NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. — The first encounter with racism that Harmony Kennedy can remember came in elementary school. On a playground, a girl picked up a leaf and said she wanted to “clean the dirt” from Harmony’s skin.
In sixth grade, a boy dropped trash on the floor and told her to pick it up, “because you’re a slave.” She was stunned — no one had ever said anything like that to her before.
George Walker IV, Associated Press
Harmony Kennedy, 16, a high school student, poses for a portrait in Nolensville, Tenn., on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. When the Tennessee legislature began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch. "When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almost started crying," she says.
As protests for racial justice broke out in 2020, white students at her Tennessee high school kneeled in the hallways and chanted, “Black lives matter!” in mocking tones. As she saw the students receive light punishments, she grew increasingly frustrated.
So when Tennessee began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch — as if the adults were signaling this kind of ignorant behavior was acceptable.
“When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almost started crying,” said Harmony, 16. “We’re not doing anything to anybody. Why do they care what we personally prefer, or what we look like?”
As conservative politicians and activists push for limits on discussions of race, gender and sexuality, some students say the measures targeting aspects of their identity have made them less welcome in American schools — the one place all kids are supposed to feel safe.
Some of the new restrictions have been championed by conservative state leaders and legislatures, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who say they are necessary to counter liberal influence in schools. Others have been pushed by local activists or school boards arguing teachers need more oversight to ensure classroom materials are appropriate.
Books have been pulled from libraries. Some schools have insisted on using the names transgender students had before they transitioned. And teachers wary of breaking new rules have shied from discussions related to race, gender and other politically sensitive topics, even as students say they desperately need to see their lived experiences reflected in the classroom.
Among them are a transgender student at a Pennsylvania school where teachers are directed to use students’ birth names, a bisexual student in Florida who sensed a withdrawal of adult support, and Harmony, a Black student outside Nashville alarmed by efforts to restrict lessons on Black history.
For these and other students of color and LGBTQ+ kids, it can feel like their very existence is being rejected.
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Joe Lamberti, Associated Press
Leo Burchell stands for a portrait outside his family's home in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. In late 2020, during the pandemic school closures, Leo Burchell started using different pronouns, trying on new clothes, cutting his hair short. The changes felt right.
‘NEUTRALITY’ POLICY MAKES SCHOOL FEEL LESS SAFE
In late 2020, during the pandemic school closures, Leo Burchell started using different pronouns, trying on new clothes and shorter hair. The changes felt right.
At school outside Philadelphia, Leo started telling teachers about using a different name and they/them pronouns, and the teachers were immediately accepting. A shift to using he/him pronouns followed.
“I changed my name to Leo, and for a while it was tough,” he said. “I told some of my friends. I told the people close to me, but I wasn’t ready to come out to everybody yet … and I had the space to do that in my own time.”
To tell his parents, Leo shared a poem he had written about his transition. He worried it would be hard for them, as parents who had always identified as “girl parents” to three daughters. His mom, dad, older and twin sister were all supportive.
Then, over the last year, the Central Bucks School District’s board barred staff from using students’ chosen names or pronouns without parental permission.
Ryan Collerd, Associated Press
High school student Leo Burchell speaks at the Central Bucks School Board meeting about LGBTQ student rights in Doylestown, Pa., on Nov. 15, 2022.
Ryan Collerd, Associated Press
Central Bucks School District high school student Leo Burchell waits outside for a school board meeting to start in Doylestown, Pa., on Nov. 15, 2022.
The board passed what it called a “neutrality” policy that bars social and political advocacy in classrooms — a measure opponents have seen as targeting Pride flags and other symbols teachers use to signal support for LGBTQ+ students. Reviews of the appropriateness of books have mostly targeted LGBTQ+ literature.
Each step felt like chipping away at the spaces that made Leo feel safe enough to explore his gender identity.
Across the district, parents and students told the board stories of slurs, hate speech and sometimes violence directed toward transgender children. But other adults pressed forward in their effort to restrict inclusion. During one board meeting when a transgender student was speaking, rather than listening, a group of parents whispered to each other. One adult audibly asked: “Is that a girl?”
One man told the school board transgender people posed a risk of violence in bathrooms. Leo expected another adult in the room to interrupt what felt to him like hate speech. No one did.
So at the next board meeting, Leo spoke up. “Attacking students based on who they are or who they love is wrong,” he said. Leo has spoken regularly at meetings since.
Leo worries about what school will be like for younger transgender students.
“I don’t want my friends to be misgendered and deadnamed every single day just because they don’t want to come out to their parents,” Leo said. “It really just breaks my heart to know that some of my friends, you know, might not want to go to school anymore.”
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Marta Lavandier, Associated Press
Jack Fitzgerald, a senior at J.P. Taravella High School who started the school's the Gender and Sexuality Alliance club, stands for a portrait in Lauderhill, Fla., on April 19. Last year, as a junior, he led a school walkout to protest a new law that banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten to third grade.
NEW FLORIDA LAWS ‘TOOK THE AIR OUT OF ME’
Jack Fitzgerald, a high school student in Broward County, Florida, came out to friends by accident at first.
At a book club meeting, he blurted out: “I don’t really like romance books unless they’re gay.” He hadn’t told anyone he was bisexual, but it came out easily in a place where he felt comfortable and safe.
Later, he would come out to his mother while watching television.
“So, I am bi,” he told her.
“And why are you telling me this?” she said. A lifelong conservative, his mother told him she had long known about his sexuality. It was not a problem.
The confidence and relief he felt led Jack to start his school’s gender and sexuality alliance club. Last year, as a junior, he led a school walkout to protest a new law that banned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten to third grade. The law, part of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation pushed by DeSantis, was dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” by critics and recently expanded to encompass all grades.
Jack was surprised by two things. Most students initially knew little about the bill. And once they learned about it, support for the walkout was overwhelming.
Teachers have been more cautious.
Joe Lamberti, Associated Press
Pride flags are displayed in the bedroom of high school student Leo Burchell in Pennsylvania on Nov. 16, 2022.
Jack remembers talking to his debate teacher about covering some controversial topics. “You have to realize, … teachers have families,” he told Jack, who took it as a comment on teachers worried about losing their jobs.
In another class, Jack recalls an environmental teacher told the class she could not answer a question during a discussion on climate change or she would be seen as “too woke.”
There also was a school board member, Debra Hixon, who won Jack’s admiration when she spoke last year at a town hall event for teens. Hixon, who became widely known after her husband was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, expressed support for LGBTQ+ students.
“I think I even told my mom. I was like, ‘Oh, we’ve got to vote for her next time because she seems so impassioned, and she genuinely came across like she cared,'” he said.
When Jack asked her in April how the school district would react to the new laws, Hixon said they were going to comply with the law.
The response shocked Jack. He thought back to how the district had stood up to the DeSantis administration over COVID-19 policies like mask mandates. When it came to protecting LGBTQ+ students, it seemed, there was no appetite for defiance.
“They didn’t even try to act like they were going to try, you know?” he said. “And it was so disappointing. It really took the air out of me.”
Hixon said she felt badly that Jack had the impression she was not defending LGBTQ+ students.
“We have a lot of new laws to navigate, and I am still processing what they mean for our district, so I don’t want to overstep and say something that is incorrect or inappropriate,” she said. “I am more guarded with my responses, but I promise I will continue to defend our students to ensure they feel safe and welcome in our schools.”
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George Walker IV, Associated Press
Harmony Kennedy, 16, a high school student, sits for a portrait in Nolensville, Tenn., on May 16.
AFTER SPEAKING UP, SOME STUDENTS FACE BACKLASH
In Harmony’s freshman-year English class, a boy started playing with his mask and joked, “I can’t breathe, just like George Floyd,” Harmony recalled.
“I was really upset. And I called him out on it. And I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Someone died,'” she said.
She told her teacher, who said she was sorry it happened but there was not much she could do. Nothing happened to the boy, Harmony said.
To be a Black student in this environment, and to see efforts to minimize the teaching of Black history, Harmony said, is a reminder of why it’s important that a full version of history is taught.
“If people are taking this out of schools, it’s making the ignorance go on, because they’re not understanding the pain and agony we have to go through,” she said.
The incident led Harmony to join the Forward Club, which works to promote cultural and racial inclusion at her predominantly white high school. The club’s members come from a diverse array of backgrounds — including the children of some adults who have disparaged the group.
At times, students who speak out against new policies have been targeted for harassment. In Williamson County, Tennessee, where Harmony goes to school, a political action committee accused another high school’s Black student union of promoting segregation. The PAC posted the time and place of the student group’s meeting on social media. Elsewhere, trans and nonbinary students who have spoken up about bullying have faced only more insults on social media.
For some, the hostility can be exhausting. Milana Kumar, a rising senior in Collierville, Tennessee, who is genderqueer, is comfortable with their identity among friends. But it’s not a conversation they bring up at school, where they said teachers and other students often do not respect chosen pronouns.
“I’ve never tried to navigate that, I think just as a response to save myself from a lot of hurt that would happen,” Milana said.
Recently, Tennessee passed a bill that would protect teachers from discipline or other consequences if they misgender their students. At the time, Milana was at the Capitol testifying on other legislation. She thought about how routine a day it was.
“Taking away a whole group of people’s right to be who they are, that’s just like, this is a typical day. I think I was more scared that that was a reality than I was sad about the bill itself.”
Attending predominantly white schools means Harmony has had to go out of her way to learn about Black culture and history — often outside of school. That has shaped where she wants to go next. She’d like to attend a historically Black college and pledge a Black sorority.
George Walker IV, Associated Press
Harmony Kennedy, 16, a high school student, sits for a portrait in Nolensville, Tenn., on May 16, 2023.
What Harmony wants, ultimately, is to be able to go to school like any other teenager and focus on learning. To go to a football game without hearing racial slurs. To stand up for herself without being seen as an aggressor.
In the meantime, it’s something she’ll continue to speak up for.
“My sister is going to be an incoming freshman this year, and I want her to have a safe learning environment where she doesn’t have to really deal with all the ignorance and things,” she said. “I want her to be able to enjoy high school.”
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP // Getty Images
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department unwittingly helped start the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. At the time, clubs with gay or lesbian patrons weren't allowed to serve alcohol, but the Stonewall Inn still served booze to their customers, which gave police cause to raid the bar. The clientele pushed back, and 13 people were arrested. LGBTQ+ people and their allies protested for days. Among the crowd was transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who later founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided resources for LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers.
After the events at Stonewall—which the NYPD eventually apologized for in 2019—more and more people pushed for LGBTQ+ equality. Activists organized the first LGBTQ+ marches in the United States and around the world, giving rise to annual Pride parades. In 1973, the American Psychological Association no longer considered being gay or lesbian a mental illness, and the first openly lesbian politicians were elected in the following year. Currently, openly gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer candidates occupy political offices at most levels of government, including in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and state governorships.
There is still more to be done, but since Stonewall, the government has passed laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal. More than two dozen countries have passed legislation giving marriage rights to everyone.
In the military, it took decades for gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members to win the right to enlist. And it wasn't until 2011 that LGBTQ+ troops could openly serve in the United States armed forces. While the Obama administration repealed the ban on transgender troops in 2016, former President Donald Trump effectively reinstated it in 2019 (though the ban was overturned by the Biden administration in 2021).
To find out more about LGBTQ+ history, Stacker combed through news reports and used data from GLSEN to compile over 50 years of LGBTQ+ progress. Read on to see the evolution of this movement, from then to now.
You may also like: Looking back at 50 years of pride festivals
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP // Getty Images
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department unwittingly helped start the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. At the time, clubs with gay or lesbian patrons weren't allowed to serve alcohol, but the Stonewall Inn still served booze to their customers, which gave police cause to raid the bar. The clientele pushed back, and 13 people were arrested. LGBTQ+ people and their allies protested for days. Among the crowd was transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who later founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided resources for LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers.
After the events at Stonewall—which the NYPD eventually apologized for in 2019—more and more people pushed for LGBTQ+ equality. Activists organized the first LGBTQ+ marches in the United States and around the world, giving rise to annual Pride parades. In 1973, the American Psychological Association no longer considered being gay or lesbian a mental illness, and the first openly lesbian politicians were elected in the following year. Currently, openly gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer candidates occupy political offices at most levels of government, including in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and state governorships.
There is still more to be done, but since Stonewall, the government has passed laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal. More than two dozen countries have passed legislation giving marriage rights to everyone.
In the military, it took decades for gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members to win the right to enlist. And it wasn't until 2011 that LGBTQ+ troops could openly serve in the United States armed forces. While the Obama administration repealed the ban on transgender troops in 2016, former President Donald Trump effectively reinstated it in 2019 (though the ban was overturned by the Biden administration in 2021).
To find out more about LGBTQ+ history, Stacker combed through news reports and used data from GLSEN to compile over 50 years of LGBTQ+ progress. Read on to see the evolution of this movement, from then to now.
You may also like: Looking back at 50 years of pride festivals
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Drew Angerer // Getty Images
Anger erupted after New York City police arrested 13 people during a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates protested for days, even though police took action—even turning fire hoses onto the crowd. Many say the event catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.
Drew Angerer // Getty Images
Anger erupted after New York City police arrested 13 people during a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates protested for days, even though police took action—even turning fire hoses onto the crowd. Many say the event catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Evening Standard // Getty Images
The events of Stonewall led to the creation of the GLF, a group that organized the Christopher Street Liberation Day in New York in 1970—now considered the first Pride parade. It started with only a few hundred people, but by the time the group reached Central Park, thousands were marching for LGBTQ+ equality.
Evening Standard // Getty Images
The events of Stonewall led to the creation of the GLF, a group that organized the Christopher Street Liberation Day in New York in 1970—now considered the first Pride parade. It started with only a few hundred people, but by the time the group reached Central Park, thousands were marching for LGBTQ+ equality.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
rbkomar // Shutterstock
In 1972, Sweden became the first country to give people the right to legally change their gender on identifying documents. However, people needed to be over 18 years old, unmarried, and sterilized; the country didn't remove the mandatory sterilization law until 2013. In some U.S. states, people still need to undergo gender-reassignment surgery to legally change their gender.
rbkomar // Shutterstock
In 1972, Sweden became the first country to give people the right to legally change their gender on identifying documents. However, people needed to be over 18 years old, unmarried, and sterilized; the country didn't remove the mandatory sterilization law until 2013. In some U.S. states, people still need to undergo gender-reassignment surgery to legally change their gender.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
LSE Library // Flickr
The United Kingdom held the country's first LGBTQ+ Pride parade on July 1, 1972. Britain's GLF organized the event, and about 700 people showed up to march. Their slogan was simple: "Gay is good."
LSE Library // Flickr
The United Kingdom held the country's first LGBTQ+ Pride parade on July 1, 1972. Britain's GLF organized the event, and about 700 people showed up to march. Their slogan was simple: "Gay is good."
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
LEE SNIDER PHOTO IMAGES // Shutterstock
LEE SNIDER PHOTO IMAGES // Shutterstock
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
US Department of Labor // Wikimedia Commons
Until the early '70s, physicians could diagnose someone in a same-sex relationship as mentally ill. But in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed "homosexuality" from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or the DSM-II).
US Department of Labor // Wikimedia Commons
Until the early '70s, physicians could diagnose someone in a same-sex relationship as mentally ill. But in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed "homosexuality" from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or the DSM-II).
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Jiaqian AirplaneFan // Wikimedia Commons
Jiaqian AirplaneFan // Wikimedia Commons
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
JIM WATSON/AFP // Getty Images
Harvey Milk made history when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay male politician elected in a major city. Before he was assassinated a year later, Milk helped pass city ordinances to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.
JIM WATSON/AFP // Getty Images
Harvey Milk made history when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay male politician elected in a major city. Before he was assassinated a year later, Milk helped pass city ordinances to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Spencer Platt // Getty Images
In 1978, Harvey Milk's friend Gilbert Baker brought his 30-by-60-foot rainbow flag to an LGBTQ+ rights rally in San Francisco. Afterward, it became an enduring symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community. According to The Washington Post, Baker sometimes referred to himself as "the Betsy Ross of gay liberation." He died in 2017 at the age of 65.
Spencer Platt // Getty Images
In 1978, Harvey Milk's friend Gilbert Baker brought his 30-by-60-foot rainbow flag to an LGBTQ+ rights rally in San Francisco. Afterward, it became an enduring symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community. According to The Washington Post, Baker sometimes referred to himself as "the Betsy Ross of gay liberation." He died in 2017 at the age of 65.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons
Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Andrzej Wójtowicz // Wikimedia Commons
In 1981, Norway amended its laws to include protections for LGBTQ+ people. The legislation stated that business owners couldn't discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation nor deny them access to public events. Hate speech was also prohibited.
Andrzej Wójtowicz // Wikimedia Commons
In 1981, Norway amended its laws to include protections for LGBTQ+ people. The legislation stated that business owners couldn't discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation nor deny them access to public events. Hate speech was also prohibited.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
felipe caparros // Shutterstock
In 1981, the New York Times reported 41 gay men had been afflicted with a "rare cancer." Doctors originally thought HIV/AIDS was a skin cancer known as Kaposi's sarcoma. A year later, though, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) started calling the illness "acquired immune deficiency syndrome," or AIDS.
felipe caparros // Shutterstock
In 1981, the New York Times reported 41 gay men had been afflicted with a "rare cancer." Doctors originally thought HIV/AIDS was a skin cancer known as Kaposi's sarcoma. A year later, though, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) started calling the illness "acquired immune deficiency syndrome," or AIDS.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Pixabay
In 1981, Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Wis.) brought forth a measure to protect LGBTQ+ people from employment discrimination in public and private sectors, making Wisconsin the first in the U.S. to pass a statewide law against such discrimination. The law also banned landlords from denying housing based on sexual orientation.
Pixabay
In 1981, Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Wis.) brought forth a measure to protect LGBTQ+ people from employment discrimination in public and private sectors, making Wisconsin the first in the U.S. to pass a statewide law against such discrimination. The law also banned landlords from denying housing based on sexual orientation.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
AlisonW // Wikimedia Commons
BiPOL, the first bisexual political group, started in San Francisco in 1983. They helped put on the Bisexual Rights Rally a year later, which took place outside the Democratic National Convention.
AlisonW // Wikimedia Commons
BiPOL, the first bisexual political group, started in San Francisco in 1983. They helped put on the Bisexual Rights Rally a year later, which took place outside the Democratic National Convention.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
MICHEL CLEMENT/AFP // Getty Images
MICHEL CLEMENT/AFP // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Pixabay
After Michael Hardwick failed to show up for a court summons for public drinking, a police officer went to his house. That's when he and a male friend were arrested for having consensual sex, which was illegal between two people of the same gender. The case, Bowers v. Hardwick, went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the state. The Court didn't strike down sodomy laws until 2003.
Pixabay
After Michael Hardwick failed to show up for a court summons for public drinking, a police officer went to his house. That's when he and a male friend were arrested for having consensual sex, which was illegal between two people of the same gender. The case, Bowers v. Hardwick, went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the state. The Court didn't strike down sodomy laws until 2003.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
After more than a decade of debate, New York City passed an anti-discrimination bill in 1986: Sexual orientation couldn't be the basis of discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodations.
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
After more than a decade of debate, New York City passed an anti-discrimination bill in 1986: Sexual orientation couldn't be the basis of discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodations.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Rick // Wikimedia Commons
The HIV/AIDS crisis continued into the late '80s. In 1987, Princess Diana dispelled the myth that the disease could be transmitted by touch: without gloves, she shook the hand of an infected man at the opening of the United Kingdom's first HIV/AIDS unit at the London Middlesex Hospital.
Rick // Wikimedia Commons
The HIV/AIDS crisis continued into the late '80s. In 1987, Princess Diana dispelled the myth that the disease could be transmitted by touch: without gloves, she shook the hand of an infected man at the opening of the United Kingdom's first HIV/AIDS unit at the London Middlesex Hospital.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Tasos Katopodis // Getty Images
Although his straight allies and colleagues cautioned him against it, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) revealed his sexual orientation in 1987, making him the second openly gay congressman. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) reluctantly came out in 1983. Frank announced his retirement in 2011.
Tasos Katopodis // Getty Images
Although his straight allies and colleagues cautioned him against it, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) revealed his sexual orientation in 1987, making him the second openly gay congressman. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) reluctantly came out in 1983. Frank announced his retirement in 2011.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons
The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) helped change the way people thought about the disease. Their slogan was simple but effective: "Silence = death." Many say that the group jump-started a movement that led to the creation of HIV/AIDS drugs.
You may also like: Defining historical moments from the year you were born
Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons
The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) helped change the way people thought about the disease. Their slogan was simple but effective: "Silence = death." Many say that the group jump-started a movement that led to the creation of HIV/AIDS drugs.
You may also like: Defining historical moments from the year you were born
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons
A year after the second March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, a group of activists founded National Coming Out Day (October 11), which aims to help LGBTQ+ people live openly.
Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons
A year after the second March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, a group of activists founded National Coming Out Day (October 11), which aims to help LGBTQ+ people live openly.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP // Getty Images
KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Lois GoBe // Shutterstock
Activist Simon Nkoli helped start the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand. GLOW organized the first Pride parade in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1990, where people also marched against apartheid. Some LGBTQ+ marchers were so scared of exposing themselves that they marched with bags over their faces. Only about 800 people gathered for the first parade; by 2018, that number swelled to 22,000.
Lois GoBe // Shutterstock
Activist Simon Nkoli helped start the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand. GLOW organized the first Pride parade in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1990, where people also marched against apartheid. Some LGBTQ+ marchers were so scared of exposing themselves that they marched with bags over their faces. Only about 800 people gathered for the first parade; by 2018, that number swelled to 22,000.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Mark Wilson // Getty Images
Then-President Bill Clinton signed "don't ask, don't tell" as a compromise with Republicans: gay and lesbian service members could join the military, but they could not tell anyone about their sexual orientation. Some officials—including Colin Powell, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time—voiced concerns about AIDS and whether gay and straight soldiers would have to live in the same quarters.
Mark Wilson // Getty Images
Then-President Bill Clinton signed "don't ask, don't tell" as a compromise with Republicans: gay and lesbian service members could join the military, but they could not tell anyone about their sexual orientation. Some officials—including Colin Powell, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time—voiced concerns about AIDS and whether gay and straight soldiers would have to live in the same quarters.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Shawn Goldberg // Shutterstock
Shawn Goldberg // Shutterstock
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
US Federal Government // Wikimedia Commons
Until 1995, someone who was gay or lesbian might not get a federal security clearance because government officials considered sexual orientation a security risk, the rationale being that gay and lesbian people who kept their lives secret could be subject to blackmail. Then-President Bill Clinton signed an executive order ending the regulation.
US Federal Government // Wikimedia Commons
Until 1995, someone who was gay or lesbian might not get a federal security clearance because government officials considered sexual orientation a security risk, the rationale being that gay and lesbian people who kept their lives secret could be subject to blackmail. Then-President Bill Clinton signed an executive order ending the regulation.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images
In 1996, Clinton signed a law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In 2013, he wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post asking the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA. In the piece, Clinton wrote he believed the law to be "incompatible with our constitution," and the Court agreed with him.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images
In 1996, Clinton signed a law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In 2013, he wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post asking the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA. In the piece, Clinton wrote he believed the law to be "incompatible with our constitution," and the Court agreed with him.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Denin Lawley // Unsplash
After she started the Gay-Straight Alliance at her Utah high school, Kelli Peterson—a 17-year-old lesbian senior—made national news. The administration didn't want to allow her LGBTQ+ group but the Equal Access Act meant the school couldn't legally prevent them from meeting. Instead, Salt Lake City's Board of Education banned all high school clubs. Students sued the school, and a federal judge ruled in their favor.
Denin Lawley // Unsplash
After she started the Gay-Straight Alliance at her Utah high school, Kelli Peterson—a 17-year-old lesbian senior—made national news. The administration didn't want to allow her LGBTQ+ group but the Equal Access Act meant the school couldn't legally prevent them from meeting. Instead, Salt Lake City's Board of Education banned all high school clubs. Students sued the school, and a federal judge ruled in their favor.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
SAUL LOEB/AFP // Getty Images
Ellen DeGeneres told the world she was a lesbian on the cover of Time magazine. Then, her television character, Ellen Morgan, became the first openly LGBTQ+ lead in a sitcom. DeGeneres won an Emmy for writing the series, but her show was canceled a year later. In 2003, she started her long-running eponymous talk show and later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama.
SAUL LOEB/AFP // Getty Images
Ellen DeGeneres told the world she was a lesbian on the cover of Time magazine. Then, her television character, Ellen Morgan, became the first openly LGBTQ+ lead in a sitcom. DeGeneres won an Emmy for writing the series, but her show was canceled a year later. In 2003, she started her long-running eponymous talk show and later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Peter Salanki // Wikimedia Commons
Peter Salanki // Wikimedia Commons
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Jordan Silverman // Getty Images
A 1997 lawsuit led Vermont to pass a bill guaranteeing same-sex partners the same legal rights as married people. The Vermont Supreme Court held that the state was unconstitutionally discriminating against gay and lesbian couples. In 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Jordan Silverman // Getty Images
A 1997 lawsuit led Vermont to pass a bill guaranteeing same-sex partners the same legal rights as married people. The Vermont Supreme Court held that the state was unconstitutionally discriminating against gay and lesbian couples. In 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP // Getty Images
ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
J. Bicking // Shutterstock
J. Bicking // Shutterstock
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Alex Wong // Getty Images
The Supreme Court legalized all consensual sex acts between same-sex adults after the ruling in Lawrence v. Texas. "Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government," wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.
Alex Wong // Getty Images
The Supreme Court legalized all consensual sex acts between same-sex adults after the ruling in Lawrence v. Texas. "Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government," wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Angela Jimenez // Getty Images
On May 17, 2004, Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey became the first same-sex couple to get married in the U.S. A year earlier, the Massachusetts Supreme Court had ruled that the ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples was illegal. It took until 2008 for another state (Connecticut) to follow.
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Angela Jimenez // Getty Images
On May 17, 2004, Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey became the first same-sex couple to get married in the U.S. A year earlier, the Massachusetts Supreme Court had ruled that the ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples was illegal. It took until 2008 for another state (Connecticut) to follow.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images
Then-President Barack Obama enacted the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to give the U.S. Department of Justice additional funding to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. This includes crimes committed based on a victim's race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Some activists, however, feel the law did not do enough to increase prosecution of crimes against LGBTQ+ people.
Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images
Then-President Barack Obama enacted the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to give the U.S. Department of Justice additional funding to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. This includes crimes committed based on a victim's race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Some activists, however, feel the law did not do enough to increase prosecution of crimes against LGBTQ+ people.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP // Getty Images
After same-sex marriage became legal in Iceland, the country's openly lesbian prime minister wed her long-time partner. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Jónína Leósdóttir were previously in a civil union. That same year, same-sex marriage became legal in Portugal and Argentina.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP // Getty Images
After same-sex marriage became legal in Iceland, the country's openly lesbian prime minister wed her long-time partner. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Jónína Leósdóttir were previously in a civil union. That same year, same-sex marriage became legal in Portugal and Argentina.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Mark Wilson // Getty Images
At 12:01 a.m. on September 20, 2011, "don't ask, don't tell" was no longer in effect. Then-President Barack Obama signed a law repealing the policy in December 2010. The decision allowed gay and lesbian troops to serve openly in the military.
Mark Wilson // Getty Images
At 12:01 a.m. on September 20, 2011, "don't ask, don't tell" was no longer in effect. Then-President Barack Obama signed a law repealing the policy in December 2010. The decision allowed gay and lesbian troops to serve openly in the military.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Scott Olson // Getty Images
Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay or lesbian senator in 2012. Before heading to the Senate, Baldwin served as one of only four openly gay members of the House at the time.
Scott Olson // Getty Images
Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay or lesbian senator in 2012. Before heading to the Senate, Baldwin served as one of only four openly gay members of the House at the time.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Alex Wong // Getty Images
Alex Wong // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Jason Merritt // Getty Images
Transgender actress Laverne Cox became the first openly trans person nominated for an Emmy when she received the nod for her role in "Orange Is the New Black." She also appeared on the cover of Time the same year. Cox made history again in 2018 when she became the first openly trans person on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Jason Merritt // Getty Images
Transgender actress Laverne Cox became the first openly trans person nominated for an Emmy when she received the nod for her role in "Orange Is the New Black." She also appeared on the cover of Time the same year. Cox made history again in 2018 when she became the first openly trans person on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Ted Eytan // Wikimedia Commons
Ted Eytan // Wikimedia Commons
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Alex Wong // Getty Images
In June 2016, the military lifted the ban on transgender troops. That same month, the Obama administration dedicated the Stonewall Inn as a national monument, the first LGBTQ+ site added to the National Parks System.
Alex Wong // Getty Images
In June 2016, the military lifted the ban on transgender troops. That same month, the Obama administration dedicated the Stonewall Inn as a national monument, the first LGBTQ+ site added to the National Parks System.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP // Getty Images
Virginia voters made history in 2017 when they elected transgender candidate Danica Roem to their state legislature. That same year, then-President Donald Trump announced that the military would no longer accept transgender troops because of "tremendous medical costs and disruption."
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PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP // Getty Images
Virginia voters made history in 2017 when they elected transgender candidate Danica Roem to their state legislature. That same year, then-President Donald Trump announced that the military would no longer accept transgender troops because of "tremendous medical costs and disruption."
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Whitney Curtis // Getty Images
Voters elected more than 150 LGBTQ+ politicians to office in 2018. Among the history-makers at the time were Jared Polis, the openly gay governor of Colorado; U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Native American lesbian representing Kansas; and Malcolm Kenyatta, the first gay Black man elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.
Whitney Curtis // Getty Images
Voters elected more than 150 LGBTQ+ politicians to office in 2018. Among the history-makers at the time were Jared Polis, the openly gay governor of Colorado; U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Native American lesbian representing Kansas; and Malcolm Kenyatta, the first gay Black man elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
SAM YEH/AFP // Getty Images
SAM YEH/AFP // Getty Images
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Alex Wong // Getty Images
Then-President Donald Trump's restrictions on transgender people in the military went into effect on April 12, 2019. While the administration claimed there was no ban, transgender troops were required to serve as the gender they were assigned at birth under this regulation.
Alex Wong // Getty Images
Then-President Donald Trump's restrictions on transgender people in the military went into effect on April 12, 2019. While the administration claimed there was no ban, transgender troops were required to serve as the gender they were assigned at birth under this regulation.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
John Gress Media Inc // Shutterstock.
Democrat Pete Buttigieg is the second openly gay man to run for president of the United States. (In 2012, Fred Karger, a lesser-known Republican, became the first.) Buttigieg—who entered the Navy Reserves under "don't ask, don't tell"—dropped out of the Democratic primary in March 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden. In 2021, he became the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history, serving as Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration.
John Gress Media Inc // Shutterstock.
Democrat Pete Buttigieg is the second openly gay man to run for president of the United States. (In 2012, Fred Karger, a lesser-known Republican, became the first.) Buttigieg—who entered the Navy Reserves under "don't ask, don't tell"—dropped out of the Democratic primary in March 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden. In 2021, he became the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history, serving as Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
DEREK R. HENKLE/AFP // Getty Images
The World Health Organization no longer considers being transgender a mental illness. The WHO removed "gender identity disorder" from the International Classification of Diseases, which is a global manual for diagnosing mental illness. The update may help put an end to the practice of forcing transgender people to get surgery and forced sterilization in order to legally change their gender.
DEREK R. HENKLE/AFP // Getty Images
The World Health Organization no longer considers being transgender a mental illness. The WHO removed "gender identity disorder" from the International Classification of Diseases, which is a global manual for diagnosing mental illness. The update may help put an end to the practice of forcing transgender people to get surgery and forced sterilization in order to legally change their gender.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Gotham // Getty Images
For the first time since its inception, the NYC Pride March was canceled out of an abundance of safety and due to social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Other events around the globe were similarly canceled. But that hardly means Pride Month was called off—instead, virtual events have since become common during the month of June to celebrate the historic milestones of the LGBTQ+ movement and to observe the battles still being fought for equal rights today.
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Gotham // Getty Images
For the first time since its inception, the NYC Pride March was canceled out of an abundance of safety and due to social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Other events around the globe were similarly canceled. But that hardly means Pride Month was called off—instead, virtual events have since become common during the month of June to celebrate the historic milestones of the LGBTQ+ movement and to observe the battles still being fought for equal rights today.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Doug Mills-Pool // Getty Images
Just five days after taking office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that overturned the previous administration's ban on transgender people in the military. Before the ban in 2017, it was estimated 2,450 service members were transgender, with about 0.1% of the total force seeking gender-related treatments. The Trump administration deemed gender-affirming care too expensive for the military to budget when in actuality it would only increase military spending by 0.04% to 0.13%.
Doug Mills-Pool // Getty Images
Just five days after taking office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that overturned the previous administration's ban on transgender people in the military. Before the ban in 2017, it was estimated 2,450 service members were transgender, with about 0.1% of the total force seeking gender-related treatments. The Trump administration deemed gender-affirming care too expensive for the military to budget when in actuality it would only increase military spending by 0.04% to 0.13%.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Alina Kruk // Shutterstock
A law passed in Arkansas banned physicians in the state from providing gender-affirming health care to minors—even with parental consent. Trans children in the state were immediately unable to access trans-related health care, health care which has been proven to lower the risk of suicide among transgender youth. In July 2021, following a court case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) spurred by protests and activists, the bill was overturned and gender-affirming care was once again accessible for minors.
Across the pond, in December 2020, the U.K.'s High Court ruled transgender children under the age of 16 could not consent to receive trans-affirming health care. Trans youth seeking medical treatment needed to consult a judge before receiving care. The National Health Service (NHS) appealed the decision and won in September 2021. Roughly 2,400 children a year in the U.K. seek gender-affirming health care through the NHS, making this overturned case paramount for a significant number of minors.
Alina Kruk // Shutterstock
A law passed in Arkansas banned physicians in the state from providing gender-affirming health care to minors—even with parental consent. Trans children in the state were immediately unable to access trans-related health care, health care which has been proven to lower the risk of suicide among transgender youth. In July 2021, following a court case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) spurred by protests and activists, the bill was overturned and gender-affirming care was once again accessible for minors.
Across the pond, in December 2020, the U.K.'s High Court ruled transgender children under the age of 16 could not consent to receive trans-affirming health care. Trans youth seeking medical treatment needed to consult a judge before receiving care. The National Health Service (NHS) appealed the decision and won in September 2021. Roughly 2,400 children a year in the U.K. seek gender-affirming health care through the NHS, making this overturned case paramount for a significant number of minors.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
FABRICE COFFRINIAFP // Getty Images
In September 2021, a two-thirds majority in Switzerland voted to legalize gay marriage in a referendum vote. This referendum also extended family rights for same-gender couples, allowing them to adopt children and permitting couples of two women to have children through sperm donation. The new ruling will be enforced in July 2022. Switzerland is one of the last Western European countries to legalize same-sex marriage.
In Japan, the country inched closer to marriage equality in a ruling which claimed to bar same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Gay marriage is not yet legal in Japan, but this ruling will likely set a precedent for future legislation.
FABRICE COFFRINIAFP // Getty Images
In September 2021, a two-thirds majority in Switzerland voted to legalize gay marriage in a referendum vote. This referendum also extended family rights for same-gender couples, allowing them to adopt children and permitting couples of two women to have children through sperm donation. The new ruling will be enforced in July 2022. Switzerland is one of the last Western European countries to legalize same-sex marriage.
In Japan, the country inched closer to marriage equality in a ruling which claimed to bar same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Gay marriage is not yet legal in Japan, but this ruling will likely set a precedent for future legislation.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
As of May 2022, over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 36 states across the U.S. in 2022, some of which have become law in eight states. In Florida, one such measure—dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics—prohibits elementary school teachers from educating students in grades K-3 about sexual orientation or gender identity. Another law in Alabama that criminalizes gender-affirming medical care for trans youth was partially blocked by a judge in May. A significant number of these bills specifically target transgender people.
Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
As of May 2022, over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 36 states across the U.S. in 2022, some of which have become law in eight states. In Florida, one such measure—dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics—prohibits elementary school teachers from educating students in grades K-3 about sexual orientation or gender identity. Another law in Alabama that criminalizes gender-affirming medical care for trans youth was partially blocked by a judge in May. A significant number of these bills specifically target transgender people.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Getty Images
The U.S. has never had an openly lesbian woman hold the office of governor; however, during the November 2022 midterms, not one but two openly lesbian women won gubernatorial elections in their respective states.
Maura Healey of Massachusetts is both the first woman as well as the first openly lesbian woman to be elected governor in Massachusetts. Healey, who has been her state's attorney general for the last eight years, defeated Republican candidate Geoff Diehl by a wide margin to secure her spot as the next governor of the New England state.
Tina Kotek of Oregon was right behind Healey, becoming the second openly lesbian governor elected in the U.S. Kotek's race against Republican Christine Drazan was extremely close; however, her win continues a decades-long democratic hold on the governorship. Kotek is also the first openly lesbian woman to hold the position of Speaker of the Oregon House.
Getty Images
The U.S. has never had an openly lesbian woman hold the office of governor; however, during the November 2022 midterms, not one but two openly lesbian women won gubernatorial elections in their respective states.
Maura Healey of Massachusetts is both the first woman as well as the first openly lesbian woman to be elected governor in Massachusetts. Healey, who has been her state's attorney general for the last eight years, defeated Republican candidate Geoff Diehl by a wide margin to secure her spot as the next governor of the New England state.
Tina Kotek of Oregon was right behind Healey, becoming the second openly lesbian governor elected in the U.S. Kotek's race against Republican Christine Drazan was extremely close; however, her win continues a decades-long democratic hold on the governorship. Kotek is also the first openly lesbian woman to hold the position of Speaker of the Oregon House.
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8 in 10 non-LGBTQ people in US support equal rights for LGBTQ community, an all-time high, survey says
Justin Sullivan // Getty Images
Just halfway through the year, 2023 broke the record for the number of anti-trans bills introduced nationwide. More than 70 have passed, while hundreds more remain active. At the federal level, 23 pieces of legislation are being discussed. Many of these bills focus on health care—particularly banning gender-affirming care and criminalizing this type of health care for the medical professionals who provide it and the legal guardians who permit it. For example, a bill introduced in Oklahoma proposes felony charges for providing gender-affirming care to people under 26 years old.
There have also been significant victories for gender-affirming care in 2023. In January, Colorado, which used to be dubbed the "Hate State," passed legislation protecting gender-affirming medical care as essential health care, becoming the first state to do so. Colorado's legal protections also apply to recipients of gender-affirming care from out of state, as well as medical providers both in and outside of Colorado. Four other states—Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and Minnesota—have passed similar legislation protecting transgender health care.
Justin Sullivan // Getty Images
Just halfway through the year, 2023 broke the record for the number of anti-trans bills introduced nationwide. More than 70 have passed, while hundreds more remain active. At the federal level, 23 pieces of legislation are being discussed. Many of these bills focus on health care—particularly banning gender-affirming care and criminalizing this type of health care for the medical professionals who provide it and the legal guardians who permit it. For example, a bill introduced in Oklahoma proposes felony charges for providing gender-affirming care to people under 26 years old.
There have also been significant victories for gender-affirming care in 2023. In January, Colorado, which used to be dubbed the "Hate State," passed legislation protecting gender-affirming medical care as essential health care, becoming the first state to do so. Colorado's legal protections also apply to recipients of gender-affirming care from out of state, as well as medical providers both in and outside of Colorado. Four other states—Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and Minnesota—have passed similar legislation protecting transgender health care.
