As state lawmakers finish their sessions, many are wondering about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in their states. There are various actions, including bans on gender-affirming care, anti-discrimination laws, and legal battles, especially concerning transgender rights.
This week is no different, as the following stories shed light on the current status of LGBTQ+ rights in the nation.
- Wyoming’s governor has recently enforced a complete ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which is expected to affect numerous young people in the state.LGBTQ Nation)
- In Kansas, the state legislature has approved a bill that would require identification to access specific online content, including “acts of homosexuality.” This bill is on its way to the governor’s desk.The Advocate)
- New Hampshire’s House of Representatives has passed House Bill 1205, which aims to prevent transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports teams. The bill will now move on to the state Senate.Los Angeles Blade)
- Georgia’s Republican party made a final attempt to pass anti-trans bills by consolidating them into an omnibus package during the last day of the legislative session.LGBTQ Nation)
- A Texas judge has issued a temporary injunction on a civil investigation order from Attorney General Ken Paxton, preventing other states and organizations from being required to submit sensitive medical information to the Texas state government.LGBTQ Nation)
- Sacramento, California, unanimously voted to designate the city as a sanctuary city for transgender individuals, in response to the increasing number of states banning gender-affirming care for minors.LGBTQ Nation)
- Idaho Governor Brad Little signed off on House Bill 668, a legislation that would prohibit coverage for transgender healthcare under state insurance, like Medicaid. The bill passed through the House and Senate due to the state's strong conservative tendencies.Idaho Capital Sun)
- The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Ohio state legislature regarding House Bill 68, a bill that limits healthcare access for transgender minors. They aim to overturn the law before it takes effect.ABC News)
- Kansas’s Senate Bill 233, which bans gender-affirming care for minors, is expected to pass through the state legislature. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is likely to veto the bill, but an override is anticipated due to the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate.LGBTQ Nation)
- A proposed bill in Colorado, Senate Bill 189, would establish protections for transgender individuals in state law. Currently, protections for trans individuals are provided through sexual orientation language in hate crimes legislation; this bill aims to clarify and strengthen these protections.Denver Post)
