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. Advisory: State news is representative but not exhaustive due to space constraint; feel free to forward news about your state to advocacy@pflag.org to consider for inclusion. California - Protesters clash outside of Glendale School Board Meeting. As the school board met to discuss a resolution recognizing June as Pride Month, fights broke out between pro and anti-LGBTQ+ demonstrators gathered outside the building. Police arrested three individuals and declared an unlawful assembly, temporarily disrupting the school board meeting before the resolution passed unanimously later in the evening. Louisiana - Anti-trans healthcare ban revived; passes Senate. HB648 was rejected in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on May 24th, however lawmakers moved to recommit the bill to a new committee, where it was quickly approved and then sent to the Senate floor, where the bill passed on June 5th by a 29-10 vote. HB648 will now return to the House where lawmakers must concur with Senate amendments to the bill before it is sent to Governor John Bel Edwards. State Senate passes “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” and forced outing bills. HB466 prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools and HB81 prohibits school employees from using transgender students’ preferred names or pronouns unless they have parental approval. Both bills passed the Senate on June 5th and now head to the Governor’s desk. Maryland - Governor Moore issues executive order declaring Maryland a “sanctuary state” for trans people. The order mandates that state agencies “take whatever action is necessary and coordinate to protect” people or entities involved with providing gender-affirming care from legal punishments by other states. The order also prohibits sharing medical records of transgender individuals for potential investigations. Missouri - Governor Parson signs anti-trans healthcare, athlete bans into law. The healthcare ban, which would go into effect on August 28th, would bar trans and non-binary youth from receiving medically necessary care such as hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers. The law does, however, include an exception for those who were already receiving this care prior to the law’s effective date. Mississippi - Trans teen has graduation ceremony at Biloxi Pride Day. The Harrison Central High graduate was told just before graduation she would have to adhere to the boys’ graduation dress code policy, despite having worn girls’ clothing for her entire high school career. She sued the school district, but a federal judge ruled against her. Instead of attending her school’s graduation, there was a ceremony for her at Biloxi Pride Day, where the graduate walked across the 2023 Pride Stage in an outfit she and her mother selected. Montana - Butte-Silver Bow Public Library cancels lecture by trans Native American due to new drag ban. Adria Jawort was going to do an LGBTQ and two-spirit history lecture at the library, but county attorneys recommended the lecture be canceled to avoid the library running afoul of the drag ban Governor Gianforte signed into law on May 22nd. |