened a panel titled “The Inequality of the Equality Act: Concerns From the Left.” Panelists included three members of anti-trans group Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF), which had previously allied itself with anti-trans group Focus on the Family.

Ryan T. Anderson (chair)
“Anonymous organizer” (unaccepting parent – possibly “Elaine”)
Hacsi Horváth (ex-trans activist)
Jennifer Chavez (WoLF)
Kara Dansky (WoLF)
Julia Beck (WoLF)

Project 2025

Project 2025 calls for rolling back federal recognition and protections for transgender people. Its proposals include:

eliminating references to “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” from federal rules and regulations
restricting or banning trans healthcare for young people
restricting or banning transgender military service
revising Title IX guidance to define “sex” strictly using the gametic definition of the term
defunding or restricting federal support for LGBTQ-inclusive health and education programs

References

Reed, Erin (February 17, 2026). “You Outlaw It”: Heritage Foundation President Announces Intent To Outlaw All Trans Adult Care. Erin In The Morning https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/you-outlaw-it-heritage-foundation

Barrón-López, Laura; Popat, Shrai (March 27, 2024). How a second Trump presidency could impact the LGBTQ+ community. PBS NewsHour https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-a-second-trump-presidency-could-impact-the-lgbtq-community [archive]

Migdon, Brooke (June 14, 2022). ‘Absurd:’ LGBTQ+ advocates, medical professionals respond to conservative study linking gender-affirming care to greater risk of youth suicide. The Hill https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/3523225-absurd-lgbtq-advocates-medical-professionals-respond-to-conservative-study-linking-gender-affirming-care-to-greater-risk-of-youth-suicide/

Editors (April 12, 2021). Outlawing Trans Youth: State Legislatures and the Battle over Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Minors. 134 Harvard Law Review 2163 https://harvardlawreview.org/2021/04/outlawing-trans-youth-state-legislatures-and-the-battle-over-gender-affirming-healthcare-for-minors/

Holt, Lauren (March 29, 2021). Transgender rights in the spotlight as Arkansas and Tennessee become latest states to pass anti-trans legislation. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/28/us/transgender-rights-arkansas-tennessee-anti-trans-laws/index.html

Avery, Dan (February 17, 2021). State anti-transgender bills represent coordinated attack, advocates say. NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/state-anti-transgender-bills-represent-coordinated-attack-advocates-say-n1258124

Bauer, Sydney (February 11, 2020). The New Anti-Trans Culture War Hiding in Plain Sight. The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/156539/new-anti-trans-culture-war-hiding-plain-sight

Fitzsimons, Tim (January 29, 2019). Conservative group hosts anti-transgender panel of feminists ‘from the left’. NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/conservative-group-hosts-anti-transgender-panel-feminists-left-n964246