Trans Formations Project Newsletter ∙ 1/6/23

Hello everyone! It is January 6th, 2023, and as such, this is our first newsletter of the new year. It’s already shaping up to be a rough one.

The Thing(s) We Won This Week 

At the very beginning of this year, California S.B. 107 went fully into effect, officially making California a refuge state for trans youth and their parents targeted by the (literal) hundreds of bills in red states.

And in a related win, because of this, even the Texas Supreme Court–unilaterally Republican–refused to enable Jeff Younger’s harassment and pursuit of his ex-wife and children, including his trans child. 

What the Heck Happened This Week?! 

A recent article from Politico indicated that across the country, Republican legislatures and executive branches intended to make bills attacking trans recognition and trans rights a priority–ranging from articulating definitions of “man, woman, father, mother” into law so as to delegitimize trans people to outlawing trans health care and criminalize providing it. In particular, the article notes direct coordination between TERF groups and Republican figures, including multiple senators, and at least 10 State Attorney Generals, chief among them Ken Paxton of Texas. The whole thing is worth a read, as it sketches out a preview of bills we’ll be seeing across this year. 

Nation-wide, there is now a conflict between established law and a ruling in the U.S. 11th Circuit court–which now allows schools to bar trans students from bathrooms that conform to their gender–as noted hate group, the Alliance Defending Freedom, gloats on its website. The ruling from the 11th-Circuit, Trump-packed court now conflicts with a prior 4th Circuit ruling–meaning that the (6-3) SCOTUS will likely get involved. For more information on this case, see here. 

Missouri has been on a tear this week, as its pre-filed bills have moved into filed status. HB 498 is an attempt to ban drag performances outright on a flimsy basis relating drag to youth criminality and prostitution, whereas HB 463, HB 419, and HB 540 all aim to function as bans on healthcare for transgender youth while also forcibly detransitioning trans youth (and criminalizing the provision of said care, describing it as felony child abuse). SB390 is a fairly standard “Don’t say gay or trans” bill. HB 337, HB 170, and HB 183 are all sports-banning bills with varying degrading statements about trans people and/or requirements for “affidavits” of biological sex. HB489 is a new one–aiming to ban state licensing professional agencies and health care systems from using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) anything, and exerts control over medical schools and their standards, while banning them from revising them without consulting the state legislature. This particular form of overreach is most similar to DeSantis’s anti-woke policies. 

Kentucky’s pre-filed HB30 which functions as an “emergency” bathroom bill describing trans people using bathrooms as an “emergency” has been sent to committee. 

Montana’s pre-filed SB99 has been filed–it functions as a healthcare ban that would medically detransition all trans youth in Montana, while also attacking the use of public funds in general. 

Texas introduced a new bill (HB1155) which is a standard “Parent rights” bill. 

And then, there’s Oklahoma. Firing the opening salvo in an attempt to ban transgender care for adults, egged on by organizations like Genspect providing inaccurate and misleading claims in service of the myth that 25 is the age of full maturity, Republicans in Oklahoma have introduced a bill aiming to ban transition-related care and medically detransition even trans adults under the age of 26. This bill (SB129) demonstrates the intent to not stop at minors and to arbitrarily withhold (and remove existing care) from even trans adults–and to make providing or even referring adults for care a felony, that will also result in the practitioner being stripped of their license. This bill is particularly pernicious as it indicates a willingness and intent to step up attacks from trans youth to trans adults to trans care generally. 

That said, there were some more positive bills introduced this week!

Minnesota introduced a conversion therapy ban bill (SF23)--which is always good to see! 

Meanwhile, New York introduced a bill requiring schools to teach about queer people (in opposition to “Don’t Say Gay” bills; NY S00351). 

And on those slightly positive notes, that’s all for this week! 

We know that staying up-to-date with anti-trans legislation may be distressing to our readers. If you or someone you know needs support, here are a few affirming resources that you can reach out to:

• If you need support or are in crisis you can contact the Trans Lifeline hotline at (877) 565-8860. The Trans Lifeline is run by trans people, for trans people, and does not engage in non-consensual active rescue, meaning they will not call law enforcement without your consent.

• You can connect with a Trevor Project crisis counselor via phone (1-866-488-7386), chat, or text (Text ‘START’ to 678-678) support. Note: This resource could utilize non-consensual active rescue, including law enforcement, 911, and first responders.

• You can call the LGBT National Hotline at (888) 843-4564, or connect with a peer via chat. The LGBT National Help Center will NOT call other suicide hotlines, law enforcement, 911, or rescue services.

• BlackLine is a BIPOC LGBTQ+ support line, run by BIPOC folks, for BIPOC folks. This resource does not involve law enforcement or state agencies. You can call 1 (800) 604-5841 to chat with a peer.