Across the country, LGBTQ+ youth, individuals, families, and parents continue to face discrimination in many areas of their lives; in the workplace, while finding housing, and even at restaurants or playing sports. It can often be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when the state you live in is pushing legislation that will harm you and your family.

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Due to the support across the country from allies, we have been able to stop harmful legislation and pass protections that will keep LGBTQ+ people safe. 

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Stories change hearts and minds. Every interaction with senators, whether that be a personal letter from a parent talking about the struggles their trans child faces at school, a phone call from an ally working at an LGBT Center sharing the struggles their clients face when searching for housing, or a meeting with a Rabbi discussing the importance of being inclusive and providing a safe space for everyone, all have the power to change the hearts and minds of the senators across the country voting on nondiscrimination legislation.

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This national effort has had a significant impact on LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Healthcare is becoming more inclusive by adding nonbinary to sexual orientation and gender identity medical data collection, HIV funding has been expanded to cover PEP/PrEP, support for older Coloradans through community planning, school education for mental health, benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans that were dishonorably discharged, social services, health, and well-being services, and strategies to prepare the state's infrastructure for an increasingly older population of Coloradans, and marriage equality continues to be protected. 

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The passing of these pro-equality bills reinforces that Americans across the nation do stand for equality! Equality for their family, friends, neighbors, and people they have never met. Together, we can continue to pass legislation to keep LGBTQ+ Americans safe and protected. 

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If you are interested in getting involved in your city or state……

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Here are some important bills that passed all across the country this month: 

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CO HB1035 - Modernization of the Older Coloradans Act. The act aims to support older Coloradans through community planning, social services, health and well-being services, and strategies to prepare the state's infrastructure for an increasingly older population of Coloradans. (May want to site - this was pulled directly off the interwebs)

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MI SB0412 Removes prior authorization requirements for some drugs in state-administered programs, including PEP/PrEP and HIV treatment.

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NJ A4253 Adds nonbinary to sexual orientation and gender identity medical data collection.

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NJ S3416 Codifies marriage equality.

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NJ S3707 Repeals statute criminalizing sexual penetration while infected with venereal disease or HIV under certain circumstances; requires that in prosecutions for endangering another by creating a substantial risk of transmitting infectious disease, the defendant's name and other person be kept confidential.

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NM HB52 Decriminalizes some paraphernalia, including fentanyl test strips, when distributed as part o a harm reduction program.

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OR SB1545 Adds LGBTQ people to the priority populations definition for workforce development programs and increases funding.

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WA HB1851 Makes abortion rights language trans-inclusive.

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WA HB1956 Makes confidential incarcerated people's medical records, including for trans-affirming care and gender identity.

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WA SB5929 Adds LGBTQ representation to the state's poverty reduction task force.

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WI AB820  Expands HIV funding to cover PEP/PrEP.

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MI - SB0412  Human services: medical services; exemption of certain prescription drugs from the department of health and human services Medicaid prior authorization process; provide for. Amends sec. 109h of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.109h.

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NJ - A4253 Requires specific electronic medical programs to include demographic data entry features; requires laboratories to record certain patients' demographic information; requires certain hospitals and laboratories to implement cultural competency training programs.

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NJ - S3416 Codifies same-sex marriage in the statutes.

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NJ - S3707 Repeals statute criminalizing sexual penetration while infected with venereal disease or HIV under certain circumstances; requires that in prosecutions for endangering another by creating a substantial risk of transmitting infectious disease, the name of the defendant and other person be kept confidential.

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ME LD2003 Affordable housing.

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IL HB4430 Makes PEP/PrEPa standing order so pharmacists can dispense without prescription.

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MD HB850 Nonpublic school nondiscrimination, including SOGI.

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MD HB1380 Vets discharged for being LGBTQ reclassified as honorably discharged for state benefits.

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VA SB672 Pharmacists can dispense harm reduction things like needles/vaccines/PEP/PrEP via telemedicine.

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MD HB970 Removes prior authorization for PEP/PrEP for survivors of sexual assault.

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MD SB720 Regulates training and licensing for assisted living managers.

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NY S8005 Incarcerated people may receive a free copy of their birth certificate upon release, reimbursement for incarcerated people's personal property, and absentee ballots get prepaid postage.

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IL HB 4556 Pharmacies, physicians, hospitals, and health care facilities can dispense fentanyl test strips/drug adulterant testing supplies.

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 IL SB3490 Creates Commission on LGBTQ Aging.

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IL SB4028 School health education must include mental health resource info and adds youth and minority representatives to the Children's Mental Health Partnership commission.

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CO SB95 Data analysis of missing persons focusing on minority communities, including trans people.

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IL HB4408 No copays for naloxone.

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MD SB331 Removes spending cap on PEP for sexual assault victims.

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GA HB1390 Public employment sexual harassment protections.

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IL HB4700 Lots of workforce development spending and drastically increases spending on community-based substance use disorder treatment and intervention services.

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To see a complete list of legislation we are tracking, head to our State Legislation Tracker, which monitors nationwide important state legislation affecting LGBTQ+ Americans.

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