More than 500 anti-LGTBQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country, but just one state is responsible for more than 20% of them: Texas. In Austin, as the legislature hits the frantic pace of its final weeks, anti-LGBTQ+ legislators are pushing discriminatory bills like gender affirming care bans, drag show bans, sports bans and gender marker bans.

In Texas, HRC is tracking more than 220 bills, including

• 100+ bills HRC opposes because of the potential to harm LGBTQ+ Texans

• 70+ additional bills HRC is watching because they could turn into vehicles for harmful amendments

• 45+ bills that HRC supports

These anti-equality efforts are driven by a small group of special interest funders and extremist legislators — and do not reflect the opinions of the majority of Texans — but they will have a major impact on LGBTQ+ Texans and their families. The animus aimed at transgender Texans is particularly heart-wrenching, especially when coupled with the glee of the anti-trans forces behind these bills.

While the bills themselves would directly harm LGTBQ+ people and their families if passed, the environment created by the debate and discussion of these bills is already causing harm. And when you add last year’s declaration by the Attorney General that Gender Affirming Care is “child abuse,” and the subsequent order from the Governor for the State to investigate affirming families of transgender children, families are living in fear. Families with transgender children 18+ have become more vocal advocates on behalf of the families with younger children who are concerned about becoming targets of state investigations if they speak out.

• Texas Legislators’ Relentless Political Attacks Make Texas Unsafe for LGTBQ+ People
• Human Rights Campaign Condemns Texas Senate for Passing Slate of Discriminatory Bans Targeting Transgender Texans in Sports, Speech and Storytime
• All In For Equality Coalition Statement on Advancement of Bills that Ban Critical Healthcare for Transgender Youth
  
• Texas Senate Passes Sweeping Ban to Prohibit Trans Youth and Adults from Receiving Necessary Medical Care