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What Is Anti-Trans Legislation, and What Does It Target?
Anti-trans legislation refers to bills that restrict transgender people’s rights and access to care, and it has targeted gender-affirming medical care for minors at an accelerating rate since 2021. NBC News reported that in 2021 there were a total of 191 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed, and 153 of those were specifically anti-trans. In just the first three months of 2022, 238 anti-LGBTQ+ bills had already been filed, with 154 of those specifically anti-trans.
This wave of legislation centers on children, and it’s often framed by lawmakers as protective — even as the evidence shows it has the opposite effect.
What Do These Bills Actually Propose?
Several 2022 state bills illustrate the range of anti-trans legislation moving through statehouses. In Utah, one lawmaker proposed banning trans surgery for minors — a procedure that is already rare in this age group — while also placing limits on gender-affirming medical care like hormone therapy (which is used in cis-gendered children with endocrine disorders) In Texas, then-Governor Greg Abbott backed a directive equating gender-affirming care with child abuse, calling for parents and medical professionals who support their trans children to be reported to Child Protective Services.
Does Gender-Affirming Care Actually Help Trans Youth?
Research on transgender and non-binary youth has consistently linked gender-affirming support to lower suicide risk. The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that transgender and non-binary youth whose pronouns were respected by everyone they lived with attempted suicide at half the rate of youth whose pronouns were not respected by anyone at home. The same survey found lower rates of suicide attempts among youth who were able to update their driver’s license or birth certificate to reflect their gender identity.
Taken together, this research supports gender-affirming care in the home and the doctor’s office as a protective, lifesaving practice for trans youth — not the “child abuse” it’s sometimes labeled as in legislative debate.
Where Can I Track Anti-Trans Legislation and Learn More?
A few organizations maintain up-to-date tracking and resources on anti-trans legislation: the ACLU’s legislation tracker, the Freedom for All Americans legislative tracker, and NBC News’s reporting on the 2021–2022 bill surge. The Netflix documentary Disclosure also provides education on trans representation and history for people who want more context or prefer their information in video form.
For more background on LGBTQ+ history, see our post on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
FAQ
How many anti-trans bills were filed in 2021 and 2022? In 2021, 153 of the 191 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed were specifically anti-trans. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, 154 of 238 anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed were anti-trans.
What kinds of restrictions do anti-trans bills usually include? Common provisions include bans or limits on gender-affirming medical care for minors (such as hormone therapy), and in some cases directives treating parental or medical support for trans youth as child abuse subject to reporting.
Does gender-affirming care lower suicide risk for trans youth? Yes. The Trevor Project’s 2021 mental health survey found trans and non-binary youth whose pronouns were respected at home attempted suicide at half the rate of those whose pronouns were not respected.
Where can I track current anti-trans legislation? The ACLU and Freedom for All Americans both maintain ongoing legislative trackers, and NBC News has published reporting summarizing bill counts by year.
Is gender-affirming care for minors common or rare? Surgical intervention for transgender minors is rare. Gender-affirming care for minors more commonly involves social support like changing names, pronouns, and outward appearance. In some cases reversible or partially reversible medical treatments like puberty blockers or hormone therapy, typically under medical supervision.
