LGBTQ rights

Judge halts Missouri rule limiting gender-affirming health care

By Jim Salter, Summer Ballentine, Associated Press

A Missouri judge will decide whether a first-of-its-kind rule placing strict regulations on gender-affirming care in Missouri kicks in Thursday.

Rep. Zooey Zephyr’s town feels divide from rest of Montana after barring

By Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press

The city is often described as a blue island in a vast red state and elected the state's first openly transgender legislator. But its voters were still shocked at what happened next.

North Dakota limits bathroom, locker room use for transgender people

By Trisha Ahmed, Associated Press

North Dakota's Republican Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill that limits access to bathrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms for transgender and gender-nonconforming people in several state facilities.

Blue states look to expand insurance coverage of gender-affirming care

By Claire Rush, Associated Press/Report for America

The wide-ranging bill is part of a wave of legislation in Democratic-controlled states intended to carve out safe havens for transgender people amid a conservative movement seeking to ban or limit gender-affirming care.

Transgender lawmaker banned from Montana House floor for rest of 2023 session

By Amy Beth Hanson, Sam Metz, Matthew Brown, Associated Press

Transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr was barred from participating on the House floor as Republican leaders voted Wednesday to silence her for the rest of 2023 session after she protested GOP leaders’ decision earlier in the week to silence her.

Montana GOP misgenders trans colleague while demanding censure for her language

By Amy Beth Hanson, Associated Press

The Montana Freedom Caucus called for a "commitment to civil discourse," in the same sentence in which they misgendered Rep. Zooey Zephyr.

North Dakota governor signs law criminalizing trans health care for minors

By Trisha Ahmed, Associated Press

North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill into law that restricts transgender health care in the state, immediately making it a crime to give gender-affirming care to people younger than 18.

Florida Board of Education expands ‘Don’t Say Gay’ classroom ban to all grades

By Anthony Izaguirre, Associated Press

The Florida Board of Education has approved a ban on classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.

Kansas approves bill to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors

By John Hanna, Associated Press

Republican legislators in Kansas have approved a proposal to end gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Their action capped three days of intensifying efforts to follow other states with GOP-controlled legislatures by rolling back LGBTQ rights.

Kansas approves bill allowing parents to opt kids out of LGBTQ-themed lessons

By John Hanna, Associated Press

The Republican-controlled Kansas House voted on Thursday to approve a "parental rights" measure that would allow a parent to place their child in an alternative to a public K-12 school lesson or activity that goes against the parent's beliefs.