Human Rights Campaign Officially Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for LGBTQ+ Americans
As many cities begin to celebrate Pride this June, on Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) officially declared a state of emergency for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals in the United States. What makes this news even more unnerving is that it is the first time the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization calls for this alert since its 40-year history.
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With more than 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills signed into law just this year, this means it is double than last year’s number, which was previously recorded as the worst year for queer communities. “There is an imminent threat to the health and safety of millions of LGBTQ+ people and families, who are living every day in uncertainty and fear,” shares Kelley Robinson, President of HRC in regards to the news, adding, “it’s also incumbent on our allies across the country to stand with us and make it clear that they won’t sit idly by while extremists attack and malign LGBTQ+ people and our families.”
The latest report by HRC - LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack - takes a closer look at how this state of emergency came to be, including a look at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ approach. Just recently, the Florida House passed 3 anti-LGBTQ bills prohibiting gender-affirming care for children, punishing businesses letting minors watch drag shows, and treating transgender people peeing in the wrong bathroom as criminals. Despite 110,000 transgender people (age 13+) living in Florida and North Dakota, they are experiencing bans from using bathrooms and facilities in some public settings and buildings outside of K-12 schools. In response to the ongoing battle in Florida, Nadine Smith CEO of Equality Florida shares, “the assault on freedom is not limited to one state but permeates across America. The erosion of civil liberties by extremists to further their own political ambitions poses a direct threat to the health and safety of LGBTQ individuals. It is imperative for all of us to recognize the gravity of this moment and commit ourselves to being on the frontlines, unwavering in our fight for freedom.”
It is one thing to read about these legislations, but how is it affecting Queer individuals like parents and children living in states like Florida, Missouri, and Texas? Take a look at some of the stories captured in HRC’s latest report, LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack.
FLORIDA
Julie and Theresa are a married couple in central Florida who have just welcomed their first child. They are now leaving due to fear about how all of these laws will impact their family. Julie is an elementary school teacher who worries about losing her job as an out lesbian educator or potentially facing violence if confronted in a restroom. “I don’t look particularly femme. That’s never been a problem before, and wearing more masculine clothes at work has actually been nice because I don’t have to worry about ruining them when I get on the floor to play with my students,” she jokes. “But now I’m nervous. It’s one thing to not be able to talk about my wife, but what if someone tries to get physical thinking I’m a guy in the wrong bathroom? I have a family to think about. And how could I ever look into the eyes of one of my kids and not call them the pronoun that I know they need to hear? It would tear me apart to hurt them so much.”
Theresa would find her job just as difficult. As a nurse, she knows how frightening it can be for a trans person to go to the hospital, wondering if they will be disrespected or even turned away for care. “There aren’t laws saying I can’t take care of my trans patients anymore, but this is Florida, so it’s probably just a matter of time. I do worry that because hate and bigotry are being openly promoted and celebrated that I could still lose my job for showing basic kindness and being an ally to trans people.”
The couple are now both applying for jobs in every state that is considered “blue” and are hopeful they will find work because of teaching and nursing shortages in so many areas. But they are also concerned that offers will come from different states, potentially splitting up the family they are trying so hard to keep safely together.
By contrast, Lou knows that her transgender teenager is facing certain difficulties, but her family is not ready to leave the state. Her child, M, just completed their junior year in a public high school. For the past three years, M has used the restroom and locker room that aligns with their gender and gender expression, but with the passage of HB 1521, school officials notified the family that M will have access to only one unisex restroom on the high school campus. They have already lost access to participate in sports, now will be restricted on where they can relieve themself, and the GSA at the school is likely disbanding because of the Don’t Say Gay law. M is hoping to complete their senior year online to avoid campus altogether. “What reason is there even to go to school?” they ask.
M’s mom has the answer: college. “Our student’s future beyond high school — and our family’s finances — are hugely impacted by the passing of these draconian laws. Our rising senior has a GPA and SAT scores that would qualify them for any public university in Florida, and the state-funded Bright Futures Scholarship program would likely cover most, if not all, of the cost of their college education. But they aren’t safe in Florida, so we are looking at out-of-state opportunities that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
She ends with a note of optimism, saying, “Our child is strong, resilient, creative, and beautiful. I know their future is bright…as soon as we can get them out of this godforsaken state.”
MISSOURI
Debi’s non-binary teen can still access healthcare because of the legacy provision, however, the family is still leaving their home in Kansas City, Missouri. “We have been testifying against anti-trans bills for 8 years…more than half of my child’s life. Yes, they can continue receiving physical healthcare for now, but the continued attacks on their very existence have taken a toll on their mental health,” she said. The decision to leave isn’t easy, though, and leads to conflicting emotions. “A few years ago, a GOP Representative told us that if we didn’t like what they were doing and if we were good parents, we’d take our child and go. I hate feeling like we are giving in or giving them what they want. But I also have to prioritize my child’s well-being over my stubborn need to make those representatives look us in the eye and openly proclaim their bigotry every session.”
On the other side of the state, another family also started packing. Danielle and her husband have driven to Jefferson City to testify against bills for the last few years in support of their son. She told legislators several times that they are suburban farmers with thriving businesses and they want to continue contributing to Missouri’s economy. To protect their child, though, they would give all of that up and start over somewhere new.
As they started sorting through their belongings, deciding what to keep and what to sell or donate for a move, Danielle’s mother started a battery of tests for Alzheimer’s and her father was diagnosed with cancer. Her son is “extremely close” with his grandpa and couldn’t bear the idea of not being by his side through his upcoming treatment. She is angry at the decisions the state is forcing her to make, saying that “it’s unfair that Missouri is making us choose between doing what two different generations of my family need to survive.”
For now, they will be staying. “We’ve established an entire supportive community and shouldn’t have to leave where our son is thriving. He’s happy, has a perfect first job, and has an adorable girlfriend. I shouldn’t have to consider taking him away from everyone who loves him, especially when other family members need us, to get him healthcare.” Her son is willingly putting his own future on hold in the hope that his supportive grandfather will have a longer future because of his support. That is loving, heartbreaking, and unfair. That is the impact of laws that legislators will never see.
TEXAS
This year SB 14, a bill that bans medically necessary, age-appropriate, life-saving gender affirming healthcare, was passed. [It now sits on the Governor’s desk to be officially signed into law.] In a twisted irony, an amendment was added to the bill to create an exemption for youth already receiving hormonal treatment, but the amendment had cruel restrictions. Only youth who had received at least 12 mental health counseling sessions or six months of psychological therapy and had started hormone therapy before June 1st were eligible. However, they were not eligible to continue that care indefinitely. They were eligible to be “weaned” off the care rather than to have it taken away immediately.
The draconian nature of SB 14 has driven some families to make the decision to flee the state. One of those families is from Houston, where they have had some struggles with individual teachers in their transgender child’s school but where they also had access to high-quality healthcare at Texas Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, with the new ban on gender-affirming healthcare coupled with a privacy breach of medical records from the hospital’s gender clinic leaked to conservative media outlets, they no longer feel safe. They are now considering moving to the Washington DC area or Colorado.
Another family has taken even more drastic steps to find a sense of peace and safety. Lauren Rodriguez and her son Greyson are leaving the United States completely. Lauren sold their home and has been paring down and packing up a lifetime of memories into a few boxes for a planned move to New Zealand. Greyson has already moved there to start his college education. He says that he felt an immediate sense of relief and lightness on his shoulders upon stepping off the plane — completely alone in a new country — because he knew that transgender people are welcomed and protected there. “I feel just so much better, happier, safer. I didn’t realize how uncomfortable I felt in Texas until I got here.”
There are families who are staying behind, either because of the support within their local community or because of a lack of means to move. Within this group, there are still those who are hoping to move to one of the relatively liberal bubbles where elected officials have indicated their cities will be as much of a sanctuary as is possible given statewide laws. Megan L. is part of this second group. Her family lives about 45 minutes outside of Austin, where her husband works. The family cannot afford a move out of Texas, but they are hoping to sell their home and make enough of a profit to afford a smaller home within the city where there is a supportive school district and to put some money into a savings account for future trips out-of-state for gender-affirming healthcare.
“I’m a Texan through and through. I really love this state. We’ve talked about leaving, but it could take a long time for my husband to find a new job in a safe state…and those states are so expensive. I hope a fresh start in a new school where no one knows my daughter is trans will be enough to keep her safe. We’ll figure out getting to doctors somewhere else when the time comes,” Megan said. “We might be making a big mistake staying here. All I can do right now is pray.”
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