UPDATE: RILA v The NEA
| 2025
APRIL 3, 2025, PROVIDENCE, RI — A federal judge has denied a request for preliminary relief in our ACLU-led lawsuit challenging the National Endowment for the Arts’ funding restriction tied to “gender ideology.” Though the court agreed that barring NEA funding for projects that promote “gender ideology” would likely violate the First Amendment, they refused to expressly block the NEA from reimposing the restriction. It concluded that since the NEA is currently in the process of determining whether to reimpose that ban, the court could not get in the way of the agency’s decision making.
Marta V. Martinez, RILA's Executive Director reaffirms the organization's commitment to its mission by continuing to uplift silenced voices and honor the artist in full: "We shouldn’t need to negotiate for the right to support and uplift all artists — including transgender and nonbinary artists.
"This order fails to bring us the clarity we need to apply for funds for projects that allow Latinx artists, especially those who are queer, trans, or nonbinary, to show up as their whole selves without fear of erasure of censorship. Artistic freedom and equal dignity are fundamental to a just and vibrant society and despite today’s ruling, we will continue to create space for artists to tell their truths, challenge norms, and build bridges through their work.”
"This order fails to bring us the clarity we need to apply for funds for projects that allow Latinx artists, especially those who are queer, trans, or nonbinary, to show up as their whole selves without fear of erasure of censorship. Artistic freedom and equal dignity are fundamental to a just and vibrant society and despite today’s ruling, we will continue to create space for artists to tell their truths, challenge norms, and build bridges through their work.”
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