As Pride Month comes to a close, check out some of the ways Pride showed up in state legislatures...

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Six from SiX is your monthly dose of state news that otherwise didn't make it to your inbox.


** LGBTQ State Legislators Talk About Pride
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We’re so grateful for the work that LGBTQ state legislators do for their states and their communities, many of whom are leading the way and blazing a trail for others. SiX hosted a tweet chat in honor of Pride Month—check out what these legislators had to say ([link removed]) !


** Illinois to End the Criminalization of HIV Exposure
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The end is near for a decades-old Illinois law that criminalizes the transmitting of HIV ([link removed]) . These laws do nothing to decrease transmission and can actually disincentivize HIV and AIDS testing. They also disproportionately target Black and LGBTQ individuals. The bill passed both chambers and awaits the governor’s signature.


** What Transgender Lawmakers Have to Say About the Rise in Anti-Trans Bills
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The 2020 election brought in new transgender state legislators in Delaware, Vermont, Kansas and more, bringing the nation’s total to eight. But with at least 65 bills nationwide aimed at prohibiting transgender student athletes from participation, it’s hard not to take it personal and “difficult because it seems like it’s coming straight at you ([link removed]) ,” said Rep. Stephanie Byers of Kansas.


** Rhode Island’s Solemnizing Marriages was Discriminatory
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A practice in Rhode Island may soon end, allowing for more equitable access to all couples—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation—to ask a loved one to officiate their marriage. Previously, any couple asking a friend or family member to officiate their wedding would have to ask permission from the legislature ([link removed]) , giving some legislators excuses to vote against couples they believed to be part of the LGBTQ community. The new bill, if signed, would automate the process through the Secretary of State’s office and exclude the legislature altogether.


** Michigan Formally Recognizes Pride Month
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To honor the contributions of Michigan’s LGBTQ community and recognize the struggles community members face, both the Senate and House passed resolutions ([link removed]) for the first time calling June 2021 LGBTQ Pride Month in the state of Michigan. On top of the historical symbolism of the resolution and the significance of passing such a resolution for the first time, lawmakers are still pushing for much needed protections for the LGBTQ community.


** LGBTQ Protection Bills on the KY Docket for 2022
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Kentucky Rep. Lisa Willner celebrated Pride by reintroducing three bills to protect the rights of the LGBTQ population ([link removed]) . The bills would ban conversion therapy; prohibit the discrimination in housing, employment and public benefits based on gender identity or sexual orientation; and require that schools include age-appropriate information on healthy relationships and more. The bills will be heard in the 2022 legislative session.


** Being a part of the LGBTQ Community in Rural America
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An estimated 3 million LGBTQ people call rural America home ([link removed]) , yet many are not afforded some of the same protections as people living in cities or in states that tend to have more inclusive, anti-discriminatory policies. In agriculture, queer farmers face unique challenges and discrimination ([link removed]) as they work to feed their communities in a cis-, white-, and male-dominated industry. Queer and BIPOC-owned farms are increasingly becoming anchors ([link removed]) of their local food economy and demonstrating that the face of farming is changing ([link removed]) . Here are some policy recommendations ([link removed]) to support LGBTQ people in rural America.
Voter ID Hinders Transgender Voting Access

Like many targeted communities, transgender voters are deeply affected by some legislators’ efforts to enact and increase voter ID laws. In fact, transgender voters face unique challenges ([link removed]) imposed not only by states’ voter ID laws, but states’ ID laws in general—by requiring excessive hurdles or even proof of gender-affirming surgery to be able to change the gender marker on an ID. Access to voting is particularly difficult for those with criminal backgrounds, which disproportionately affects members of the LGBTQ community, particularly Black and transgender people.
The Sexual and Reproductive Heath Needs of Transgender and Gender Expansive People

The sexual and reproductive health and rights of transgender and gender expansive people are integral to reproductive freedom. With dual attacks on transgender rights and reproductive rights in many state legislatures it is important to understand these intersections to be truly inclusive in proactive policy responses. SiX partnered with a team of researchers at Ibis Reproductive Health ([link removed]) studying the contraceptive and abortion care needs of transgender and gender expansive people to bring you t ([link removed]) his in-depth research spotlight ([link removed]) .

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The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a national resource and strategy center that supports state legislators who seek to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment. We do this by providing training, emphasizing leadership development, amplifying legislators’ voices, and forging strategic alliances between our legislative network and grassroots movements.

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