Queer Politics This Week: The Good and The Very Bad

March 3, 2024
ALEXANDER

This Week: The Good and The Very Bad

Well, each week it seems we get more and more bad news from the political front regarding the LGBTQ community. This week was no different, although there was some bright light, even though faint. We'll start with the bad news and end on a good note.

This last week, the Georgia Senate PASSED an anti-LGBTQ bill under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This being touted as a “religious rights proposal” removes fundamental protections for the LGBTQ+ community, and unfortunately, it’s very likely to become law given the Republican trifecta that exists in Georgia. The coverage under this bill is long-reaching and can affect anything from denying queer couple adoption rights and access to child care to even being denied hotel rooms, all in the name of religious beliefs. This bill has been a long time in the works and has been promised to be made law by Georgia Governor Kemp during his 2018 campaign. The Republican rule in Georgia is extreme, which is why the Democratic Party has been focused on the State in building a long-term plan to gain control.

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This bill follows a drastic, sweeping movement across the nation regarding political movement against the community. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been introduced in nearly 40 states around the country since the New Year. CNN reported a record 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in 2023, which is three times the number in 2022. And we are only two months in? Why are political conservatives so obsessed with us?

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In some decent news, this week the Utah House of Representatives blocked bill H.B. 303 School Curriculum Requirements which could have allowed teachers to ban Pride flags in the classroom. Not a huge win, it didn't pass because both sides said the language of the bill was vague and impeded a teacher's First Amendment rights. The bill seems to be dropped not because of the issue of Pride flags, but because the bill could have been directed to even religious or conservative points of view in the classroom, both sides would have been affected. Unfortunately, a bill like this moved forward from the State House to the Senate in Tennessee. Tennessee is also being aggressive towards the LGBTQ community with bans of drag performances, restrictions on gender-affirming care, and allowing students and other school staff to use the gender bathroom they identify with. Utah, the week before passed streamlines procedures for trans individuals to change name and gender on birth certificates.