Legislators in more than half the states are debating bills to limit access to sports or medical care for transgender people, according to an article by The Hill.
Across the nation, at least 35 bills have been introduced to ban transgender students from playing sports in leagues that conform to their gender identity.
Another 25 bills would prohibit access to gender-affirming medical care, in some cases with criminal punishments for parents who approve the care or doctors who perform it.
For the first time this year, anti-transgender legislation is making significant progress in multiple states at the same time. The Tennessee state Senate passed its version of a sports ban on March 1, and legislators in South Carolina heard testimony on their state's version of the bill last month. Texas' Senate Bill 29 has been listed as a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who presides over the state Senate.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) noted that, on March 3, Mississippi passed SB 2536, an anti-transgender sports bill. This bill marks the first piece of specifically anti-transgender legislation this year to be sent to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and comes on the same day the first piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation, SB 124a broad sweeping religious refusal billpassed the second chamber in South Dakota.
HRC President Alphonso David said in a statement, "Mississippi is so determined to be on the wrong side of history that it is defying the evidence in favor of discrimination. There is simply no justification for banning transgender girls and women from participating in athletics other than discrimination. Like all girls, transgender girls just want to play and be part of a team with their friends. History will not look kindly on this moment in Mississippi."