(The Center Square) – California legislators talked to The Center Square on Thursday about the impacts of new federal rule changes to taxpayer dollars paying for gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Jaelynn Scott is set to become Washington’s first openly transgender legislator after sailing through last week’s primary. She also could be one of only two members of the Democratic Socialists of America in the Legislature. “I think it’s important that people see themselves in me, and the fact that they can run and they can […]
(The Center Square) – A Southern state that banned medical gender transition for children is meanwhile financially boosting a network of doctors and therapists who promote some of those same controversial treatments.
The Republican candidates hoping to flip Arizona’s top three statewide positions in November are lining up behind an anti-trans ballot measure that critics say will force schools to police bathrooms and locker rooms. Proposition 318, which GOP lawmakers named the “Protect Girls Sports in Arizona,” threatens schools and athletic associations with lawsuits if trans girls […]
Arizona law already forbids trans girls from joining school sports teams that align with their gender identity, but Republican lawmakers want voters to ban them from school locker rooms and private sports leagues, too. In November, voters will decide the fate of the “Protect Girls Sports in Arizona Act”, also known as Proposition 318. The […]
BOSSIER PARISH, La. — The Bossier Parish Police Jury voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward with a public hearing on a proposed ordinance that would restrict the use of parish-owned restrooms, locker rooms and changing facilities based on biological sex. The proposal would amend Chapter 78, Article I, of the parish code. If ultimately adopted, it would criminalize someone to knowingly use a designated male or female restroom or similar facility in a parish-owned building that does not correspond with their biological sex. Wednesday's meeting drew a large crowd to the Bossier Parish Courthouse, where supporters and opponents voiced sharply differing opinions before jurors voted to advance the proposal to a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 2. No final action was taken. Under the proposed amendment, parish employees could deny access to a restroom if they believe a person is attempting to use a facility designated for the opposite biological sex. Anyone who refuses to comply could face criminal penalties, including fines or possible jail time. Supporters said the measure is intended to protect the safety of women and children. "My concern is the safety, the privacy, the intimacy that goes on in a restroom for a young lady," one supporter told the Police Jury. "If you want to have a transgender changing room or restroom, fine. But leave the rest of what works alone." If approved, the ordinance would align parish policy with Louisiana's Women's Safety and Protection Act. Opponents argued the proposal unfairly targets transgender residents. "I personally have never felt threatened or unsafe because of someone else using the restroom as a girl, regardless of their appearance or gender identity," said Jazmine Carroll, an employee with The Philadelphia Center. Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates, also spoke against the proposal, saying transgender people already face challenges when accessing public restrooms. "We're all just going in the bathroom to use the bathroom, wash your hands, look in the mirror and get out," Michelle said. "I think the narrative that we're going to go into the bathroom and do something bad is wrong." Michelle said a letter urging the Police Jury to reject the amendment was sent to both the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office and the Police Jury. According to Michelle, the letter was signed by 22 organizations and 277 individuals from across Louisiana. The proposed ordinance includes several exceptions. It allows anyone to use single-occupancy restrooms in parish-owned buildings and permits a parent or guardian to accompany a minor child into a restroom designated for the opposite sex. It also allows someone to assist a person with a disability in a restroom designated for the opposite sex. The Bossier Parish Police Jury will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance Sept. 2 before considering final adoption.
It would be silly to claim that there aren’t a lot of things in the modern world about which to be deeply concerned or even, at times, fearful. There’s the ongoing global environmental emergency, the resurgence of war and authoritarianism, the many uncertainties surrounding the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the plague of poverty and […]
Arizonans will decide in November whether schools should scrutinize who uses which bathrooms during school sports events. Republicans have framed it as a safety issue while critics warn it will only lead to intrusive policing and humiliation. For the past several years, Republicans across the country have pushed discriminatory policies barring transgender people from using […]
The lone Ohio Supreme Court justice with a “D” next to her name on the November general election ballot has sued to get rid of that party label, as part of her efforts to preserve what she says is a delicate balance between democracy and the rule of law. Justice Jennifer Brunner has been on […]
The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it is taking action against Ann Arbor Public Schools for what it believes to be likely violations of FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, in the district’s policies regarding transgender students. In a press release from the department, it announced that the Education Department’s Student […]
