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. Alabama - Senate Committee approves bill expanding “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” law. The Senate Education Policy Committee voted to advance HB130, which would expand the current ban on “instruction and discussion” about sexual orientation and gender identity from K-5 to K-8. The bill also bans public K-12 employees from displaying pride flags. Arizona - Gov. Katie Hobbs signs repeal of abortion ban into law. Governor Hobbs signed a bill repealing the state’s near-total abortion ban, which dated back to 1864, almost 50 years before Arizona became a state. Colorado - Legislature considers putting constitutional amendment removing voided ban on same-sex marriages on the ballot. The Colorado legislature legalized same-sex marriage in 2013, however the Colorado constitution still contains language restricting marriage to one man and one woman. The proposed ballot question needs supermajority support in the legislature to be put on the ballot. Iowa - Legislature adjourns without approving anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Over 30 bills targeting LGBTQ+ Iowans were introduced this session, including some the governor prioritized. Despite this, none of these bills, including a bathroom ban bill and an “erasure” bill, made it to the governor’s desk. Kansas - Legislature sustains Gov. Kelly’s veto of gender-affirming care ban. The House voted 82-43 to override the veto, two votes short of the necessary supermajority threshold. Access to medically necessary care for trans and non-binary youth will remain legal in the state. Maryland - Gov. Moore signs “Freedom to Read Act” into law. HB785 combats efforts to ban books in public libraries and protects librarians from retaliation for keeping books on library shelves. Mississippi - Legislature fails to advance anti-trans “erasure” bills. The bills would have banned trans people from accessing public spaces like bathrooms according to their gender identity and would have defined sex very narrowly in the state code. The proposals died when House and Senate leaders failed to agree on a single compromise version of the proposed bills. Ohio -Judge extends temporary block against gender-affirming care ban. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook extended the temporary restraining order blocking House Bill 68 through May 20. The legislation would prohibit medically necessary care for trans and non-binary youth, as well as banning trans athletes from competing in school sports, and was originally set to take effect on April 24. Senate amends “parents rights” bill. HB8 includes a forced outing provision and was amended to ban “sexuality content” in K-3 education too. Call your Senator TODAY and tell them to vote NO! Pennsylvania - State boards effectively ban so-called “conversion therapy.” The state board of Nursing joined the Medicine, Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors, Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine all voted to adopt new Statements of Policy (SOP) that oppose the use of conversion therapy on minors in Pennsylvania. In a statement, the Trevor Project thanked PFLAG National, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, and many others “for their work over the last several years to protect the mental health and well-being of young people across the commonwealth.” South Carolina - State Senate passes medically necessary care ban. H4624 passed with a 27-8 vote. The bill bars health professionals from performing medically necessary care for trans and non-binary youth and also bars Medicaid from covering such care for trans and non-binary South Carolinians of all ages. Since the bill was amended in the Senate, it now moves back to the House. Tell your Representatives to vote NO on H4624! Texas - Austin City Council approves resolution protecting to local trans and non-binary people seeking gender-affirming care. The measure directs Austin police to make enforcement of Senate Bill 14, which bans medically necessary care for trans and non-binary minors in the state, as their lowest priority. The proposal also bans any city fund from being used to investigate or prosecute anyone for accessing or providing medically necessary care for trans and non-binary people. PFLAG Austin worked with the City Council to draft and advance this resolution. | 
