We are completing the first period of state legislatures introducing, debating, and passing anti-trans bills. We now have a better assessment of where we are at in relation to them passing.
Texas is in the 60 day slow period. During the first 60 calendar days of a legislative session, lawmakers can pass only legislation related to the governor’s emergency items.
While thousands of bills are filed — more than 7,000 bills were filed in the two most recent regular sessions — only around a thousand will pass.
“The system is designed to kill legislation, not pass legislation,” said Kathy Green, the director of state and federal strategy for AARP Texas who has 30 years of experience working in the Legislature, in state agencies and with interest groups.
Once the 60 days has passed, the fireworks will start. Hopeful that Phelan, speaker of the house, is not keen on these bills. Or so he says.
Phelan has a complicated history with LGBTQ issues. He said in 2019 that he was “done talking about bashing on the gay community” but in his first year as speaker, he allowed passage of a controversial bill to restrict transgender students’ participation in school athletics.
Still, Phelan kept off the floor legislation to outlaw gender-affirming care for kids, despite intense pressure from his right. He did not specifically address that proposal Thursday other than to say it is one of the issues the select committee would examine.
Thank you so much for this work, it has been so incredibly helpful to so many parents in my network who are fleeing with their children in order to find safety. I fear for the future, but am so so appreciative for you and Alejandra and Alison for taking the (ENORMOUS) time to make navigating this hellscape a little bit easier. I'm on the ground in WV and happy to give any updates needed (although I know you follow ash who has up to date info as well).
That map is very scary. If this was about anything other than transgenders, there would have long been an international outcry. It's depressing to see this happen. I honestly feel like a lot of people may claim to be allies, but in reality, when push comes to shove, we're almost on our own trying to fight this.
Only 10 days later, Kentucky has ramped it up. Anyone from anywhere can call an oppose (from Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc.): "While we have been chasing our tails addressing all the other horrible anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been filed, the legislature has been hard at work crafting an omnibus bill that will cover almost all of the provisions of the other bills (except for prohibiting drag shows) into one huge-ass bill, HB 470, which was introduced yesterday and has already been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, so it looks like this is the big one, and boy is it horrifying!!
Here is the synopsis of the bill for your edification:
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 311 to define terms; state that the provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years by a health care provider or mental health care provider is unethical and unprofessional conduct; require an investigation of any report of provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years; require revocation of the provider's license if confirmed and termination of public funding for a public employee; require that providers be jointly and severally liable for all damages and costs sustained for providing gender transition services or aiding and assisting a person under the age of 18 years to consider or to obtain gender transition services; provide defense to providers refusing to provide services; make failure to report provision of gender transition services a crime; permit an action on a violation to be taken by the parent or guardian of a person before the person attains the age of 18 years and by the person within 30 years of the person attaining the age of 18 years, with exceptions under which the time may be longer; require conditions for actions and damages; prohibit use of public funds for gender transition services; prohibit a provider employed by a public agency to provide include gender transition procedures; permit the Attorney General to bring action to enforce provisions; permit intervention as a matter of right if these provisions are challenged; prohibit a public provider from intervening in a legal proceeding in defense of the provision of gender transition services; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit Medicaid coverage of gender transition procedures for a person under age 18 years; create a new section of Subtitle12 of KRS Chapter 304 to establish liability provisions if an insurer elects to cover gender transition services; amend KRS 18A.225 to prohibit a fully insured benefit plan or self-insured plan for public employees from covering gender transition services for a person under the age of 18 years; amend KRS 454.210 to add to court permission to exercise personal jurisdiction over a person who acts directly or by an agent, as to a claim arising from the person's engaging in the provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to prohibit a public school counselor, school-based mental health services provider, or other public employee from aiding or assisting in the provision of gender transition services for a person under the age of 18 years; establish liability provisions; require school notification of parents of child's expression of sex or gender inconsistency with exceptions; amend KRS 141.039 to require that corporate income relating to the provision of gender transition services to a person under age 18 years be added to net income; amend KRS 213.121 to prohibit a registered certificate or report from being amended if the purpose is to assist with a social or physical gender transition; amend KRS 401.020 to prohibit a court to order a name change if the purpose is to assist with a social or physical gender transition; create a new section of KRS Chapter 600 to prohibit the Department of Juvenile Justice from classifying a detainee by a sex that is inconsistent with defined sex; allow the Act to be cited as the Do No Harm Act; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024.
I dread what will happen if and when this bill becomes law. Start calling 800-372-7181 NOW!"
Erin your work for all of us is so amazing I can never thank you enough 🏳️⚧️ ❤️🔥
Texas is in the 60 day slow period. During the first 60 calendar days of a legislative session, lawmakers can pass only legislation related to the governor’s emergency items.
While thousands of bills are filed — more than 7,000 bills were filed in the two most recent regular sessions — only around a thousand will pass.
“The system is designed to kill legislation, not pass legislation,” said Kathy Green, the director of state and federal strategy for AARP Texas who has 30 years of experience working in the Legislature, in state agencies and with interest groups.
Once the 60 days has passed, the fireworks will start. Hopeful that Phelan, speaker of the house, is not keen on these bills. Or so he says.
Phelan has a complicated history with LGBTQ issues. He said in 2019 that he was “done talking about bashing on the gay community” but in his first year as speaker, he allowed passage of a controversial bill to restrict transgender students’ participation in school athletics.
Still, Phelan kept off the floor legislation to outlaw gender-affirming care for kids, despite intense pressure from his right. He did not specifically address that proposal Thursday other than to say it is one of the issues the select committee would examine.
Thank you so much for this work, it has been so incredibly helpful to so many parents in my network who are fleeing with their children in order to find safety. I fear for the future, but am so so appreciative for you and Alejandra and Alison for taking the (ENORMOUS) time to make navigating this hellscape a little bit easier. I'm on the ground in WV and happy to give any updates needed (although I know you follow ash who has up to date info as well).
Thank you for doing all this, Erin. I just subscribed, and I regularly share your work far and wide.
That map is very scary. If this was about anything other than transgenders, there would have long been an international outcry. It's depressing to see this happen. I honestly feel like a lot of people may claim to be allies, but in reality, when push comes to shove, we're almost on our own trying to fight this.
Only 10 days later, Kentucky has ramped it up. Anyone from anywhere can call an oppose (from Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc.): "While we have been chasing our tails addressing all the other horrible anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been filed, the legislature has been hard at work crafting an omnibus bill that will cover almost all of the provisions of the other bills (except for prohibiting drag shows) into one huge-ass bill, HB 470, which was introduced yesterday and has already been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, so it looks like this is the big one, and boy is it horrifying!!
Here is the synopsis of the bill for your edification:
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 311 to define terms; state that the provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years by a health care provider or mental health care provider is unethical and unprofessional conduct; require an investigation of any report of provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years; require revocation of the provider's license if confirmed and termination of public funding for a public employee; require that providers be jointly and severally liable for all damages and costs sustained for providing gender transition services or aiding and assisting a person under the age of 18 years to consider or to obtain gender transition services; provide defense to providers refusing to provide services; make failure to report provision of gender transition services a crime; permit an action on a violation to be taken by the parent or guardian of a person before the person attains the age of 18 years and by the person within 30 years of the person attaining the age of 18 years, with exceptions under which the time may be longer; require conditions for actions and damages; prohibit use of public funds for gender transition services; prohibit a provider employed by a public agency to provide include gender transition procedures; permit the Attorney General to bring action to enforce provisions; permit intervention as a matter of right if these provisions are challenged; prohibit a public provider from intervening in a legal proceeding in defense of the provision of gender transition services; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit Medicaid coverage of gender transition procedures for a person under age 18 years; create a new section of Subtitle12 of KRS Chapter 304 to establish liability provisions if an insurer elects to cover gender transition services; amend KRS 18A.225 to prohibit a fully insured benefit plan or self-insured plan for public employees from covering gender transition services for a person under the age of 18 years; amend KRS 454.210 to add to court permission to exercise personal jurisdiction over a person who acts directly or by an agent, as to a claim arising from the person's engaging in the provision of gender transition services to a person under the age of 18 years; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to prohibit a public school counselor, school-based mental health services provider, or other public employee from aiding or assisting in the provision of gender transition services for a person under the age of 18 years; establish liability provisions; require school notification of parents of child's expression of sex or gender inconsistency with exceptions; amend KRS 141.039 to require that corporate income relating to the provision of gender transition services to a person under age 18 years be added to net income; amend KRS 213.121 to prohibit a registered certificate or report from being amended if the purpose is to assist with a social or physical gender transition; amend KRS 401.020 to prohibit a court to order a name change if the purpose is to assist with a social or physical gender transition; create a new section of KRS Chapter 600 to prohibit the Department of Juvenile Justice from classifying a detainee by a sex that is inconsistent with defined sex; allow the Act to be cited as the Do No Harm Act; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2024.
I dread what will happen if and when this bill becomes law. Start calling 800-372-7181 NOW!"
Gave you a shoutout and hyperlink here: https://www.losangelesblade.com/2023/02/15/new-york-times-called-out-for-its-biased-coverage-of-trans-people/