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in the States

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in the 2021-2022 legislative session. Regardless of how these bills progress, the sheer volume is alarming in and of itself. What’s more concerning, however, is their substance. Click the topics below to get a broad overview of some of the most significant statewide attacks on LGBTQ+ families.

  • At least 12 states have introduced so-called “parental rights bills:'' measures that claim to empower parents to direct their child’s upbringing in public schools.

    Dubbed “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bills after an intentionally vague and far-reaching law in Florida that passed earlier this session, these bills…

    • Restrict, or outright forbid, any mention of sexual orientation or gender identity,

    • Prohibit LGBTQ+ students from being out at school,

    • Prohibit kids with LGBTQ+ parents from talking about their families,

    • (In some cases) Force teachers to out students to their parents,

    • Silence students in the classroom and

    • Fuel dangerous political rhetoric about LGBTQ+ individuals and families.

  • Several states introduced legislation to prohibit transgender and nonbinary youth from accessing gender-affirming care. In fact, Texas Governor Abbott even directed licensed professionals to report parents who affirm their children by providing them with the medically necessary care they need.

    Gender-affirming care is not only consistent with current medical best practices, but has also been found to improve mental health outcomes and overall well-being in youth. The notion that gender-affirming care is abusive and forced on children is not only outrageous and erroneous but is incredibly harmful to trans and nonbinary youth and their families in a political climate that is already dangerous.

  • State leaders continue to use broad and targeted “license to discriminate” bills to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals and families.

    This year, Governor Doucy of Arizona signed a bill into law that allows child welfare service providers, many of which receive taxpayer dollars, to turn away qualified prospective parents because they’re LGBTQ+. This means that there are now twelve states with child welfare “license to discriminate” laws.

    With more than 400,000 youth in foster care in the United States, these bills make it harder for young people to find and access safe, affirming, loving homes.

in the courts

This spring, the draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson was leaked, revealing that the Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. Here’s what you need to know about the draft as it stands today:

what you need to know now:

  • The Supreme Court has not yet ruled in this case. Abortion is still legal, and as of today, it remains your Constitutional right.

  • If the Court overturns Roe v. Wade, 26 states will move fast to severely restrict or ban access to reproductive healthcare.

  • The impact of this decision will be felt hardest by those who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care—particularly BIPOC people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, undocumented people, and low-income households.

 

how this affects lgbtq+ families:

  • These issues are our families’ issues. LGBTQ+ people assigned female at birth are just as likely as non-LGBTQ+ people assigned female at birth to seek abortion care.

  • The sheer breadth of this draft shows the Court’s willingness to overturn decades of precedent and disregard the rule of law, raising serious concerns about our rights related to lgbtq+ people and our families, including access to assisted reproductive technology and marriage equality.

hope on the horizon

We are not powerless in this fight.

With today’s headlines, it can be easy to give into feelings of helplessness. But we are not powerless in this fight. If every person took just one action to protect LGBTQ+ pride + joy, we’d be able to push forward crucial equality legislation, like the Equality Act and the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, and usher in an era where our schools, lawmakers, neighborhoods, and communities not only accept who we are and whom we love—but celebrate and affirm us, too.