The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBT activist organization, declared a nationwide state of emergency for LGBT people Tuesday over legislation it believes targets gay and transgender people.
The group cited a wave of state legislation, largely spearheaded by Republicans, that it perceives as “anti-LGBTQ+,” including restrictions on cross-sex medical procedures for minors, as justification for the state of emergency, the first such declaration the group has ever made, according to HRC’s website. The declaration provides a guidebook for LGBT individuals to navigate laws between states, a guide to getting involved in activism and an impact report on legislation the HRC considers anti-LGBT. (RELATED: ‘Chilling Effect’: States Are Cracking Down On Therapists Who Don’t Affirm Kids’ Trans Identities)
The group also cited “forced student outing laws” as justification for their decision; this appears to be a reference to laws prohibiting schools from keeping students’ gender identity a secret from parents.
“We have officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States for the first time following an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults sweeping state houses this year,” the announcement read. “More than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been signed into law this year alone, more than doubling last year’s number, which was previously the worst year on record.”
For the first time ever, we’re declaring a national state of emergency as LGBTQ+ Americans face extremist attempts to roll back our rights. It’s more important than ever we have the necessary resources to stay safe no matter where we are. https://t.co/EcnZgqDDCp pic.twitter.com/q0axEWCM1N
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 6, 2023
“Our community is in danger, but we won’t stop fighting back — not now, not ever,” it said.
The declaration listed dozens of state bills that it believes target LGBT people, including requirements that individuals use bathrooms according to their biological sex, compete on sports teams aligned with their biological sex, restrictions on drag shows, limits on classroom instruction about gender and sexuality and bills requiring teachers to share information about students’ gender identity with parents.
“LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived — they are real, tangible and dangerous,” HRC president Kelley Robinson told CNN. “In many cases they are resulting in violence against LGBTQ+ people, forcing families to uproot their lives and flee their homes in search of safer states, and triggering a tidal wave of increased homophobia and transphobia that puts the safety of each and every one of us at risk.”
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