Arkansas
Arkansas passed Senate Bill 43 into law on February 27.
Drag performances and other LGBTQIA+ events could be affected by definition.
On March 14, Arkansas passed Senate Bill 294 into law.
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Two days later, on March 16, Arkansas passed Senate Bill 199 into law.
Many of these suggested policies undermine LGBTQ+ existence and promote environments that are inherently unsafe.
On March 21, Arkansas enacted House Bill 1156.
Arkansas passed Senate Bill 125 into law on April 11.
The bill means that colleges cannot mandate the use of specific words or language, includingpronouns.
The same day, the state signed Senate Bill 270 into law.
Included in the bill are public restrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms.
Also on April 11, Arkansas signed House Bill 1468 into law.
The following day, Arkansas passed House Bill 1615 into law.
Two days later, on May 17, three more bills were passed into law.
Only materials approved by the State Department of Education can be used.
The bill also allows anyone to object to reading material in schools that depicts or describes sex.
House Bill 1521 requires people to use the bathrooms consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Georgia
On March 23, Georgia passed Senate Bill 140 into law.
The bill prohibits gender-affirming medical care for minors in the state.
Idaho
Idaho signed Senate Bill 1100 into law on March 23.
On March 27, Idaho signed Senate Bill 1016 into law.
On April 4, Idaho signed House Bill 71 into law.
Indiana
Indiana signed Senate Bill 480 into law on April 5.
The bill prohibits providing gender-affirming care to minors.
On April 20, Indiana passed House Bill 1569 into law.
This bill requires that the Department of Corrections denies necessary medical care to incarcerated transgender people.
On May 4, the state passed House Bill 1608 into law.
Iowa
On March 22, Iowa signed Senate File 482 into law.
This bill prohibits transgender students from using school bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
The same day, the state also passed Senate File 538 into law.
This bill bans age-appropriate, medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare for minors in Iowa.
The bill requires that femalestudent athletic teamsacross schools and colleges only include those assigned female at birth.
The bill bans anybody from identifying as any gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.
The bill reimburses counties for the cost of housing people awaiting evaluation, examination, or treatment for competency.
Kentucky
On March 24, Kentucky signed Senate Bill 145 into law.
The state then passed Senate Bill 150 into law on March 29, with the governors veto overridden.
Mississippi
Mississippi signed House Bill 1125 into law on February 28.
The bill bans gender-affirming care and surgery for minors in the state.
On March 27, Mississippi passed House Bill 1733.
This bill gives businesses the opportunity to deduct the cost of equipment in the year its put into service.
Montana
On April 28, Montana passed Senate Bill 99 into law.
The bill prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries.
On May 3, the state passed House Bill 303 into law.
The act permits healthcare providers to withhold their services based on their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.
As a result, they could refuse to treat or help LGBTQIA+ patients.
North Dakota
On April 6, North Dakota signed House Bill 1111 into law.
The following day, April 11, North Dakota signed House Bill 1249 into law.
The bill bans school students, down to kindergarten level, from playing sports as per their gender identity.
The same day, the state passed House Bill 1489 into law.
Its similar to HB 1249, but prohibits college students from playing sports as per their gender identity.
On April 19, North Dakota passed House Bill 1254 into law.
The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors.
On April 25, the state signed House Bill 1473 into law.
The same day, North Dakota signed House Bill 1205 into law.
This bill prohibits public libraries fromholding bookswith explicit sexual material for example, images portraying masturbation or sex.
North Dakota signed House Bill 1522 into law on 8 May.
The same day, the state signed House Bill 1297 into law.
It prevents transgender people from being able to change the gender marker on their birth certificate.
Also, on the same day, House Bill 1474 was passed.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma signed Senate Bill 613 into law on May 1.
The bill prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state.
The following day, the state passed Senate Bill 404.
South Dakota
On February 13, South Dakota signed House Bill 1080 into law.
The bill prevents healthcare professionals from prescribing puberty blockers and performing gender-affirming surgery on minors.
Tennessee
Tennessee signed Senate Bills 1 and 3 into law on February 28.
SB 1 prohibits gender-affirming care and surgery for minors in the state.
Its vague in terms of what falls under adult cabaret performance, so drag performances may be prohibited.
Tennessee passed Senate Bill 1237 into law on April 28.
On May 17, Tennessee passed Senate Bill 466 into law.
That same day, the state signed Senate Bill 1440 into law.
Utah
Utah passed Senate Bill 16 into law on January 28.
The law effectively bans gender-affirming surgery andhormone therapyfor minors.
On February 16, Utah then passed Senate Bill 100 into law.
Almost a month later, on March 14, Utah signed Senate Bill 97 into law.
The following day, on March 15, Utah passed Senate Bill 39 into law.
The bill recodifies parts of the Utah Health Code and the Utah Human Services Code.
Then, on March 17, Utah passed House Bill 209 into law.
On March 23, Utah signed Senate Bill 93 into law.
West Virginia
On March 9, West Virginia passed House Bill 3042 into law.
West Virginia signed House Bill 2007 into law on 29 March.
The bill limits gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
Wyoming
Wyoming passed Senate File 133 into law on March 17.
The law prohibits transgender girls from competing on female sports teams in schools, past the seventh grade.
Many of these suggested policies undermine LGBTQ+ existence and promote environments that are inherently unsafe.
Gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety,gender dysphoria, and suicidality.
It also promotes well-being and positive self-esteem, which in turn predict better social and academic/professional outcomes.
Its a difficult time to be LGBTQIA+ in the US, particularly for those living in the above states.
Speak to a trusted loved one or reach out to a healthcare professional.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Noh M.Addressing LGBTQ+ youth health in Florida: Considerations from other states.Health Affairs Forefront.
- doi:10.1377/forefront.20230518.251134
Canady V.Mounting antiLGBTQ+ bills impact mental health of youths.Mental Health Weekly.
2023;33(15):1-6. doi:10.1002/mhw.33603
