Self-care note: While some of the following stories celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ people, many cover legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and nonbinary youth. Please be kind to yourself and use your discretion while reading this section. Advisory: State news is representative but not exhaustive due to space constraints; feel free to forward news about your state to [email protected] to consider for inclusion. Record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2023, with 84% kept from passing. At least 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures across the United States last year, nearly tripling the total number of such bills from 2022. Of these, 84 bills were signed into law, meaning 84% of the introduced anti-LGBTQ+ bills did not pass. Florida - Lawmakers considering bill mandating insurance coverage for so-called conversion therapy. HB1639 would require health insurance companies providing medically necessary gender-affirming care for transgender people to also cover so-called conversion therapy. The bill also includes provisions requiring the state to use sex assigned at birth, rather than gender, for issuing driver’s licenses. Maine - Healthcare shield law considered in legislature. Lawmakers held a working session on January 15th for a bill that would declare Maine a refuge for transgender people seeking medically necessary gender-affirming care. Ohio - State Senate overrides Gov. DeWine’s veto of HB68. The bill, which bans medically necessary care for trans and non-binary youth as well as banning trans athletes from competing in school sports, will become law 90 days from the override vote, which took place on January 24th. Utah - State House passes bathroom ban bill. HB257 passed the house on January 19th by a vote of 52-17. The bill would prohibit trans people from using gender-designated spaces - like bathrooms and locker rooms - that match their gender identity in government buildings. | 
