GOP advances laws targeting transgender people in US

In recent months, there has been a surge of legislation targeting transgender individuals in state legislatures across the United States. This trend is likely to play a significant role in the 2024 elections, with Republicans seeking to portray Democrats as out of touch with the values of many Americans and to fend off challenges from further-right candidates within their own party. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, recently signed bills that ban gender-affirming care for minors, restrict chosen pronoun use in schools, and force people to use the bathroom corresponding with their sex assigned at birth. These measures have been criticized by human rights groups, who argue that they deny transgender individuals access to life-saving medical care and contradict guidelines recommended by major medical associations. Despite opposition from major US medical groups, 17 states have recently passed restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, up from only three states prior to 2023. Many of these bills target every aspect of a transgender person’s life, including their ability to participate in sports and change their sex on identity documents. Rights groups have responded with lawsuits, and President Joe Biden’s administration has challenged some of these laws in court.