These are the 15 worst states for LGBTQ+ people

Alabama

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Pride Parade in Huntsville, Alabama (October 1, 2022)

Nondiscrimination laws: Alabama does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it prohibits transgender people from using public facilities that align with their identities.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Alabama does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Alabama has a “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services.

Healthcare access and rights: Alabama has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies, including Medicaid, are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Alabama’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, and it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense.

Arkansas

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3rd annual Pride Walk at Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas (June, 4 2021)

Nondiscrimination laws: Arkansas does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. The state bans cities and local ordinances from passing nondiscrimination laws, and it has law about “adult” performances that could be used to target or restrict drag.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Arkansas does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Arkansas has a “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians.

Healthcare access and rights: Arkansas has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition to minors, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Arkansas’ hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, and it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense. It has an HIV criminalization law that may require sex offender registration.

Florida

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Mourners pay their respects to the fallen at the Pulse Nightclub memorial on the 5th anniversary of the Pulse mass shooting in Orlando, Florida (June 12, 2021)

Nondiscrimination laws: Florida has nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, and public accommodations, but not in credit/lending, health care, nor education. The state prohibits transgender people from using public facilities that align with their identities, and it does not allow updating gender markers on driver’s licenses or birth certificates. It has law about “adult” performances that could be used to target or restrict drag

Marriage equality and parental rights: Florida does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Florida originated the “Don’t Say Gay” laws restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians.

Healthcare access and rights: Florida has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Florida’s hate crime laws only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

Idaho

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Rally in support of transgender youth and gender-affirming care in Boise, Idaho (February 24, 2023)

Nondiscrimination laws: Idaho has nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, and public accommodations, but not in credit/lending, education, health care, nor for state employees. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Idaho does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It has second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, but not confirmatory adoption nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Idaho has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services, though it has protections for LGBTQ+ youth in the Child Welfare System.

Healthcare access and rights: Idaho has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Idaho’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

Indiana

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Indiana University Bloomington Students walking at Indy Pride in Indianapolis, Indiana (June 4, 2008)

Nondiscrimination laws: Indiana has weaker nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, and public accommodations, but not in credit/lending, education, nor health care. The state also has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Indiana has adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation, but not gender identity. It has second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, but not confirmatory adoption nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Indiana has a “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians.

Healthcare access and rights: Indiana has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid and state health insurance plans are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments, but it has trans-inclusive health benefits for state employees.

Criminal justice: Indiana’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, and it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense. It has an HIV criminalization law that may require sex offender registration.

Louisiana

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Southern Decadence Parade march through the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana (September 1, 2024)

Nondiscrimination laws: Louisiana does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it prohibits transgender people from using public facilities that align with their identities. The state also has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Louisiana does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Louisiana has a “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians.

Healthcare access and rights: Louisiana has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies, including Medicaid, are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments, and state employees do not have trans-inclusive benefits.

Criminal justice: Louisiana’s hate crime laws only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law that may require sex offender registration.

Mississippi

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A rainbow flag supporting Pride month flies a the Biloxi VA Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi (June 5, 2023)

Nondiscrimination laws: Mississippi does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it prohibits transgender people from using public facilities that align with their identities. The state also has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Mississippi does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It has second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, but not confirmatory adoption nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Mississippi has a “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in classrooms. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities, and it requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services.

Healthcare access and rights: Mississippi has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for youth, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Mississippi’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

Missouri

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A view down one of the streets filled with celebrants during Saint Louis PrideFest in Missouri (June 24, 2023)

Nondiscrimination laws: Missouri has weaker nondiscrimination laws in housing, and public accommodations, but not in employment, credit/lending, education, nor health care. The state also has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Missouri’s adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Missouri has banned schools and districts from passing nondiscrimination or anti-bullying policies protecting LGBTQ+ students. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities.

Healthcare access and rights: Missouri has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Missouri’s hate crime laws encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, though it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

Montana

$"Say Gay" sign at Missoula Pride\u200b$

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“Say Gay” sign at Missoula Pride in Montana (March 29, 2024)

Nondiscrimination laws: Montana does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it has a broad “religious exemption” law. The state has also explicitly restricted drag performances, and does not allow updating gender markers on birth certificates

Marriage equality and parental rights: Montana’s adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It has second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, but not confirmatory adoption nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Montana requires that parents be notified of LGBTQ+ curricula so they can opt out. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities. The state requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians.

Healthcare access and rights: Montana has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies and Medicaid are required to cover care related to gender transition, and there is some coverage for fertility treatments. However, the state has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: Montana’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

Oklahoma

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Pride Parade in Oklahoma (June 26, 2023)

Nondiscrimination laws: Oklahoma does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. Its state code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it prohibits updated gender markers on birth certificates. It also has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Oklahoma does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It has second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, but not confirmatory adoption nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Oklahoma has a weaker version of a “Don’t Say Gay” law that restricts the discussion of “homosexuality” in specific school subjects. It has banned trans students from participating in sports or using school facilities based on their identities. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services, though it has protections for LGBTQ+ youth in the Child Welfare System.

Healthcare access and rights: Oklahoma has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies, including Medicaid, are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments, and state employees are not permitted trans-inclusive benefits.

Criminal justice: Oklahoma’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

South Carolina

$Rainbow flag on a map of South Carolina\u200b$

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Rainbow flag on a map of South Carolina

Nondiscrimination laws: South Carolina does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. It has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: South Carolina‘s adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: South Carolina has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities. The state requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services.

Healthcare access and rights: South Carolina has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers.

Criminal justice: South Carolina‘s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law.

South Dakota

$South Dakota state flag with rainbow stripes \u200b$

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South Dakota state flag with rainbow stripes

Nondiscrimination laws: South Dakota does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. It has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: South Dakota’s adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. However, it does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: South Dakota has banned schools and districts from passing nondiscrimination or anti-bullying policies protecting LGBTQ+ students. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services, though it has protections for LGBTQ+ youth in the Child Welfare System.

Healthcare access and rights: South Dakota has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies, including Medicaid, are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments, and state employees are not permitted trans-inclusive benefits.

Criminal justice: South Dakota‘s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, and it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense. It has an HIV criminalization law that may require sex offender registration.

Tennessee

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Pride Parade on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee (September 28, 2018)

Nondiscrimination laws: Tennessee does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending. It instead bans cities and local ordinances from passing nondiscrimination laws. State code incorrectly defines sex as exclusively male or female, and it does not allow updating gender markers on driver’s licenses or birth certificates. The state has a broad “religious exemption” law that even allows officials to deny marriage licenses based on their personal beliefs. It has also explicitly restricted drag performances.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Tennessee’s adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections encompass sexual orientation and gender identity. However, it does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Tennessee requires that parents be notified of LGBTQ+ curricula so they can opt out. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities and from using facilities that align with their identities. The state requires staff to forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their guardians. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services, though it has protections for LGBTQ+ youth in the Child Welfare System.

Healthcare access and rights: Tennessee has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for healthcare providers, and state employees are not permitted trans-inclusive benefits.

Criminal justice: Tennessee’s hate crime laws encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, though it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense, and it has an HIV criminalization law that may require sex offender registration.

Texas

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Rainbow crosswalk outside Neon Grotto nightclub in Austin, Texas (May 29, 2024)

Nondiscrimination laws: Texas has nondiscrimination laws in employment and for state employees, but not in housing, public accommodations, credit/lending, education, nor health care. The state does not allow updating gender markers on driver’s licenses or birth certificates, and it has a broad “religious exemption” law.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Texas does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, confirmatory adoption, nor recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people.

Education and youth policies: Texas has a weaker version of a “Don’t Say Gay” law that restricts the discussion of “homosexuality” in specific school subjects. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities. The state also has a “religious exemption” law for Child Welfare Services without protections for LGBTQ+ youth.

Healthcare access and rights: Texas has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Medicaid is forbidden from providing coverage related to gender transition for all ages, and insurance companies are not required to cover fertility treatments. State employees are not permitted trans-inclusive benefits.

Criminal justice: Texas’s hate crime laws only encompass sexual orientation, not gender identity. It has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense.

Wyoming

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Double rainbow against a black sky in Wyoming

Nondiscrimination laws: Wyoming does not have nondiscrimination laws in employment, housing, health care, education, public accommodations, or credit/lending.

Marriage equality and parental rights: Wyoming does not have adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents. It does not have second-parent adoption for unmarried couples, nor confirmatory adoption. It also does not have family leave laws that encompass LGBTQ+ people. However, it does have recognition for parents using assisted reproductive technologies.

Education and youth policies: Wyoming has a weaker version of a “Don’t Say Gay” law that restricts the discussion of “homosexuality” in specific school subjects. It has banned trans students from participating in sports based on their identities, but not from using facilities that align with their identities.

Healthcare access and rights: Wyoming has banned life-saving gender-affirming care for youth, though it permits the discredited and harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy for youth. Health insurance companies, including Medicaid, are not required to provide coverage related to gender transition or fertility treatments.

Criminal justice: Wyoming’s hate crime laws do not encompass sexual orientation and gender identity, and it has not banned the so-called “LGBTQ+ panic” defense.

Dishonorable mentions

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People carry large balloon letters that spell out “Proud” as they walk in the annual pride parade in Atlanta, Georgia (October 15, 2023)

Other states that ranked below average include: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, and West Virginia.

July 15, 2025 0

Alabama GOP passes 10 Commandments-in-schools bill on same day as rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights

*This is reported by LGBTQNation

The Alabama state House of Representatives passed several anti-LGBTQ+ bills this past Thursday. The bills include an expansion of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, a ban on drag performances, a ban on Pride flags, and a ban on school employees calling trans students by the correct pronouns.

One of the bills would also require the Ten Commandments to be posted in every school in the state.

H.B. 244 extends the state’s ban on discussing LGBTQ+ people in schools, which currently only applies to grades K through 5, to all grade levels. It also bans school employees from “displaying flags or insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender identity,” which would include Pride flags. It also bans school employees from referring to a student with pronouns or a “title” that is “inconsistent with the student’s biological sex at birth.”

State Rep. Mark Gidley (R) said that the bill was necessary because an unnamed student told him that they have a teacher who can’t teach without mentioning “all things gay and transgender.” Gidley didn’t say what school this happened in.

State Rep. Neil Rafferty (D), the only out gay person in the chamber, said that LGBTQ+ people are “not the problem.”

“I want you to know you are not the problem. You are not broken, and you’re absolutely not alone,” he said. “They’re not theories. They’re not talking points, not threats to be neutralized. They’re people. They’re Alabamian, and they deserve better than what we are offering them right now.”

State Rep. Phillip Ensler (D) said that the bill will make kids feel unwelcome in schools.

“If they don’t trust a teacher, if they think a teacher doesn’t like them or use them differently or views them as unequal, they’re not going to be as open to learning,” he said.

The bill passed with 76 votes in favor and nine against.

H.B. 67 bans public schools and libraries from hosting drag performances in the presence of minors without parental consent, and also says that trans people must use the restroom associated with their sex assigned at birth in places where minors might use the restroom. It also passed 76-9.

“This bill is an attempt to censor LGBTQ experiences from the public and is contradictory to our First Amendment rights,” the ACLU of Alabama said in a statement. “Supporters of this bill argue that drag performances are not appropriate for minors. That’s a decision for that minor’s parents, caregivers, and family to make – not the State of Alabama.”

On the same day, the chamber passed H.B. 178, a bill that would require all public schools in the state, both K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities, to display the Ten Commandments in “a common area.” The bill doesn’t give schools funding for this and instead suggests that they seek donations.

“The First Amendment guarantees that students and their families —not politicians or the government—get to decide which religious beliefs, if any, they adopt and what role those beliefs will play in their lives,” the ACLU of Alabama said in a statement. “Displaying the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms blatantly violates this promise. Students can’t focus on learning if they don’t feel safe and welcome in their schools.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Gidley, also requires schools to display a statement near the Ten Commandments that says they are “a key part of the Judeo-Christian religious and moral tradition that shaped Western Civilization and ultimately the founding of the United States.”

“This is about returning foundational principles to schools to be taught,” Gidley said about his bill.

Democrats called the bill a distraction.

“We’re focusing on issues that really don’t put more money in the pockets of every Alabamian,” said House minority leader Anthony Daniels (D). “It does not reduce the cost at the gas pump. We’re talking about solving problems for the average Alabamanian. This particular issue does nothing.”

One Democrat pointed out that the Ten Commandments aren’t age-appropriate for younger children.

“I think that the 10 commandments have their place, but I don’t know that we need to mandate that they be in our schools,” said state Rep. Marilyn Lands (D), the Alabama Reflector reports. “I think we teach our children well in our homes, and I think we have churches to teach them, but I’m not sure that they belong in our schools.”

The bill passed the state house 88-11. All three bills now go on to the state senate.

Louisiana passed a similar bill regarding the Ten Commandments last year, requiring them to be displayed in every classroom in the state. A federal judge blocked the bill from taking effect, saying it was “unconstitutional on its face.”

April 23, 2025 0

States in the Southern region are advancing legislation aimed at revoking legal recognition for transgender individuals | ADVOCATE

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are all progressing bills that seek to “define sex” in a way that excludes transgender individuals from obtaining any legal recognition of their gender.

In recent weeks, the momentum behind anti-transgender legislation has subsided in states known for targeting transgender individuals. However, a distinct trend is emerging in the Gulf South, where Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are all moving forward with bills aimed at ending the legal recognition of transgender individuals. These bills seek to redefine sex in a way that excludes transgender individuals, which could have far-reaching consequences for their rights, affecting areas such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and access to bathrooms.

The bills, labeled as the “Women’s Bills of Rights” by proponents, lack comprehensive measures to safeguard women’s rights. They do not guarantee access to birth control or abortion, fail to address pay equity, do not support women’s sports programs financially or structurally, and do not include provisions to combat violence against women. Instead, they focus on defining sex based on reproductive capacities and aim to eliminate legal recognition of transgender individuals’ gender identities.

In Louisiana, House Bill 608, backed by an impressive 63 Republican co-sponsors, reflects a staunch opposition to any opposition against it. While its main focus appears to be on restricting bathroom access in various institutions like schools, prisons, and shelters, a specific clause in the bill suggests that “any provision of law enacted by the legislature or any rule adopted by a state agency or other entity subject to the Administrative Procedures Act when applicable to an individual’s sex shall apply those definitions provided in R.S. 9:58.” This provision could potentially lead to the prohibition of changes to birth certificates and driver’s licenses, effectively erasing all legal recognition for transgender individuals. Although the bill hasn’t been slated for a hearing yet, given its considerable support, it’s expected to progress swiftly through the legislative process once initiated.

In Mississippi, Senate Bill 2753 and House Bill 1607 have both cleared their respective chambers. House Bill 1607 outlines sex based on reproductive capacity and curiously states that for transgender individuals, “equal” does not signify “same” or “identical.” Interestingly, the bill doesn’t define “equal,” a term also left vague in similar legislation in other states. This lack of clarity has sparked debates similar to those seen with a comparable bill in Iowa, currently at a standstill in the legislature there partly due to disagreements over that particular line. Regarding Senate Bill 2753, it proposes to restrict bathroom access for transgender individuals in publicly owned facilities like rest stops and the Jackson airport.

In Alabama, House Bills 111 and 130 are likewise aimed at transgender individuals. House Bill 111 dictates sex based on reproductive capacity for all vital statistics purposes. Meanwhile, HB 130, while not explicitly defining sex, is expected to be amended to incorporate language extending “Don’t Say Gay” legislation to Space Camp. This addition follows conservative media uproar over a transgender individual’s employment at the state’s esteemed Space Camp and could potentially be utilized to discriminate against transgender employees in state facilities.

To date, only five states have enacted comparable laws: Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah. In Kansas, a judge recently sided with Attorney General Kris Kobach, ruling that driver’s licenses and birth certificates must display transgender individuals’ assigned sex at birth, citing state law. Meanwhile, even though Florida lacks such legislation, alterations to regulations have hindered transgender individuals’ ability to update their driver’s licenses; allegedly, Florida residents face similar challenges in changing their birth certificates. Moreover, Oklahoma and Nebraska have issued executive orders delineating sex in a similar manner.

You can view a map of states with such legislation from the Movement Advancement Project here:

Movement Advancement Project. “Equality Maps: Defining ‘Sex’ to Allow Discrimination.” Accessed March 18, 2024.

If enacted, these bills would lead to a growing list of states refusing legal recognition of transgender individuals. This carries significant implications: individuals who have already updated their identity documents may see them reverted to their assigned sex at birth. These state-issued IDs could be used to enforce further anti-transgender measures like bathroom bans. Additionally, this discrepancy between state and federal documents would pose challenges for transgender individuals who have aligned their federal IDs with their gender identity.

There have been appeals for a federal legal intervention in response to bills eliminating gender markers and denying legal recognition to transgender individuals. For instance, in Florida, the entire Democratic congressional delegation urged the Biden Administration to utilize the Real ID Act, which requires “gender” to be indicated on driver’s licenses. As of Monday, there has been no response to this request.

Several lawsuits are currently in progress, seeking to overturn the laws in court where they have been enacted. However, the legal outcomes of these cases are currently pending.

May 24, 2024 0

A Sweeping New Alabama Law Restricts DEI Programs and Includes an Anti-Trans Bathroom Ban

This blog originally appeared at THEM.

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in Republican-sponsored bills across the United States aimed at opposing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs.

On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a comprehensive anti-diversity bill, backed by Republicans, which also includes a ban on transgender individuals using certain college campus bathrooms.

Senate Bill 129, now law, prohibits any state agency or educational institution from promoting or enforcing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The bill broadly defines DEI events or programs as those that factor in an individual’s race, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, or sexual orientation, categorizing such initiatives as “divisive concepts” unfit for educational curricula. The exception to this rule is if no state funds are involved in sponsoring these programs, allowing schools or government offices to continue DEI efforts.

Effective from October 1, the law mandates that multiple occupancy restrooms in public higher education institutions be designated based on biological sex, effectively marginalizing transgender students and staff who are then left with the choice of outing themselves or using single-occupant facilities.

Opposition to SB 129 was vocalized by various groups, including the free speech advocacy organization PEN America, which labeled the bill as the most restrictive educational censorship since Florida’s “Stop WOKE” Act. It noted that the bill’s definition of “divisive concepts” mirrors a 2020 executive order by then-President Donald Trump.

Prior to its passage by the state House of Representatives, students from 10 Alabama universities staged a protest at the Montgomery State House on March 6, criticizing Republican lawmakers for their lack of engagement. Neph Irvin, a sophomore at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, expressed frustration, stating, “They say that we’re their futures, and yet they are technically trying to take our futures away from us, which doesn’t make any sense. We shouldn’t have to go back in history.”

In February, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, a Democrat, sharply criticized the bill during a committee hearing, drawing parallels between its provisions and the segregationist policies of George Wallace, a notorious figure in Alabama’s history.

SB 129, authored by Sen. William Barfoot, a Republican, marks another step in his legislative efforts against DEI initiatives. Barfoot, who secured his Senate seat in 2018 following previous roles as a delegate and legal counsel for then-presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, had introduced a similar bill during the 2022 legislative session. However, this prior attempt to classify DEI as a “divisive concept” and prohibit state collaboration with DEI contractors did not advance to a vote, as per the legislature’s website.

Governor Ivey’s signing of SB 129 adds to a series of anti-LGBTQ+ measures she has endorsed in recent years. In 2022, alongside a ban on gender-affirming medical care for trans youth, Ivey signed House Bill 322, mandating K-12 schools to segregate facilities solely based on “biological sex.” Her support for restricting participation in high school sports teams to “biological sex” was extended to colleges the previous year.

The escalation of Republican-backed bills opposing DEI programs, under the guise of their interpretation of such initiatives, has surged nationwide. Conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation have spearheaded anti-DEI campaigns, aided by figures such as Chris Rufo, known for his role in promoting misinformation about “critical race theory” and the LGBTQ+ community.

This conservative backlash is particularly evident in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has overseen the dismantling of DEI efforts in state colleges, resulting in the elimination of entire degree programs. Not even traditionally conservative entities are exempt; last year, even Chick-fil-A, known for its conservative stance on issues like same-sex marriage, faced accusations of being “woke” due to the employment of a vice president for DEI.

April 11, 2024

Alabama has been granted the ability to enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

Alabama has been granted the ability to enforce its felony ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, as per a federal court ruling on Thursday.

The decision allows the state to proceed with the ban, lifting a preliminary injunction that had prevented officials from enforcing it for over a year.

On Thursday, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction against Alabama’s 2022 law, turning it into a felony for physicians to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to transgender individuals under 19. Convictions could lead to sentences of up to a decade in prison.

When the injunction was issued in 2022, U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke stated that Alabama failed to provide credible evidence demonstrating that gender-affirming treatments are “experimental.”

In August, a federal appeals court reversed this decision, stating, “The use of these medications in general—let alone for children—almost certainly is not ‘deeply rooted’ in our nation’s history and tradition,” referencing the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

In November, Alabama’s attorneys requested the 11th Circuit stay the enforcement of the district court’s preliminary injunction, which was granted Thursday in a brief unsigned order.

A September request for a rehearing made by the Alabama families challenging the law is still pending, and a full trial on the constitutionality of the ban is slated for August.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall praised Thursday’s decision as “a significant victory for our country, for children, and for common sense.”

In a joint statement, lawyers representing the families challenging the law said the ruling will cause significant harm to children and parents in Alabama.

“Alabama’s transgender healthcare ban will harm thousands of transgender adolescents across the state and will put parents in the excruciating position of not being able to get the medical care their children need to thrive,” according to the statement, issued Thursday by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Human Rights Campaign.

Including Alabama, 23 states have enacted laws or policies that heavily restrict or ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. Laws passed in five states — Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Idaho — include provisions that make it a felony crime to provide treatment to trans youth under 18.

January 15, 2024

Not just Florida. More than a dozen states propose so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills – NPR

This blog originally appeared at NPR News.

Florida first. Alabama follows. Legislators in Louisiana and Ohio are currently debating legislation that is similar to the Florida statute. A similar bill will be his top priority during the following session, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

At least a dozen states across the country are proposing new legislation that, in some ways, will resemble Florida’s recent contentious bill, which some opponents have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”

Read Full Article – https://www.npr.org/2022/04/10/1091543359/15-states-dont-say-gay-anti-transgender-bills

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April 22, 2023 0