The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the country’s leading organization for LGBTQ+ rights, declared an emergency status for LGBTQ+ Americans, warning of a hostile and threatening political climate. They launched an informative guidebook detailing state-specific discriminatory laws, highlighting resources for knowing one’s rights and providing assistance for relocation to states offering better protections for the LGBTQ+ community.
As we embark on Pride Month, the organization raised concerns that advisories cautioning against travel to unsafe regions are insufficient for individuals already residing in states perceived as antagonistic towards LGBTQ+ rights.
Reacting to what it calls an “unprecedented and perilous” surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation throughout the nation this year, the HRC revealed that over 525 such bills had been introduced and more than 70 enacted into law in 2023 alone – a figure more than twice as high as the previous year. The report released on Tuesday, titled “LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack,” traces these laws back to coordinated efforts by Republican leaders backed by “deep-pocketed extremist organizations.”
A recent analysis uncovered numerous bills prohibiting or limiting gender-confirming health care for transgender youth, the main focus of this year’s state legislation stems more from a handful of influential conservative interest groups than from grassroots movements or constituents’ demands.
The HRC guidebook serves to equip individuals with knowledge on how to lodge complaints for civil rights violations and guides them towards resources for financing relocation and job-seeking, especially in the 17 states with a Democratic majority in both legislative houses and the governorship. Additionally, the guide offers advice on local advocacy and managing difficult discussions surrounding LGBTQ+ policies with relatives and friends.
“This guide seeks to assist millions of individuals at risk, be it those planning summer travels through increasingly unfriendly areas for LGBTQ+ individuals or those living in states where legislative attacks and political radicalism continue to mark us as targets,” explained HRC president Kelley Robinson.
This emergency declaration, a first in the HRC’s four-decade history, coincides with the passing of numerous bills by Republican-majority legislatures across the nation that limit various aspects of transgender life, ranging from using pronouns and bathroom rights to medical care.
Among the most recent proposals is a Louisiana bill, on the brink of final passage, prohibiting K-12 public school employees from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom, mirroring Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law.
In an era of increased legislative hostility towards LGBTQ+ rights, the HRC’s first-ever emergency declaration marks a significant moment. The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to fight against what it sees as an orchestrated attack on the rights and existence of LGBTQ+ individuals. Through education, advocacy, and the provision of crucial resources, the HRC aims to defend, empower, and ultimately create safer environments for all LGBTQ+ Americans, irrespective of where they live or travel within the United States.
