The Human Rights Campaign is taking legal action against Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee after all of these US states passed laws that aim to limit young trans people’s participation in school sports. A federal lawsuit against Florida was filed last Wednesday after governor Ron DeSantis signed SB1028 into law on June 1. It was filed on behalf of a 13-year-old trans student who is fearful she will no longer be able to play on the girl’s soccer and basketball team.
HRC president Alphonso David confirmed to Them. that the organisation now intends to take action against the other three states due to the “negative” impact the bills will have on trans youth. He said: “These elected officials should be ashamed of themselves for advancing bills that are in search of problem that doesn’t exist and advancing bills that they should know will hurt transgender young people.”
In June, the Biden administration took legal action against Arkansas for passing a law that will prohibit medical professionals from providing gender-affirming healthcare to young trans people. It was the first instance in which Joe Biden’s government filed a statement of support for a lawsuit that is opposing the rising number of anti-trans bills sweeping the country. In 2021 alone, over 30 states have proposed anti-LGBTQ+ bills, the majority of which target trans youth.
