How State Lawmakers are Targeting Trans Rights

With Hundreds of Bills Attacking Gender-Affirming Care, 2024 Could Be a Pivotal Year for Trans Healthcare

In 2024, the war on trans rights has reached an all-time high, with state legislatures across the U.S. targeting access to gender-affirming healthcare. Initially focused on restricting care for minors, this latest wave of legislation increasingly aims to curtail healthcare access for adults, a deeply alarming shift. The consequences are dire—trans people are being systematically stripped of the right to medical care, legal recognition, and basic dignity.

The numbers speak for themselves: more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 2023, and 2024 is shaping up to be even more aggressive​¹​ ². What started as efforts to limit access to gender-affirming care for minors has now ballooned into all-out legislative attacks on transgender adults. States like Texas, Alabama, and Florida have become epicenters for these laws, with Texas now blocking trans adults from updating their identification documents and curbing their access to healthcare.

In Florida, 80% of gender-affirming care for adults has been effectively banned​. As if that wasn’t enough, Florida and other states have imposed harsh restrictions on birth certificate changes and bathroom use, making it nearly impossible for trans people to live authentically without constant legal and social battles³​ ⁴.

The Real-Life Fallout of Anti-Trans Laws

The impact of these laws goes far beyond healthcare. For trans individuals, these measures are an existential threat, leading to a loss of rights, dignity, and often, safety. Studies have shown that gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety, and suicide rates in transgender individuals⁵. When these services are denied, the fallout is catastrophic, not just in terms of physical health, but mental well-being.

Mandy Wong, a mother from California, expressed the toll these laws are taking on her son, even in a progressive state. “All the negative attention trans kids, even us as parents, have gotten because of these proposals doesn’t seem to be dying down,” she lamented⁶. Even for those not directly impacted by these laws, the rhetoric surrounding them perpetuates violence and discrimination in everyday life.

In many states, it’s not just healthcare that’s under attack. Bathroom bans, restrictions on pronouns in schools and workplaces, and the erasure of trans identities from public records are creating an unlivable environment for many. South Carolina’s proposed bill would prosecute trans adults for simply being in the presence of minors, echoing outdated and dangerous stereotypes​.

Advocates, activists, and organizations like the ACLU and Lambda Legal are not sitting idly by. These groups are mobilizing to combat the growing wave of anti-trans legislation in courts and through grassroots activism. But the scope of these laws is unprecedented, and the stakes have never been higher.

What’s particularly insidious is that many of these bills are being pushed under the guise of “protecting children”—a transparent tactic that conflates trans rights with danger. The reality is that these laws serve only to dehumanize trans individuals and strip them of their fundamental rights. As one advocacy group pointed out, “This year (and every year), transgender people and allies are fighting back. But we need your help. It is imperative that people do not remain silent in the face of this onslaught.“​

This fight isn’t just about access to healthcare—it’s about the right to exist. Gender-affirming care is not a luxury; it is a lifeline for many trans individuals. Without it, trans people face higher risks of mental health issues, discrimination, and violence. And while many states focus on banning care for minors, they are setting a dangerous precedent for stripping adults of their healthcare, legal recognition, and safety​.

We’re witnessing an alarming domino effect. When states succeed in passing laws that limit healthcare access for youth, it becomes all the easier to pass similarly harmful laws for adults. And the people most impacted by these attacks? Trans people of colour, especially Black and Indigenous trans women, who already face disproportionately high rates of violence and discrimination.

What You Can Do To Help

The fight is far from over. Here are three ways you can get involved and make a difference:

1. Register to Vote: Voting is one of the most powerful ways to push back against these attacks. Make sure you’re registered, and encourage others to do the same. Visit www.vote.org for more information​(Lambda Legal).
2. Contact Your Legislators: Use your voice! Find out who your state and federal representatives are and hold them accountable. Let them know that supporting anti-trans legislation is unacceptable​(Lambda Legal).
3. Support Trans Rights Organizations: Organizations like Lambda Legal (www.lambdalegal.org) and the ACLU (www.aclu.org) are at the forefront of fighting these laws. Donate, volunteer, or spread the word to help them continue this essential work​(Lambda Legal)​(WUSF ).

Conclusion: The Fight for Trans Rights is a Fight for Human Rights The wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping across the U.S. is not just an assault on healthcare—it’s an assault on the very existence of trans people. But the trans community is resilient, and with the support of allies, advocates, and activists, we can push back. As these bills flood statehouses across the country, it’s more important than ever to stand up, speak out, and fight for the rights of trans individuals to live authentically and without fear.

The future of trans rights in America hangs in the balance, and it’s a fight we cannot afford to lose.

1. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans-legislative-risk-assessment-212 ↩︎
2. https://lambdalegal.org/blogs/us_20240222_state-legislative-sessions-transgender-rights/ ↩︎
3. https://translegislation.com/ ↩︎
4. https://www.wusf.org/politics-issues/2024-01-15/efforts-to-restrict-transgender-health-care-endure-in-2024-with-more-adults-targeted ↩︎
5. Ibid. ↩︎
6. Ibid. ↩︎