The Republicans Have a Banner Year Promoting Homophobia and Transphobia
Trans Children Are Not Political Pawns
Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash
According to a report by the Human Rights Campaign that was issued in June[1], 525 bills were introduced in state legislatures attacking the LGBTQ+ community. Of those, 220 were targeted against the trans community. Seventy of these bills were enacted into law. The Republicans have adopted a strategy of focusing on the state legislatures, many in which they hold a majority. Many of these laws already have been challenged in court awaiting trials that may overturn them.
The report breaks out the categories of the focus on six categories, with an emphasis on three states: Texas, Tennessee, and Florida. These political attacks were funded primarily by these extremist groups: The Alliance Defending Freedom, The Heritage Foundation, and the Family Policy Alliance. To a lesser extent, these groups have been involved in the effort: American College of Pediatricians, American Principles Project, Gays Against Groomers, Independent Women’s Forum, and Moms for Liberty.
While these laws present many restrictions and/or discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, one group suffers the most.
An estimated 92,700 transgender youth are living in states where their access to life-saving best practices, gender-affirming medical care has been banned through bills and/or administrative action. This poses a serious threat to their mental and physical health. These actions have caused families to flee states with the most serious restrictions. This doesn’t even include the meddling in the public schools.
Much of this can been seen as an appeal to the most extreme, right wing, and evangelical religious voters that make up a large portion of the Republican base. It is a short-term strategy to win the primaries. It may be a political liability in the general election. Most polls show strong national support for the LGBTQ+ community.[2]
Of course, all this reactionary legislation involves much more than just politics. It impacts the lives of thousands of people every day. It also creates conflicts in thousands of local communities and weakens social cohesion.[3] The Mixing Pot has been deliberately boiled over, and it may take generations to heal the breach. Trump has a strategy of creating chaos, and his party seems also to have adopted that strategy.
Many state legislators, both Republican and Democrat, have spoken out in opposition to this type of legislation. Some have suffered consequences, including expulsion from their legislatures. The good news is that while these attacks occurred, 22 states enacted non-discrimination protections into law that expanded civil rights. The protections go beyond, race, age, etc. to specifically include the LGBTQ+ community. As Willie Mays said, “it ain’t over til it’s over.”
[1] Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack: A Report and Reflection on the 2023 State Legislative Session
[2] Galllup Poll 6/16/23 says support dropped from 71% in 2022 to 64% in 2023
[3] Data for Progress Poll 3/24/23 64% say this is too much legislation. Politicians are playing political theater and using these bills as a wedge issue.
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