Several European allies update travel advisories for LGBTQ travelers entering U.S.

*This is reported by Yahoo News.

Several European countries have updated their travel guidance for citizens visiting the U.S., including recent guidance for transgender and nonbinary travelers.

It’s common for countries to issue travel advisories or warnings for things like crime levels, terrorism threats, current conflicts, health concerns or natural disasters.

The U.S. issues its own travel advisories for Americans traveling abroad, but a number of other countries are doing the same for the U.S. These new advisories come as the Trump administration is tightening U.S. borders, cracking down on undocumented migrants and implementing a new federal policy to recognize male and female, rather than gender identity, as the only legitimate sexes.

Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany have also updated their travel guidance for their citizens planning to travel to the United States after several tourists were detained by U.S. immigration authorities in recent months.

Travelers from many European countries and the U.K. can travel to the U.S. for business or tourism and stay for up to 90 days without a visa under the Department of Homeland Security’s Visa Waiver Program. But several travelers from countries within the program — like Canada, Germany, the U.K. and France — have been stopped and detained by U.S. immigration authorities within recent months.

Here’s what has transpired.

Nations with LGBTQ advisories for the U.S.

President Trump signed an executive order in January that says the federal government only recognizes two biological sexes: male and female. Per that order, a visitor applying for a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) must declare their sex assigned at birth on the application forms.

European allies, including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal, issued guidance that advises transgender and nonbinary travelers to contact the U.S. Embassy in their respective countries for more information on how to proceed if they wish to travel to the U.S.

Nations with other travel advisories for the U.S.

Canada

Recent tensions between the U.S. and Canada have risen over Trump’s trade war, not to mention his musings that he would make the northern ally the U.S.’s 51st state. Canada added new information under its U.S. travel advice page regarding the requirements for foreign nationals visiting for more than 30 days.

“Canadians and other foreign nationals visiting the United States for periods longer than 30 days must be registered with the United States Government. Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution,” according to the Canadian government’s website.

The rule, enforced starting April 11, comes as part of an executive order signed by Trump, which requires all visitors staying for 30 days or longer to register with the U.S. government.

Germany

Last month, Germany updated its guidelines for its citizens looking to travel to the U.S. The European nation is investigating the cases of three of its citizens being denied entry and placed into detention by U.S. immigration authorities.

“Neither a valid [ESTA] authorization nor a valid U.S. visa constitutes a right to entry into the USA,” according to a translation of the German Foreign Office website. “The final decision regarding entry is made by the U.S. border official. It is recommended that you bring proof of your return journey (e.g., flight booking) upon entry.”

The office also warns of potential legal consequences. “Criminal records in the United States, false information about the purpose of their stay, or even a slight overstay of their visa upon entry or exit can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation.”

Two German nationals were detained in January as they were separately trying to cross the San Ysidro border between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, the New York Times reported. They have since returned to Germany with their cases resolved. A third remaining case involves a German national — who is a legal permanent U.S. resident who received a green card residency permit in 2008 — who was detained by ICE at Boston International Airport on March 7. He is now being held at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, R.I., NBC News reported.

The United Kingdom

The U.K. Foreign Office has updated guidance on its website in recent weeks for its citizens traveling to the U.S. It currently states, “You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry. The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.”

Archived versions of the same website did not include potential legal consequences at the beginning of February and only stated, “The authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules,” Reuters reported.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not explain the reason for the change.

The update comes around the same time a British tourist said she was held for more than two weeks in Washington state. Becky Burke, a 28-year-old from Wales, was backpacking through North America when she was allegedly denied entry into Canada on Feb. 26 “due to an incorrect visa,” according to a Facebook post by her father, Paul Burke. She was subsequently denied reentry into the U.S. and was detained at a facility in Tacoma, Wash.

Burke had stayed with a host family in Oregon, where she performed chores in exchange for food and lodging. She was told she violated her visa even though she was never paid. Travelers using a temporary visitor visa cannot accept work or employment in the country. Burke was repatriated back to the U.K. on March 18, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

New Zealand

Last November, New Zealand updated its travel guidelines to the U.S. to “Exercise increased caution in the United States of America (US) due to the threat of terrorism (level 2 of 4).” The nation’s government travel website points to higher active shooter incidents and violent crime in the U.S. compared to New Zealand.

Ts Madison’s ‘Starter House’ opens its doors to trans women in Atlanta

*This is being reported by Out.com

Trans icon Ts Madison has now opened a groundbreaking new initiative — dubbed as a “Starter House” — for trans women in Atlanta, GA, coinciding with 16th annual Transgender Day of Visibility. The trans advocate has partnered with NAESM, a historic Black HIV/AIDS organization, to launch a groundbreaking housing initiative aimed at supporting Black trans women engaged in sex work.

Located in Ts Madison’s former residence, the facility offers Black trans individuals access to safe housing, gender-affirming healthcare, economic opportunities, and holistic support.

The grand opening stirred deep emotions for the RuPaul’s Drag Race judge. “This morning I was having withdrawals because this is a big thing. Like, this is my house. I’m like, I’m giving my house to the community. That means people are going to be transitioning in and out and in and out of this house. I built a legacy here, but I’m still attached to this house. These are girls that are disenfranchised. These are girls that are homeless. These are girls that are trying to find another way in their life.”

The Ts Madison Starter House is part of A New Way of Life’s SAFE Housing Network, a global coalition of over 30 organizations focused on providing reentry support for women who have been incarcerated. Founded in 1998, the SAFE Housing Network aims to reduce incarceration rates in the U.S. by offering safe housing, assisting individuals in healing from the trauma of their experiences, and empowering them to take a leadership role in the movement to end mass incarceration.

Dominique Morgan, the Executive Director of the project, emphasized the importance of community support. “I think so many of us feel the fear of what’s happening in this climate, and so many folks feel like, oh my goodness, are we going to make it. And what today really symbolizes for me is that we have answers happening all over the place, and that we have the power to decide how we show up for each other.”

This facility will serve as a vital stepping stone for women, providing safe, affirming housing that prioritizes dignity and stability. To learn more and/or make a donation to the project, visit the official page for the Ts Madison Starter house.

Iowa State students, city leaders mourn loss of LGBTQIA+ center, hold ‘funeral’ on campus

*This is reported by the Ames Tribute

A coalition of Iowa State University students and Ames community members held a makeshift funeral Wednesday for Iowa State’s LGBTQIA+ center.

About 50 people gathered in front of Parks Library around a makeshift coffin painted with the LGBTQIA+ flag. Many were wearing black, sporting pride pins or holding pride flags.More: Iowa State students plan on campus ‘funeral’ for Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success

Iowa State’s Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success, often referred to as “The Center,” must be restructured and rebranded due to Senate File 2435.

The law, which will take effect on July 1, 2025, prohibits state universities like Iowa State from starting, maintaining or funding DEI offices or positions unless required by law or for accreditation. The Iowa Board of Regents imposed directives and a Dec. 31 deadline to eliminate functions like the Center.

Holding a ‘funeral’ for a community resource

ISU Students Against SF 2435 Coalition published a mock obituary and shared it with the Ames Tribune prior to Wednesday’s event. The obituary said the Center was “killed” on Dec. 31, “with the assistance of Iowa State University.”

“This marks a great loss for the community, and we encourage those impacted to join us and find community in these trying times,” the mock obituary reads.

Several students addressed the crowd on Wednesday, noting how the Center provided them with a safe space to connect with their community. They said they are frustrated that it’s closing. Several said the presence of the Center was a key factor in attending the university.

The Center is a place where LGBTQIA+ students could go for safety and support, Iowa State student Silvera Dudenhoefer said on Wednesday.

“It was a space that celebrated queer joy and accomplishment, academically and personally,” Dudenhoefer said. “Above all, it was a clear mark that LGBTQIA+ students mattered to this school.”

By removing the LGBTQIA+ from the Center, Dudenhoefer said the Board of Regents has “shown who they’re willing to push aside in an effort to comply.”

The Center, according to Iowa State’s website, is still open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, on the fourth floor of the Iowa State Memorial Union. Iowa State now lists The Center under the umbrella of multicultural student affairs.

‘The Center’ has been a LGBTQIA+ student resource for more than 30 years

Iowa State University’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Student Services (LGBTSS) opened on Nov. 8, 1992, and was housed above Student Services. It was initially staffed by student volunteers until 1997, when four full-time staff members were brought on.

The LGBTSS was rebranded as The Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success in 2019 and relocated to the Memorial Union.

The Center is “a space for you to be yourself, find and build community, get involved, and explore lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally life at Iowa State University,” according to the school’s website.

Senator Quirmbach voices support for ‘encouraging’ campus environment

Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames attended Wednesday’s gathering and addressed the crowd. He said Iowa State has a responsibility to provide a supportive and encouraging environment for every student, regardless of their background.

“This university is failing in its moral responsibility,” Quirmbach said. “The members of the Board of Regents are failing. And the legislature? Don’t get me started.”

Iowa State graduate student Amanda Thomas assured the gathered students that they have allies willing to support them.

“When attacks like this hurt my friends, my family, my coworkers and my peers, it hurts me and that’s not okay,” Thomas said. “Allies are here, even if you can’t see them.”

Reverand Kelli Clement from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames said students are learning to take the “stone in their shoe” that came with Senate File 2435 being passed.

“When you find your people, it is a holy moment,” Clement said. “And the loss of this center does not mean that your people go away.”

Students against SF-2435 protest Iowa law

The ISU Students Against SF 2435 coalition was formed to combat the law’s ensuing impact. The group’s first protest was held Oct. 24. The students protested the law again on Nov. 20. 

The group also filed a pair of petitions on Change.org, one for the Board of Regents and another for the Iowa Legislature.

Gay NH Rep. Chris Pappas launches Senate campaign

*This is being reported by LGBTQNation.

Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) launched his campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat from New Hampshire this morning. The seat is open after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said that she would not seek reelection in 2026.

“I’m running for Senate because our economy, our democracy, and our way of life are on the line, and New Hampshire deserves a Senator who is grounded in the people, places, and values of this state,” he said in a statement. “You can count on me to lead the charge to confront this administration, self-dealing billionaires, and extreme politicians who threaten our future and our ability to get things done for New Hampshire.”

His Senate campaign released a video today to announce his candidacy called “Taking on the big fights.” The video mentions billionaire Elon Musk without naming the president.

Pappas considers himself a pragmatic member of Congress, and his political positions can be described as moderate for his party. He regularly touts his independence from the Democratic party, bragging last year about being one of the Democrats in the House to cross party lines the most when voting.

He is the only out LGBTQ+ member of Congress to vote in favor of the 2025 NDAA, which contained a provision banning the children of U.S. servicemembers from accessing gender-affirming care if they’re trans.

“No political party has a monopoly on good ideas, and policies that put the needs of everyday people first are found on the left and the right,” he said in February 2024.

Pappas is the first Democrat to announce that he’s running for the Senate seat. The other congressmember from New Hampshire, Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), is also expected to announce a Senate bid this year.

“He’s had a very successful track record running for the 1st District, which is kind of a difficult swing district,” University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala told the New Hampshire Bulletin last month. “Pappas is very much, even in these days, not a polarizing figure. He’s squarely in the Democratic camp but will occasionally make an effort to reach across the aisle.”

“On paper at least, he’s the most logical successor.”

Pappas could be the first out gay man to win an election to the Senate. There is currently only one out U.S. senator: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

Greece may soon ban surrogacy for gay men

*This is being reported on LGBTQNation.

In Greece, a country at the forefront of progressive legislation moving LGBTQ+ rights forward in Europe, the country’s justice minister made a surprising announcement on Tuesday.

Giorgos Floridis said proposed changes to Greece’s civil code will clarify that only women will be able to start a family through surrogacy, disenfranchising single straight men, single gay men and same-sex male couples from benefiting from the procedure.

“We are now clarifying unequivocally that the concept of inability to carry a pregnancy does not refer to an inability arising from one’s gender,” Floridis told reporters. “In other words, a woman may be unable to carry a pregnancy whether she is in a male-female couple, a female same-sex couple or on her own.”

The changes mean gay women — single or couples — will still be able to use surrogacy to start a family, while gay men won’t.

Greece legalized same-sex marriage last year despite fierce opposition from the Orthodox Church, becoming the first Orthodox Christian-majority country to do so.

The marriage equality law will “boldly abolish a serious inequality,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of the center-right New Democracy party said at the time.  

Gay opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis of the left-leaning Syriza party was instrumental in passing the landmark bill, despite opposing a prohibition on surrogacy for gay couples included in the bill. Current law does grant gay spouses — women and men — the right to adoption.

In 2022, Greece banned conversion therapy, joining a list of 14 other countries that bar the debunked practice. The same year, Greece passed a law banning “sex-normalizing” surgeries for babies born intersex.

In 2017, the Greek Parliament passed the Legal Gender Recognition Law, which allows transgender people to change their legal gender without needing prior medical interventions or tests.

The legal landscape for surrogacy varies widely. Many countries ban it outright while others impose restrictions on its use. Commercial surrogacy is common in the U.S. but barred in other countries, including Spain and Italy.

The far-right government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had already banned both surrogacy and domestic or international adoption by same-sex couples in Italy before the Italian Senate pushed forward the West’s most restrictive ban on international surrogacy in 2024, making it a crime punishable by prison time for Italians to use surrogates in another country.

Why Every Realtor Needs MULTIPLE State Licenses—Protect Yourself from Political Fallout

Are you a real estate agent in a politically unstable or conservative state? Discover why smart REALTORS® are getting licensed in multiple states to protect their careers from sudden political shifts, discrimination, or licensing denial. In this video, we explain:

✅ Why holding real estate licenses in multiple states is crucial in 2025

✅ How anti-LGBTQ+ laws and political agendas are threatening professionals

✅ Steps to apply for additional real estate licenses quickly and affordably

✅ Best states to consider for backup licensure

✅ Real stories from agents facing political backlash

Real estate license reciprocity allows licensed agents to obtain a license in another state without completing all standard pre-licensing education requirements. Reciprocity agreements vary by state, with some offering full reciprocity to all states and others providing partial or no reciprocity. Below is a summary of reciprocity agreements and the associated education requirements for select states:

Alabama Reciprocity: Full reciprocity with all states. Requirements: Complete a 6-hour course in Alabama real estate law and pass the Alabama portion of the licensing exam.

Colorado Reciprocity: Full reciprocity with all states. Requirements: Pass the Colorado state portion of the real estate exam.

Florida Reciprocity: Mutual recognition agreements with Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Requirements: Pass a 40-question Florida-specific real estate law exam with a score of at least 30.

Georgia Reciprocity: Full reciprocity with all states. Requirements: Hold a current, active license in another state and pass the Georgia state portion of the licensing exam. Illinois Reciprocity: Reciprocity agreements with Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Requirements: Pass the Illinois state portion of the licensing exam.

Mississippi Reciprocity: Full reciprocity with all states. Requirements: Pass the Mississippi state portion of the licensing exam.

Virginia Reciprocity: Full reciprocity with all states. Requirements: Complete a 60-hour “Principles of Real Estate” course and pass the Virginia state portion of the licensing exam.

Wisconsin Reciprocity: Reciprocity agreements with Illinois and Indiana. Requirements: Agents from these states are exempt from Wisconsin’s education requirement; agents from other states must complete a 13-hour education requirement.

It’s important to note that many states without formal reciprocity agreements may still allow experienced agents to waive certain requirements, such as the national portion of the licensing exam or pre-licensing education. However, they often require completion of state-specific education or examinations. For example:

Iowa: Offers reciprocity with Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, and North Dakota. Applicants must prove they took the real estate exam in another state, submit their certificate and license history, and undergo a criminal background check.

Kentucky: Offers reciprocity with Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Requirements vary based on the state and license type but generally include completing a 40-hour reciprocal license course and submitting to a background check.

South Carolina: Extends reciprocity to licenses from other states held within six months before applying. Brokers must have been active for at least three years. Additional requirements include passing the state portion of the exam and submitting certification(s) of licensure from any jurisdictions in which you’ve held a license in the last five years. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s advisable to consult the real estate commission or regulatory authority of the state where you seek licensure.

North Texas teacher resigns after backlash over TikTok pronoun video

*This is being reported by WFAA.

 For seven months, Red Oak ISD was a sanctuary for Rosalyn Sandri. She described it as a place where she pursued her lifelong dream of being a teacher.

But today, she’s no longer in the classroom.

Sandri, an English teacher, shared a video on TikTok talking about how her students had embraced her pronouns and showed respect by addressing her as “ma’am.”

“When I told them I changed my pronouns, they jumped right into it,” she said on Tuesday.

But Sandri said when the post was reposted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the account Libs of TikTok, it went viral, racking up 3.2 million views.

That’s when the backlash began.

Sandri said she began receiving death threats and hateful emails, even through her school email account.

“I got a notice that told me to eat a bullet,” she said.

The video also caught the attention of Texas State Representative Brian Harrison, who publicly called for her resignation.

“Schools are for education, not indoctrination,” Harrison said over Zoom on Tuesday.

“Teaching children, minors, that boys can become girls, and girls can become boys is at odds with objective reality. And the biological reality is that there are only two sexes,” said Harrison.

In a statement to WFAA, Red Oak ISD confirmed that Sandri resigned effective immediately on Monday, March 31.

“In light of recent attention, Red Oak High School English teacher Sandri has resigned, effective March 31, 2025. Any other information is a personnel matter, and we are not at liberty to discuss.”

Sandri said she felt she had no choice but to step away for her safety and the safety of the school and students.

“When I resigned, I felt like I was signing away my ability to teach in the state of Texas. I don’t know that another school will touch me now,” she said.

“Being a teacher is all I ever wanted to do since I was five years old,” she said.

Now, she fears her career in Texas is over.

Florida GOP advances bill that would legalize anti-LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination

*This is being reported by LGBTQNation.

Florida state Republican lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow public employees and state contractors to openly discriminate against LGBTQ+ co-workers without fear of punishment.

The so-called “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act” (S.B. 440) would forbid public employers from requiring workers to use transgender people’s personal pronouns and forbid employers from punishing any employee for expressing “a belief in traditional or Biblical views of sexuality and marriage, or … gender ideology.”

The legislation would also remove “nonbinary” gender options from employment forms and forbid any entities from requiring workers to undergo LGBTQ+ cultural competence training. The bill would not apply to private employers.

“The bill really does promote government employees and contractors to harass transgender individuals by allowing them to intentionally misgender them by using disrespectful pronouns and having no consequences,” Florida state Sen. Kristen Arrington (D) said, according to Advocate. “And this is a license to discriminate free from accountability.”

The Senate Government Oversight and Accountability Committee initially declined to vote on the bill last week after receiving hundreds of comment cards opposing it. However, the committee ultimately voted 5-2 along party lines to advance it. It now heads to the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

Florida resident Claudia Thomas, the first out gay commissioner of Sanford City, said the bill insults LGBTQ+ people like her and wastes government resources, Florida Politics reported.

“I would love to get back to trying to solve my city’s problems about water, clean water, housing, etc,” Thomas said. “And if I have to start wasting my time talking about pronouns and people not respecting my friends, it would make me sad.”

The bill is just one of several anti-LGBTQ+ bills currently being considered by state legislators, according to the statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Equality Florida.

One bill would ban local governments from enacting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies (including any recognition of Pride Month) by defunding these initiatives and removing local officials who promote them. Another would prohibit any taxpayer funds from supporting DEI initiatives in state agencies, among state contractors, or grantees.

Yet another bill would ban Pride flags on government property, and another would restrict the ability of people under the age of 18 to seek reproductive healthcare without parental consent.

However, Democratic lawmakers have also introduced legislation that would formally repeal the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, repeal the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, which forbids instruction on LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 schools, eliminate so-called “LGBTQ+ paníc defenses in queer-bashing criminal cases and restore parents’ rights to access gender-affirming care for trans kids.

Finland PM Orpo: Legislative ban on conversion therapy unlikely to proceed this term

*This is being reported by YLE.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has told the Uutissuomalainen news group that he considers it unlikely a proposal to ban conversion therapy will move forward during his government’s term in office.

On Friday, MPs overwhelmingly approved a citizens’ initiative aimed at banning sexual orientation and gender identification conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to turn members of sexual minorities into heterosexuals using a variety of different methods. The practice is usually carried out by priests, pastoral care workers, youth workers and others in some conservative religious communities.

Among Finland’s coalition government’s parties, the ban was supported by the NCP and the Swedish People’s Party, while it was opposed by the Finns Party and the Christian Democrats.

“Since there is no government programme document about the matter, and government parties do not share a unified position about banning conversion therapy, I do not believe the matter will progress during this governmental term,” Orpo told Uutissuomalainen, according to the news group.

Justice Minister Leena Meri (Finns) said on Friday that the justice ministry does not have time to prepare legislation to ban conversion therapy, as there is a long list of projects listed in the government programme that are waiting to move forward.

Ohio ‘Given Name Act’ proposes strict rules for names, pronouns in schools

*This is being reported by NBC4i.

Ohio’s “Parents’ Bill of Rights” won’t go into effect for two more weeks, but House Republicans are already proposing amendments, including one that would penalize districts that used students’ chosen names and pronouns without parent permission.

Reps. Jonathan Newman (R-Troy) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township) introduced House Bill 190 on Monday, which would require public schools to have parent permission to refer to a student by a name or pronoun that differs from what is listed on their birth certificate. Schools that violate the “Given Name Act” would be denied state funding and open themselves to lawsuits.

“It’s to make sure that parents can exercise, reconstitute the right to control the upbringing of their children, even inside of school buildings,” Williams said.

The bill also bans public school employees or contractors from requiring students or staff to respect students’ chosen names or pronouns. Even with parent permission, schools would not be allowed to subject staff or students to “adverse action” for declining to use a student’s preferred name and pronouns.

Although students older than 18 could personally request to be addressed differently under HB 190, teachers could not. The proposed bill would ban school employees from sharing their pronouns or titles if they differ from what is listed on the employee’s personal birth certificate. Williams said requiring students to use teachers’ pronouns makes young students affirm that genders can be changed.

After Florida enacted a similar ban in 2023, the state faced lawsuits from transgender and gender variant teachers, including high school teacher Katie Wood. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that said the state’s ban on preferred pronouns violated Wood’s First Amendment rights, and a federal court heard oral arguments in October 2024. However, the court withdrew its interest in the case on Feb. 26, before a ruling was issued.

The law would not apply to derivatives, or generally accepted nicknames, of birth names. For instance, if director Spike Lee were an Ohio student, he could be called Shelton or Shel, from his given name Shelton Jackson Lee. However, he would need written permission to be called Spike under HB 190.

“We’ve got big problems and issues to deal with in our schools, in higher education,” Ohio House Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. “What we’re seeing and this sort of going back to pronouns and attacking diversity, equity and inclusion, it’s a distraction.”

The Given Name Act also establishes a complaint system through the Department of Education and Workforce. If the department determines a school district violated the law, the state would then withhold 10% of the school’s funding every month until the state determined they were now compliant. The bill also allows families to sue for monetary relief if a district or staff member knowingly violates it.

“There’s always discretionary funds that the Supreme Court has noted that we provide to school districts that we’re not constitutionally required to provide,” Williams said. “So that’s a funding mechanism that if school districts don’t want to comply with state law, there has to be some repercussions.”

HB 190 would update the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which will go into effect on April 9 and already requires schools to alert parents and guardians if a student requests to go by a name or pronoun that is different from what was assigned at birth.

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