Arts groups sue NEA for new 'gender ideology'-related grant restrictions
Source: NPR
March 6, 2025 7:43 PM ET
Arts groups who make or support work focused on LGBTQ+ people and issues are suing the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in response to new rules imposed by the Trump Administration requiring that grant applicants agree not to promote "gender ideology" in their work.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the suit on behalf of Rhode Island Latino Arts, National Queer Theater, The Theater Offensive, and the Theatre Communications Group in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Thursday.
It's a race against the clock: The lawsuit comes just three weeks ahead of the NEA's present funding cycle deadline on Mar. 24, leaving arts groups wondering if their applications will succeed — or whether they can apply for funding at all.
The suit seeks to stop the federal agency that provides grants to arts organizations nationwide from implementing Executive Order 14168, which President Donald Trump signed on Jan. 20. As a result of the order, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," the NEA has asked grant applicants to certify that they will not use federal funds to "promote gender ideology."
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/06/nx-s1-5320245/lawsuit-nea-gender-ideology-restrictions-trump-executive-order
Link to ACLU PRESS RELEASE - Artists Mount First Amendment Challenge to New Grant Requirements by the National Endowment for the Arts
Link to ACLU COMPLAINT (PDF viewer) - https://www.aclu.org/cases/rhode-island-latino-arts-v-national-endowment-for-the-arts?document=Complaint
Link to ACLU COMPLAINT (PDF) - https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2025/03/Complaint-file-stamped.pdf
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