Some research studies show these anti-trans bills are making headway with the Republican base, which is less racially diverse compared to the Democratic Party and has more voters age 50 and above.īut transgender people and advocates slammed these moves for erasing trans people from public life and rolling back recent gains the community has made.Įxclusive: 2022 could be most anti-trans legislative years in history, report says
More than ten other Republican-leaning states have passed similar bans on trans women athletes, from Florida to Texas to South Dakota.įrom executive actions by governors to new laws from state legislatures, Republicans are pushing a record number of anti-trans bills, an issue GOP candidates are using in their 2022 campaigns and that opponents say are designed to divide the electorate and harm the transgender community.
(The Democratic governor has vowed to veto the bill if it gets through the GOP-run state Senate.) The Republican-led Pennsylvania House of Representatives responded by passing a proposed bill that would ban transgender women from competing on women's sports teams, including University of Pennsylvania student Thomas. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, signed a resolution declaring the runner-up – Florida-born Emma Weyant – to be the "real" winner of the women's 500-yard freestyle race, which took place in Atlanta. Laws banning trans people from sports may help Republicans in the midterms.Ĭollege swimmer Lia Thomas won a national title this year, but Republicans across the country had different ideas.įlorida Gov.Transgender advocates said anti-trans laws are discriminatory and will harm their community.Republicans are pushing anti-trans legislation that they say will protect children.