The Human Rights Campaign published an article titled “2021 Slated to Become Worst Year for LGBTQ State Legislative Attacks as Unprecedented Number of States Poised to Enact Record-Shattering Number of Anti-LGBTQ Measures Into Law” in April of 2021. (hrc) This headline illustrates the world that we are all living in right now, and it’s crucial that we make space for the impact that legislation has on the LBTQ+ community. While it is true that American society has made progress when it comes to recognizing the validity and normalcy of LGBTQ+ culture, a lot of US legislature is not reflective of the same advancements:
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in America continue to face discrimination in their daily lives. While more states every year work to pass laws to protect LGBTQ people, we continue to see state legislatures advancing bills that target transgender people, limit local protections, and allow the use of religion to discriminate.” (aclu)
One of the first steps to reversing oppressive legislation is drawing attention to the issue. However, it’s up to those in our community to “not ignore the responsibility to take action against anti-equality bills at the state level.” (hrc) In order to truly produce change, it’s crucial to educate yourself on the types of anti- LGBTQ+ legislation and what to look out for in your day-to-day life. The following website: aclu is a great resource if you want to browse all of the harmful anti- LGBTQ+ legislatures that have been passed in 2021 and educate yourself on the current realities in your home state.
Different Types of Anti- LGBTQ+ Legislation
Not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is impacted by the same legislature, as there are different types of discriminatory laws that the government has enacted over the past year. Within the community, trans individuals are victims of a lot of unjust legislatures that needs to be addressed. Anti- Trans bills are defined as the following:
“These measures target transgender and nonbinary people for discrimination, such as by barring or criminalizing healthcare for transgender youth, barring access to the use of appropriate facilities like restrooms, restricting transgender students’ ability to fully participate in school and sports, allowing religiously-motivated discrimination against trans people, or making it more difficult for trans people to get identification documents with their name and gender.” aclu
Some of these bills involve things such as prohibiting health care for transgender youth and excluding transgender youth from certain sports because of their valid gender identity. When it comes to anti-trans legislation the issue is not something that is political or should be in any capacity, as trans rights are human rights and should be treated as such. These bills prevent individuals in the trans community from exercising their human rights to fully participate in everything society has to offer, regardless of their gender identity. There has also been legislation passed in the 50 states in 2021 that prevents local protection for those within the LGBTQ+ community.
“These bills prevent cities and other local government entities from passing nondiscrimination protections that are more expansive than the protections offered at the state level, including protections for LGBTQ people.” aclu
This legislation can be harmful to those in the LGBTQ+ community because it perpetuates the notion that those who don’t adhere to heteronormative lifestyles are not worth the same amount of protection as those that do. Discrimination is a huge problem within local, state, and federal institutions and recent legislature clearly reflects this issue. Begin by educating yourself on the recent bills that have been passed in your community. Discrimination is happening across the globe, and not one state in America is exempt from legislation that is harmful to the LGBTQ+ community.
By: Alyssa Morterud