October is LGBTQ History Month. It is meant to be a time for the nation to celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ heroes and honor the bravery of people who live their lives fully and openly. Nearly 30 years after the first LGBTQ History Month, many across the country are now targeting transgender and nonbinary youth, with particularly devastating consequences.The surge of anti-trans legislation nationwide is testing the core of America.
In 2022, legislators in Alabama passed one of the most hostile anti-trans bills, which makes providing trans-affirming health care a Class C felony, with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Thirty of the proposed bills this year are 'bathroom bills,' which harm the fundamental dignity of trans youth by restricting their ability to use public bathrooms that align with their gender identity.