Warning: While some of the following stories describe legislative actions to celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and non-binary youth. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. Alaska - Anti-discrimination legislation introduced in Alaska. Representative Jennie Armstrong, one of the first out queer lawmakers in Alaska, filed the HB2238 on March 8th which would include “sexual orientation and gender identity or expression” as part of the state’s definition of “sex” a protected class in Alaska. Arkansas - Governor Sanders signs gender-affirming care ban law. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed SB199 on March 13th which would allow anyone who has received gender- affirming care as a minor to sue their doctor for malpractice within 15 years of them turning 18. The law will effectively ban gender affirming care for minors in the state again, following an injunction blocking enforcement of a gender-affirming care ban which became law in 2021 Colorado - Catholic group buys app data to “out” gay priests. Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal spent millions of dollars on purchasing commercial data from dating apps such as Grindr from 2018 through 2021. The data was then cross referenced with priests’ residences to look for matches. Florida - Misgendering bill proposed. A proposed law in Florida would mandate that public school employees refer to students by pronouns that correspond to their sex at birth, regardless of their gender identity. The bill has yet to be heard in committee. State Attorney's office drops all charges against openly gay former DC Police Lt. Brett Parson. On March 13th, a Broward County Circuit Court judge in Ft. Lauderdale dismissed the case against former D.C. police lieutenant and leading global trainer of law enforcement bureaus on LGBTQ+ communities, Brett Parson, when the State Attorney dropped both charges. Parson was charged in Feb. 2022 with unlawful sexual activity with a minor who falsified his age on Grindr. Georgia - House approves gender-affirming care ban. SB140, which would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth under 18, passed the house on March 16th. The Senate could approve the bill as early as Monday, March 20th. Take action to stop this harmful bill with our partners at Georgia Equality. Illinois - UIC students protest anti-LGBTQ+ speakers. Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens spoke at a forum organized by Turning Point USA at the University of Illinois Chicago. Students picketed the event calling out Kirk and Owens for their “hateful” speech. Kansas - Legislature passes trans athlete ban. The bill will head to the governor’s desk after being approved by the Senate 28-11. The governor indicated he will veto the legislation, but the legislature appears to have sufficient override votes. Maryland - Maryland advances trans health bill. The House advanced HB283 out of committee after a hearing on February 14th for the legislation. The bill would include gender-affirming care as part of the state Medicaid program. Minnesota - Minnesota institutes gender affirming care protections. Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order that reaffirms the right of people in Minnesota to receive gender affirming care. Nebraska - Legislator’s filibuster of gender-affirming care ban bill reaches third week. State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh had threatened to filibuster every piece of legislation this year including those she supports; this promise followed a gender-affirming care ban advancing out of committee. Her goal is to prevent it from passing and reaching the Governor’s desk. Oklahoma - Nation’s first openly nonbinary state legislator censured. State Representative Mauree Turner was censured by House leadership on March 7th for offering a trans protester use of their office after a law enforcement confrontation before being arrested. Tennessee - State pushes to define gender under state law. The state Senate passed the bill on March 13th, which now heads to the House. The bill would define male and female and prevent trans and non-binary people from changing their gender on state documents. If implemented the legislation would cost the state $1.2 billion in federal education funding since it conflicts with federal regulations. Vermont - Winooski becomes second U.S. city and Vermont’s first to have an all-LGBTQ+ city council. Residents in the town voted to fill two vacancies on their city council with LGBTQ+ community members, following Palm Springs, CA with this distinction. Christian school banned from Vermont scholastic sporting events after refusing to field team against school with a transgender player. The Mid Vermont Christian School forfeited a girls’ basketball tournament game rather than play against a school with a trans player on its team. This is a violation of state athletic rules and, as a result, the Mid Vermont Christian school has been banned from future sporting events. Washington, DC - City to host WorldPride in 2025. The Capital Pride Alliance announced that the District was chosen to host WorldPride from May 22 to June 8, 2025. 2025 will mark 50 years of pride celebrations in DC. City Council proposes creating LGBTQ+ Pride license plates. The Pride Plates Act of 2023 was introduced by Councilman Robert White in March with the goal to have Pride plates available for District drivers before the city hosts WorldPride in 2025. West Virginia - Legislature passes gender-affirming care ban, heads to Governor’s desk. The bill would ban gender-affirming care, including puberty-blockers and hormone replacement therapy, for trans youth under 18. An exception was added for youth diagnosed with “severe gender dysphoria” to continue receiving care. | 
