JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill Tuesday to ban gender-affirming care in the state for anyone younger than 18, part of a broad effort in conservative states to restrict transgender athletes, gender-affirming care and drag shows.
The Governor of Mississippi recently passed a law that prohibits transgender athletes from competing in girls’ or women’s sports. The law took effect immediately and has been met with opposition from the Human Rights Campaign Mississippi, who denounced the legislation. Unfortunately, it is not just Mississippi– Arkansas, Alabama, and Utah are all facing similar bills.
A record high of 150 anti-transgender bills have been introduced across the US this year as a result of pushback against gender-affirming care for minors. Rob Hill, State Director of Human Rights Campaign Mississippi has spoken out against this and called for Governor Reeves to be held accountable for this transphobic legislation as he seeks reelection later this year.
In 2021, the state of Mississippi enacted a law banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
This legislation was signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves just two weeks after a large demonstration was held opposing the ban.
The move makes Mississippi one of five states to have passed anti-trans bills this year; Utah, Arkansas, Alabama and other states are currently facing similar legislations. Rob Hill, the state director for Human Rights Campaign Mississippi, showed great disapproval for the draconian law. With this addition, there are over 150 anti-trans bills across America that have been proposed in 2021 – making it the highest single-year figure recorded by Human Rights Campaign.
Mississippi recently passed legislation preventing transgender athletes from competing in women or girls’ sports. Governor Reeves signed the bill into effect in 2021, and barely two weeks later, it was met with protests from transgender teenagers and their families alongside supporters.
Across the United States, approximately 150 bills that target transgender people have been introduced – the highest number ever in a single year, per the Human Rights Campaign. Rob Hill, State Director of Human Rights Campaign Mississippi, spoke out against the law. Arkansas and Alabama have implemented similar laws however they have been temporarily blocked by judges while Utah’s Republican governor has signed a ban on gender-affirming care into law.
“Politicians who don’t have an ounce of medical training are interfering with our rights as parents and acting as if they know how to raise and support our children better than we do,” Hill said in a statement last week. “Attacking LGBTQ+ Mississippians will not solve any problems or make life easier for working folks in this state. The only thing it will accomplish is to further demonize and alienate transgender kids who are already among our most vulnerable students.”
Read more at: https://www.dailyleader.com/2023/02/28/mississippi-enacts-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-for-minors/
