In recent weeks, a series of state bills aimed at restricting LGBTQ rights have been introduced across the United States. From bans on discussion of gender identity in schools to limiting transgender participation in sports and gender-affirming healthcare, the bills have sparked outrage among LGBTQ advocates and allies.
On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who is the first openly gay person to hold the position, spoke out against these bills, calling them a “dangerous attack on the rights of parents to make the best healthcare decisions for their own kids.” She also praised LGBTQ youth who have organized protests and school walkouts in response to the legislation, saying, “We are so proud of the kids across this country who have organized protests and school walkouts to tell the politicians in their states to stop this legislative bullying.”
Jean-Pierre acknowledged the toll that these political attacks can take on the mental health of LGBTQ youth, and offered a message of support: “I want to say directly to LGBTQI+ kids, you are loved just as you are, just the way you are.”
Despite the wave of state bills, there have been some recent victories for LGBTQ rights. The US Supreme Court recently refused to let West Virginia enforce a law banning transgender athletes from female sports teams at public schools. In Kentucky, Republican lawmakers overrode a governor’s veto to ban transgender youths from gender-affirming healthcare and restrict which toilets they use in public schools.
Indiana’s governor also recently signed a bill banning all gender-affirming care for minors, joining around a dozen other states that have passed similar laws. The White House has condemned these bills, calling them a “dangerous precedent” and urging LGBTQ youth and their allies to continue to speak out against them.
As LGBTQ advocates and allies continue to fight for equality and acceptance, it is clear that the struggle for LGBTQ rights is far from over. But with support from allies like the White House, LGBTQ youth can feel empowered to continue their fight for justice and equality.