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. California - State Assembly passes the SAFETY Act. The bill, which would ban school districts from adopting forced outing policies, now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature. PFLAG National and 19 California PFLAG chapters endorsed the bill. Michigan - State Senate passes gay/trans panic defense ban. The bill, which passed 24-14, prohibits perpetrators of violent crimes from using discovery of their victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity as a defense. Montana - Judge strikes down anti-trans sex definition law. District Court Judge Shane Vannatta ruled that the law, which defines “sex” in state law as only male or female, violated the state constitution because the description of the legislation did not clearly state its purpose. New York - Nassau County legislature approves anti-trans athlete ban. The bill passed on a party-line 12-5 vote, following up on an executive order banning trans women from competing in sports at county facilities County Executive Bruce Blakeman released in February. Oregon - Advocacy groups launch ballot initiative effort to enshrine LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights in state constitution. Basic Rights Oregon, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon announced they would begin gathering signatures to amend the state constitution to explicitly ban discrimination on account of pregnancy-related decisions, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex. Texas - Texas Supreme Court Refuses to Block Law Banning Health Care for Texas Trans Youth. The Texas Supreme Court today reversed a lower court ruling blocking enforcement of Senate Bill 14, permitting the anti-transgender law to remain in effect. The court ruled against the plaintiffs—PFLAG National, five Texas families with transgender youth, three medical providers, and GLMA—concluding that the law is constitutional and that the plaintiffs are powerless to challenge it. Utah - University of Utah LGBT Resource Center to close due to anti-DEI law. The University of Utah’s Center for Equity and Student Belonging, LGBT Resource Center, and Women’s Resource Center are all closing to comply with the law. Washington - Judge blocks parts of new “parents bill of rights” law. King County Superior Court Judge Micheal Scott enjoined part of the law requiring schools to provide parents with their child’s school records, which includes mental health counseling and medical files, while the case challenging the law proceeds. | 
