Minnesota Youth Collective
Youth organizers at Minnesota Youth Collective (MNYC) are working to pass HF146 and SF63—otherwise known as the Trans Refuge Bills. These bills protect trans people and their families from legal repercussions of traveling to Minnesota for gender-affirming care, effectively making Minnesota a refuge state for trans people! MNYC is sending a letter of support for these bills to the Chief Author in their state senate, along with over 1500 petition signatures!
Forward Montana
Forward Montana youth organizers are fighting several anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ bills this legislative session, including SB 99, which would prohibit gender-affirming medical care for minors and prevent public employees from supporting a minor’s social transition if passed. Back in January, Forward Montana gathered volunteers who made over 300 calls and sent nearly 1,000 texts urging Montanans to voice their opposition to this bill and other anti-trans legislation. Forward Montana continues sharing legislative session updates through their blog, “What the Helena.”
New Hampshire Youth Movement
This month, New Hampshire Youth Movement (NHYM) has opposed some of the most harmful bills for trans youth they’ve seen hit the State House. If passed, HB 10 would allow parents to object to a broad range of LGBTQ+ materials in public schools and require teachers to immediately notify parents or guardians if their child desires to use new pronouns or a new name in class–essentially requiring educators to out students to their caregivers. NHYM and partners gathered over 200 people on Tuesday, March 7th, at the New Hampshire State House to support trans lives while various House and Senate committees heard multiple anti-trans bills.
Loud Light
Alongside their partners in Kansas, Loud Light is working hard to ensure no anti-trans bills are signed into law this legislative session. After a veto from the governor, the Kansas legislature will need to vote on HB 2238 once more to sustain the veto. If passed, this bill will prohibit transgender girls in K-12 schools and colleges from playing sports. In early March, Loud Light organizer Donnavan Dillon testified on his experiences competing with athletes across the gender identity spectrum, opposing the trans sports ban. Loud Light also continues to hold phone banks to protect trans rights and shut down anti-trans legislation.
Other Alliance Network orgs working on transgender and LGBTQ+ issues in their legislative sessions are Engage Miami and Virginia Student Power Network. Read more on the anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills Alliance Network organizers are working against in their state legislatures on the Alliance blog.
