One source of contention is the growing prevalence of gender identification instruction at schools. The recent rise in so-called "parental right" measures, which would prohibit any classroom discussion about gender or ban books on gender identity in school libraries, is another area of contention.
Others are concerned about LGBTQ+ participation in college and high school competitive sports. 140 of the introduced bills would deny them healthcare for gender transformations and limit their bathroom use. According to the advocacy organization's tracker, there have been more than 300 antiLGBTQ+ bills in 2022.
Kate Oakley, senior counsel and state legislative director of the organization, said that "this is something which has been growing over the last three years." "We are on track to surpass the 150 pieces of legislation last year."
Sam Ames, The Trevor Project's director of advocacy, government affairs, stated that trans students have been affected by educational gag orders issued in state legislatures, regardless of whether they've been passed. The Trevor Project is the largest LGBTQ+ suicide prevention and mental healthcare organization.
Ames stated that up to 85% of trans youth claim that they are witnessing these identity debates play out. These bills will result in the elimination of things we know to be correlated with better mental health and lower suicide risk, such as sports participation, being represented in a classroom and acceptance by your parents and healthcare professionals. All of these are associated with significantly lower chances of suicide attempts.
According to The Trevor Project's 2021 National Survey, 42% of LGBTQ+ teens have seriously considered suicide during the past year. This number rose to 52% for transgender youth and those who are not binary.
These policies demonstrate a tendency in Republican legislatures, to push what they consider an animating issue for the base, in spite of outrage from LGBTQ+ organizations and vetoes some Republican governors.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, legislation that prohibits trans youth from playing in sports has been passed in at least 30 states in this year. At least four states have implemented bans: Arizona, Iowa and South Dakota. A similar bill has been submitted by Tennessee's governor and is awaiting his signature.
Some Republican governors also rejected the bans because they were concerned about the impact on trans youth. Eric Holcomb, Indiana's Republican governor, rejected a bill to ban trans youth from participating in school sports. Spencer Cox, Utah's Republican governor, vetoed legislation that would have restricted trans student athletes participation. He cited an increase in suicides among trans youth as well as the limited number of trans athletes to be part of his reasoning.
Cox stated in a statement that "I don’t understand what they are going though or why they feel this way," "But I want them live. All the research has shown that even a small amount of acceptance and connection can significantly reduce suicidality."
The bill was passed without his intervention.
Oakley stated that Alabama passed the most anti-transgender legislative package in history.
The main bill, "The Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act," bans puberty blocking drugs and any other medical procedure that is related to changing gender. Teachers and school staff are required to notify parents if students' "perceptions of their gender or sexual orientations" are consistent with that of minors.
The bill makes a doctor who performs surgery or prescribes any medication to a gender transition a felony with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Oakley stated that it is against the law for a legislature to make discriminatory laws against a very small, vulnerable group of people simply because they don’t like them. He was referring to the legal challenge by HRC to Alabama's bill. "That's a violation the equal protection of law."
According to the ACLU, at least 19 states have introduced bills that would restrict trans youth's access to healthcare. A similar Arkansas law was passed in 2021 by the Arkansas Legislature, but it was overturned at the federal level.
Andy Jackson, 2021 Alabama Teacher Of The Year, stated that "our job is to teach students" and made the following statement to CBS News:
Jackson, a National Board-certified instructor, teaches fourth grade in Pell city, Alabama.
John Wahl, the chairman of Alabama's Republican Party, said that the bills passed in Alabama were necessary for "protection" of children and "positive reinforcement of family value." He criticised an education system that teaches sexual education "younger than it should be" and described the debate as one about parents' rights to their children's education.
He said, "I believe parents across the country want their children to remain children." There are different genders, regardless of whether or not we like to admit it. There are males as well as females. We can ignore this fact and pretend that it doesn't exist, but many people just have common sense. They are aware that there is a male and a female and that gender roles exist. But they won't just let that natural law dictate their behavior.
Wahl was asked if the bill would have affected Alabama Governor Kay Ivey's primary race. Wahl replied, "It certainly would have." Lindy Blanchard (an ex-ambassador to Slovenia and backed by President Trump) is challenging Ivey on the right.
Wahl stated that "I believe the vast majority" of Republicans support the Republican Party on the issue. "Also I believe there are many independents and even a few Democrats who understand this. This is a common-sense matter.
A March PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll showed that 38% of Republican adults favor criminalizing gender-related medical care for minors. This number rises to 42% for Trump voters in 2020.
Alabama passed another bill that includes language similar to Florida’s controversial "Parental rights in Education" bill. This bill prohibits teachers from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms in kindergarten through third grades, or older grades, "in a way that isn't age-appropriate, or developmentally appropriate."
Wahl stated, "You push this on children younger than they are mentally ready." That's a tragedy, I believe. This [issue] is being seen more by children through the media than it is by state legislatures, according to me.
Students like Codi Rasor (17-year-old from Montgomery County High School in Kentucky) are feeling the effects of public debates. She identifies herself as gender-fluid and falls under the trans umbrella.
Rasor stated, "It is scary." Rasor stated that there is the possibility that these bills will be passed and we won't have a safe place in a classroom or school system.
The Fairness In Women's Sports Act was vetoed by Andy Beshear, the Democratic Governor of Kentucky. Rasor, who is the president of their school’s Gender Sexuality Alliance, doesn't find it surprising, but Rasor believes Kentucky's antitrans sport bill is a nonstarter.
Rasor stated, "Transgender women and men are women." Rasor stated, "Essentially, it boils down that transgender women and transgender men are the same gender."
