STATE LEGISLATORS PROPOSE 300 ANTI-LGBTQ BILLS AS GLAAD RELEASES UPDATED REPORTER GUIDE, RESOURCES

Anti-LGBTQ bills advance in Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, other states as total number of proposed bills across the country reaches record-high level by February

(New York, NY — February 9, 2023) — Today GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, released an updated media reference guide for reporters covering LGBTQ state legislation as lawmakers consider approximately 300 anti-LGBTQ bills at the state level. The guide can be found at /state-legislation.

“Legislators have already introduced 300 anti-LGBTQ bills as of this month — nearly the entirety of bills introduced during the whole 2022 legislative session,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “Regardless of whether these bills advance or not, they will have a detrimental effect particularly on LGBTQ youth who are watching and feeling unwelcome and unsafe in the places they call home. As our community’s dignity and safety are under attack, we need every lawmaker and voter to speak up in support of LGBTQ people and in support of ensuring protections against discrimination so we can all feel safe and free.”

In Tennessee, a number of bills have been advancing this past week on proposed bans on healthcare for transgender people and bills that would harm drag performers and venues. Chris Sanders, Executive Director of the Tennessee Equality Project, released the following statement:

“The slate of hate proposed by Tennessee lawmakers this year would hurt countless LGBTQ youth and families in our state, and would do nothing to make Tennessee a more welcoming and economically prosperous place. Lawmakers need to focus on the real issues plaguing our state, not perpetuate myths and distractions around drag performances and basic healthcare access for transgender people. We need more acceptance and understanding for our local communities in Tennessee, not less.”

Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, released the following statement about the high number of bills being proposed in Texas:

“The Texas lawmakers who are pushing forward anti-LGBTQ bills are pursuing an agenda that attacks Texas families, neighbors, youth, and fellow community members who are simply trying to live and thrive in our state. These proposed bills would result in tangible harm to real families and will do nothing to further Texas as a competitive state for business and economic advancement. LGBTQ+ Texans deserve to have peace, safety, and leaders who will prioritize improving the lives of Texans.”

Anti-LGBTQ lawmakers this year are pushing forward bans on healthcare for transgender people, bans on inclusive education curricula that include LGBTQ issues and history, and bans on performances by drag artists, among other bills. For a comprehensive description of all LGBTQ-related bills pending in various states, visit https://www.equalityfederation.org/state-legislation. Research from The Trevor Project found that 86% of LGBTQ youth say the bills that were proposed in 2022 have had a negative impact on their mental health.

Just yesterday, President Biden included LGBTQ families as guests and urged Congress to pass the Equality Act during his State of the Union address, stating: “It’s our duty to protect all the people’s rights and freedoms… Make no mistake; if Congress passes a national abortion ban, I will veto it. Let’s also pass the bipartisan Equality Act to ensure LGBTQ Americans, especially transgender young people, can live with safety and dignity.”

GLAAD is monitoring the Biden Administration’s actions for LGBTQ Americans via the GLAAD Biden Accountability Tracker, documenting policy, personnel and statements.

GLAAD’s Media Guide: State Legislation About LGBTQ People offers facts, context, and resources to journalists in pursuit of fair and accurate reporting on legislation that is proposed without evidence and against the expertise of medical, educational, and human rights professionals that would have negative effects on the dignity, equality, and physical wellbeing of LGBTQ people. Some recommended best practices in the guide include:

• Include LGBTQ voices in stories about LGBTQ people and issues. If reporting on a transgender issue specifically, seek a transgender voice. GLAAD can connect you.
• Elevate expertise over opinion, including facts from experts in relevant fields: healthcare, sports, education, and human rights.
• Include facts and information from experts and research, rather than repeating inaccurate bill language or analysis verbatim and without challenge.
• Challenge lawmakers and proponents of legislation to provide evidence and facts to support their assertions.