Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and a familiar face from Donald Trump’s first term, currently serves as the United States attorney general during Trump’s second administration.

Known for her staunch conservatism and high-profile legal battles, Bondi’s record on LGBTQ+ rights is deeply concerning to queer Americans and allies alike, especially in its hostility against same-sex parents, transgender youth, and their allies.

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Pam Bondi At a Glance

• Location: Tampa, Florida
• Party Affiliation: Republican
• Race/Ethnicity: White
• Gender Identity: Female
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Pronouns: She/Her
• LGBTQ+ Ally: No

Social Media

• Twitter: @PamBondi
• Instagram: @PamBondi
• Facebook: Pam Bondi

Biography

Pam Bondi was born on November 17, 1965, in Tampa, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Prior to becoming a national political figure, she served as a prosecutor and spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.

Bondi rose to prominence after being elected Florida’s attorney general in 2010. She served two terms and became a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, ultimately joining his legal team during his first impeachment trial. During Trump’s second term, Bondi was appointed attorney general of the United States, a move that sparked criticism from civil rights groups due to her track record on LGBTQ+ issues and her support for policies that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

Bondi’s Stance on LGBTQ+ Issues

Pam Bondi’s track record on LGBTQ+ rights is marked by a pattern of opposition to equality measures, often framed through legal formalism or so-called religious freedom. While she occasionally strikes a conciliatory tone in public statements, her actions as Florida’s attorney general — and now as the nation’s top law enforcement official — tell a different story. From fighting marriage equality to endorsing anti-trans legislation, Bondi has consistently aligned herself with policies and movements that undermine LGBTQ+ dignity and rights.

Opposition to marriage equality

Pam Bondi’s most infamous LGBTQ+ stance dates back to the fight for marriage equality in Florida. In 2014, Bondi filed multiple legal briefs opposing same-sex marriage, arguing it would “impose significant public harm.” Her office claimed that recognizing same-sex marriage would create “significant problems” for the state.

Bondi’s defense of Florida’s same-sex marriage ban earned her sharp rebuke from LGBTQ+ advocates. When she later claimed she supported gay rights during a 2016 CNN interview, following the Pulse nightclub massacre, anchor Anderson Cooper pushed back, asking, “Do you really think you are a champion of the gay community?”

During Bondi’s 2025 Senate confirmation hearing to become U.S. attorney general, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) asked her if she would respect and defend marriage equality. Bondi replied, “I will respect the law. Absolutely.”

Response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting

Following the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Bondi made public statements of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. However, many found her words hollow given her legal efforts to block marriage equality. During the CNN interview, Cooper told her, “I will say I have never really seen you talk about gays and lesbians and transgender people in a positive way until now.”

In response, Bondi said, “My job was to uphold the Constitution of the state of Florida. That doesn’t mean I dislike gay people.” Still, her history of opposing LGBTQ+ rights in court told a different story.

Opposition to same-sex adoption

“As Florida’s next attorney general, I will vigorously defend Florida’s law banning gay adoption in our state,” Bondi wrote PolitiFact in a 2010 email. Then, in a June 5, 2010, interview with The Petersburg Times/Miami Herald, Bondi said she would appeal any court rulings against gay adoption all the way up to the Supreme Court. At an August 7, 2010, forum sponsored by the Christian Family Coalition, Bondi pledged to oppose gay adoption.

Gender-affirming care for trans youth

In 2022, Bondi expressed support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) directive to investigate parents seeking gender-affirming care for their trans children, calling it “a matter of protecting minors from irreversible harm.” Her support aligns with a broader conservative movement to restrict access to such care, often under the guise of child protection.

President Trump’s 2025 executive order against gender-affirming care for youth directs Bondi to prosecute sanctuary states whose statutes protect adults helping minors access the care and to use pre-existing laws against “parental kidnapping” to prosecute adults who transport children into sanctuary states.

Trump’s order directs Bondi to “issue new guidance protecting whistleblowers” who violate patient confidentiality by reporting doctors who may be providing hormonal care to patients they suspect of being trans. His order also instructs Bondi to extend the time in which children and the parents of children can sue medical providers of gender-affirming care, which will allow disapproving parents to sue doctors, even if their child was satisfied with the care they received.

In April 2025, Bondi threatened doctors with 10 years in prison for providing gender-affirming care.

Don’t say gay/LGBTQ+ discussions in schools

Bondi has publicly praised Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. The law, officially known as the “Parental Rights in Education” Act, restricts classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms. She has also made controversial comparisons regarding LGBTQ+ identity, at one point likening it to “bringing a heroin needle to school,” according to a January 2025 statement from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

During an August 2023 Fox News appearance, Bondi criticized “all of the gender identity extremism that educators are pushing on these kids,” echoing rhetoric that the so-called “parents’ rights” movement has used to oppose LGBTQ+-inclusive content and policies in schools.

Support for “religious freedom” laws

As Attorney General, Bondi supports so-called “religious liberty” initiatives that critics argue are veiled attempts to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Under President Trump’s May 2025 executive order on religious freedom, he tasked Bondi to help “identify emerging threats to religious liberty” by supporting the creation of a 14-member religious liberty commission that will “strategize [how to] preserve and enhance religious liberty protections.”

Transgender children in sports

In a 2021 Fox News appearance, Bondi praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) ban on transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports, calling it a “common-sense policy to protect fairness in women’s athletics.”

Under Bondi, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) terminated three federal grants funding Maine’s Department of Corrections (DOC) programs in retaliation for the state refusing to ban trans student-athletes from sports teams matching their gender identity.

Bondi has also been linked to conservative legal groups that promote anti-trans legislation, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, which has been labeled an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Discrimination protections

As attorney general, Bondi issued a memo instructing the Department of Justice to investigate companies with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives “to end illegal discrimination and preferences.” She has also enforced federal anti-discrimination statutes in order to deny all legal rights to trans people, including civil rights, rights to healthcare access, and public accommodations in girls’ and women’s restrooms and locker rooms.

Career Highlights and Affiliations

• Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida; Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Stetson University College of Law
• Served as a prosecutor and spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office
• Elected Florida Attorney General in 2010, reelected in 2014
• Led legal opposition to the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate
• Opposed same-sex marriage in multiple state court cases
• Served as part of Donald Trump’s legal defense team during his first impeachment
• Appointed United States Attorney General during Trump’s second term

Bondi is also a frequent contributor to Fox News and a regular speaker at conservative events like CPAC. She has remained a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and has echoed his unfounded claims about election fraud in 2020.

The future of LGBTQ+ rights under Pam Bondi

Pam Bondi’s record suggests a Justice Department that deprioritizes LGBTQ+ civil rights, particularly for trans individuals and queer youth. While she frames her views around the Constitution and religious liberty, her past actions point to a consistent resistance to LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.

As attorney general, Bondi’s influence extends beyond rhetoric. She has the power to shape federal investigations, back or challenge state laws, and direct the DOJ’s enforcement of civil rights. For LGBTQ+ Americans, that reality makes vigilance against bigotry not just necessary, but urgent.

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