Self-care note: While some of the following stories celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and nonbinary youth. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. Advisory: State news is representative but not exhaustive due to space constraints; feel free to forward news about your state to advocacy@pflag.org to consider for inclusion. Alabama - “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” bill advances in State House. The House Education Policy Committee approved HB130, a bill that expands the current prohibition on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity from K-kindergarten through 5th grade to K-kindergarten through 12th grade. It also prohibits school employees from displaying Pride flags and other affirming symbols on public school property. Alaska - State House advances anti-trans sports ban. The State Board of Education and the Alaska School Activities Association published a regulation last year prohibiting trans girls from competing in high school girls sports. House Bill 183 would expand that ban in state law to all public school students in Alaska as well as private schools that compete against public schools in athletic events. California - Sacramento becomes ‘sanctuary city’ for transgender people after city council resolution passes. The resolution was proposed by Councilmember Katie Valenzuela who recently conceded in her reelection race for District 4 and was unanimously approved by Sacramento City Council. Kansas - Transgender Kansans challenge ban on gender marker changes for drivers’ licenses. The ACLU of Kansas, which represents the five transgender Kansans in the case, is appealing Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson’s ruling blocking gender marker changes for driver’s licenses. D.C. Hiegert, LGBTQ+ legal fellow for the ACLU of Kansas, said “The court has decided that the state’s administrative interest outweighs the threat of harassment, discrimination and violence to individual Kansans'” when announcing the appeal. Louisiana - New Orleans Pride Center to re-open. The LGBTQ+ community center had previously closed in 2022, but announced it would re-open to the public on April 6th. Ohio - ACLU sues over Ohio’s law to ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Two Ohio transgender girls and their parents sued the state of Ohio on Tuesday over House Bill 68, a new state law that takes effect in April 2024 banning children under age 18 from obtaining gender-affirming care. Virginia - Queer Fairfax County students, allies rally against anti-transgender lawsuit. Queer students and allies gathered at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church to rally against an attack on transgender rights in Fairfax County Public Schools. The lawsuit, brought forth by America First Legal, alleges FCPS’s policies violated the rights of a female student, by “allowing transgender teenage boys access to female restrooms” and enforcing what the plaintiffs described as a “radical, government-sponsored gender indoctrination and approved-speech scheme.” Washington - Amid book bans, DEI cuts and 'Don't Say Gay' laws, 7 states will mandate LGBTQ-inclusive curricula. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5462, a law that includes a mandate for the state’s public schools to teach LGBTQ history. Wyoming - Wyoming governor vetoes abortion restrictions and signs trans medical care ban for minors. Wyoming’s governor vetoed a bill that would have erected significant barriers to abortion but also signed legislation banning gender-affirming care for minors making Wyoming the latest state out of at least 24 to ban gender-affirming health care for minors |