A widely debated topic in state congress rooms across the country currently is whether or not classrooms should discuss sexual orientation. This concept, among many others directed toward the LGBT community, is moving through state congresses across the country.

So far this year, 17 states have proposed laws that have restricted the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. An extensive list of these proposed bills can be reached here. Among this list are recently passed bills that have gained a lot of recognition from news media sources that have one thing in common: the criminalization of providing gender affirming care for transgender identifying youths.

States like Idaho and Texas have passed bills making it a crime punishable by life in prison for a parent to provide or seek gender affirming care (hormones, puberty blockers, sex reassignment surgeries) to their child. Idaho’s bill would also make it illegal for parents to go out of state to provide gender affirming care for their child. An Alabama bill moving through legislation would make it illegal for a doctor to give hormones, puberty blockers, and perform surgeries as a part of gender affirmation for minors.

Aside from the Texas law, all these bills mentioned, and many more like them, are not state laws yet. Even more have died on the state floor. Another particular bill related to these that has gained a lot of criticism and praise from opposite sides of the political spectrum is the Parental Rights of Education bill.

The Parental Rights of Education bill, better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, has passed through state congress and is waiting for the Florida governor’s sign off. The proposed bill would prohibit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools from kindergarten through third grade. 

Regardless of opinions on the subject, there is a rise in the frequency of proposed anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year, and whether they get passed into law or not, it does not look like it’s stopping anytime soon.