LGBTQ

Protestors demonstrate against an Arkansas bill introduced earlier this year that would have restricted drag performances.

Federal judge strikes down Arkansas ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth

BY: - June 21, 2023

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — A federal judge struck down Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth Tuesday, nearly two years after blocking it from going into effect. Act 626 of 2021, known as the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act, prohibited physicians from providing “gender transition” treatments like hormones, puberty blockers and surgeries […]

Transgender Pride Flags

Anxiety rises for Georgia’s trans minors as state law barring hormone treatment starts July 1

BY: - June 17, 2023

ATLANTA — At midnight on June 30, transgender minors in Georgia who are not already receiving hormone treatments will be barred from starting due to a controversial law passed by the state Legislature along party lines this March. One transgender teacher at an organization that works with queer youth, said the kids she works with […]

A woman holds up a sign that reads "Books are the least of your worries. They are learning far worse from the internet and their peers"

Louisiana governor undecided on bill restricting minors’ access to certain library materials

BY: - June 14, 2023

Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters Wednesday he has not yet decided whether he will veto or sign a controversial bill that seeks to restrict Louisiana minors’ access to material it defines as sexually explicit, but still said he felt the bill is unnecessary. “I don’t think the bill is necessary,” Edwards said. “The biggest […]

A woman holds her thumb and index finger in the shape of the letter L to her forehead

Who took the Ws and Ls in the Louisiana legislative session

BY: - June 14, 2023

For a fiscal-oriented session, the Louisiana Legislature sure managed to fit in a multitude of bills this year that had nothing to do with the state’s spending plan.  Debate over whether the state’s annual spending cap should be lifted dragged on for so long, the budget-making process ended with a cram session in the final […]

Copies of banned books from various states and school systems from around the country are seen at the U.S. Capitol in March 2023 in Washington, D.C. Several states have enacted laws aimed at giving parents control over or banning explicit sexual materials from classrooms.

School districts struggle to implement new laws on sexually explicit books

BY: - June 14, 2023

RICHMOND, Va. — Although a new Virginia law requires schools to inform parents when sexually explicit materials are used in the classroom, some districts are using that law as the basis to go further and remove certain books from schools altogether. Book ban requests across the state often have cited the Virginia law, which was signed last year by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. […]

A transgender Pride flag is covered with the words "Hands Off Trans Youth" at Washington Square Park, where hundreds people gathered for a march to mark Transgender Day of Visibility.

U.S. House Republicans spar with HHS secretary over transgender youth, child labor

BY: - June 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Tuesday defended access to health care for transgender people, as well as his agency’s actions in connection with unaccompanied migrant children. Republicans at a U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing grilled Becerra about gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including puberty […]

A medical professional wearing surgical gloves administers a vaccine in a person's arm with their sleeve rolled up.

Louisiana health officials warn mpox could resurge, offer vaccines at Pride events

BY: - June 10, 2023

Louisiana health officials are warning that mpox could resurge in the summer months. To combat the spread, they’re offering free vaccinations at Pride events in New Orleans this weekend. Vaccinations will be offered at Pride Fest in New Orleans from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Saturday, at 941 Elysian Fields Ave. The vaccine center will be […]

COMMENTARY
A march for Transgender Day of Visibility passes in front of Jackson Square in New Orleans

A teacher’s open letter urging Gov. Edwards to veto anti-transgender legislation

BY: - June 9, 2023

I am writing to you as a Louisiana teacher and concerned citizen to urge you to veto House Bill 466 and House Bill 81, both of which target educators and pose a significant threat to the safety, privacy, and dignity of transgender youth. These bills, if signed into law, would have far-reaching consequences for both […]

Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks to reporters after the Louisiana Legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session.

Louisiana governor to veto bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth

BY: - June 8, 2023

Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, will veto three anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed by the Republican-dominated Louisiana Legislature.  When asked Thursday at his annual end-of-session press conference, Edwards said it is his “expectation” to veto the bills.  While Edwards had previously declined to commit to reject the proposals, he raised concerns last month that the recent […]

Senator Health Cloud speaks about a bill she introduced as Representative Julie Emerson and Attorney General Jeff Landry listen.

Bill restricting minors’ access to certain library materials could soon be law in Louisiana 

BY: - June 8, 2023

A controversial bill that seeks to restrict Louisiana minors’ access to material it defines as sexually explicit received final approval Thursday in the final hours of the legislative session.  Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, would require libraries to create a card system so parents could prevent their children from checking out […]

A marchers carries a sign that says "Let Books Be Gay" as they walk through the French Quarter in New Orleans for Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2023.

White House to name coordinator to push back against book bans, among new LGBTQ protections

BY: - June 8, 2023

WASHINGTON — As part of the celebration of Pride month, the Biden administration on Thursday announced several new protections for LGBTQ+ youth and families, including the position of a federal coordinator to counter the massive wave of book bans across the country. President Joe Biden was scheduled later Thursday to host a Pride event at […]

Students at Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans hold gay and transgender Pride flags and signs during a walkout to mark Transgender Day of Visibility.

‘Don’t Say Gay,’ pronoun restriction bills one step away from governor’s desk 

BY: - June 5, 2023

The Louisiana Senate gave final passage to two anti-LGBTQ+ bills Monday that target young transgender and queer students.  House Bill 466 by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. House Bill 81 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, would prohibit school employees from using transgender students’ preferred […]