Hi,

Republicans have declared war on LGBTQ+ communities across the United
States.

Earlier this month, Tennessee’s Republican governor signed two shocking
anti-LGBTQ bills into law. One banned drag performances on public
property–such as during Pride events or on college campuses–and the other
banned gender affirming care for trans people.^1

Republicans are currently proposing similar bills in state houses across
the country, including in Kentucky, Arkansas, North Dakota, South
Carolina, Montana, and more. This is a serious escalation of long-standing
right-wing attacks on LGBTQ+ people.

We must stand with trans people, drag performers, and all LGBTQ+ people
against these right wing attacks. In his State of the Union address,
President Biden called for the passage of the Equality Act “to ensure
LGBTQ Americans, especially transgender young people, can live with safety
and dignity."^2 We agree with the President: Congress must stand up to
Republicans’ hate campaign and pass the Equality Act.

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Stop Republicans’ anti-LGBTQ+ attacks - pass the
Equality Act!

ADD YOUR NAME

The Equality Act would enshrine anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+
people at the federal level in several key areas, including employment,
housing, credit, education, and public spaces. While some states have
already enacted these anti-discrimination laws, 29 states lack any such
protections. The Equality Act passed the House in the 2020-21 session, and
is supported in polls by 7 out of 10 Americans.^3

These federal protections are desperately needed as Republicans intensify
their state-level attacks on LGBTQ+ people. The Tennessee anti-drag bill
is the first drag ban in the United States, but similar bills have been
proposed in 32 other states, and more are on the way. The Tennessee ban on
gender affirming care is already the 8th such bill to pass in the United
States, with dozens more moving through state and local governments.^4

Republicans promote these laws under the guise of protecting families. But
as Human Rights Commission Legal Director Sarah Warbelow stated, “[None]
of these laws are about protecting youth - they are about spreading
dangerous misinformation against the transgender community; they are about
doubling down on efforts to attack drag artists and transgender youth.”^5

Most of the bills are written in an overly broad way, generally defining a
drag performer as anyone performing while using dress, makeup and
mannerisms associated with a gender other than the one assigned to them at
birth. The laws could be applied to actual drag shows, or to performances
of Shakespeare or Peter Pan. They could also be applied to trans musicians
performing in a string quartet, or a trans author doing a book signing.
The wide net is intentional: by targeting drag performances, Republicans
want to intimidate trans and non-binary people out of public life.^4

We cannot allow the right wing attack on LGBTQ+ people to continue. The
Equality Act would ensure that LGBTQ+ people across the country are
legally protected against discrimination, and would nullify Republican
efforts to ban trans people, drag performers, and others from public
spaces. Congress needs to take action before Republicans’ attacks escalate
even further.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name: Congress must pass the Equality Act NOW

Thanks for taking action,

Joey and the team at Demand Progress

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

Sources:

 1. PBS, “Tennessee governor signs drag show restrictions into law,”
[ [link removed] ]March 2, 2023.
 2. GLAAD, "President Biden Delivers LGBTQ-Inclusive State of the Union
Address, Including a Call To Pass the Equality Act,” [ [link removed] ]February 8,
2023.
 3. HRC, “NEW POLL: 7 In 10 Voters Support the Equality Act,” [ [link removed] ]March 17,
2023.
 4. The Guardian, “The drag show bans sweeping the US are a chilling
attack on free speech,” [ [link removed] ]March 10, 2023.
 5. HRC, “Human Rights Campaign Slams Governor Lee for Signing Anti-Drag
Bill and Gender Affirming Care Ban into Law; TN Becomes First State to
Criminalize Drag,” [ [link removed] ]March 2, 2023.
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