South Dakota is once again locked in a debate over a bill concerning transgender youth.

It seeks to ban gender-affirming care, with supporters saying they want to protect minors, while opponents call it a major intrusion on a family's personal medical decisions.

The state Senate is expected to take up the bill after it was overwhelmingly approved by the House last week. It would prohibit treatments like hormone therapy for those under 18.

Bill sponsors say adolescents shouldn't be seeking out care they might regret. But Susan Williams, executive director of South Dakota's Transformation Project Advocacy Network, pointed out that these aren't rash decisions made by teens on their own.

"Gender-affirming care would start with a therapist meeting with a family, meeting with a youth and doing several assessments," said Williams. "That can take six months or more."

She said lawmakers trying to have their say would be violating a family's privacy.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says having this care for adolescents is a crucial part of helping them thrive.

Last year, South Dakota approved a law banning transgender youth from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. Other conservative states have adopted similar laws, including targeting gender-affirming care.

Williams said she feels there's too much misinformation being floated within these debates.

"They're using words like 'genital mutilation' and 'chemical castration,'" said Williams, "and these words are meant to instill fear in the general public."

The HHS says procedures such as gender-affirming surgeries are typically used in adulthood.

Meanwhile, some of the laws in other states have led to lawsuits. Opponents of the South Dakota bill predict as currently written, it would lead to costly litigation.

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students.

The legislation requires schools to inform parents of a student's sexual orientation or gender identity should a parent inquire. Educators could be sued in civil court, face fines or even jail time if they fail to truthfully respond.

Deb Howes, president of the American Federation of Teachers-New Hampshire, said teachers should not be forced to "out" students, and parents should talk with their children themselves.

"This is not the sort of partnership between parents and schools that we know students need to do well academically," Howes asserted.

Supporters of the bill say it helps keep parents better informed of school activities and prevents students from leading "double lives," but public comments on the bill were overwhelmingly against it. The GOP-led Senate passed the bill along party lines last week.

Educators said the legislation would erode the trust teachers build in their classrooms and risk the safety of LGBTQ students who may not be ready to reveal their identities to family. Nearly half of LGBTQ youths seriously considered suicide in the past year, according to a survey from the Trevor Project.

Ryan Richman, a high school history teacher in Plaistow, said his students are being targeted.

"If queer kids don't have any safe place where they can be themselves, it really only leads to one thing, and I'm scared that this kind of legislation is on purpose," Richman noted.

House Republicans have proposed their own parental rights bill and debate is expected this week.

Gov. Chris Sununu threatened to veto similar legislation last session. Educators say opposition from the governor would send a signal to students across the state they are safe and welcomed.

New Mexico's LGBTQ community will soon have additional protections after existing language in state law was updated by the Legislature.

Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D- Doña Ana, co-sponsored House Bill 207 and said modification of the state's Human Rights Act means public institutions can no longer turn away or discriminate against people in the LGBTQ community without facing consequences.

"It prohibits public institutions, along with religious entities, to discriminate against these protected classes if they receive money from the state," Hamblen explained. "Meaning our tax dollars are not going to discriminate against New Mexicans."

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is expected to sign the legislation, which also updates language regarding people with disabilities, by removing the term "handicapped" from existing law. The governor has already signed legislation to prohibit out-of-state investigations targeting gender-affirming care.

An openly Lesbian senator, Hamblen noted the significance of New Mexico protecting the most vulnerable amid the firestorm of anti-LGBTQ policies sweeping the country.

"I'm recognizing how important representation is, and visibility is, and being able to speak for those voices that are silenced," Hamblen noted. "And that they have people who are looking out for them and who will protect them."

New Mexico's governor also signed a bill to override local ordinances limiting access to abortion procedures and medications, already adopted in the cities of Hobbs, Clovis and Eunice, along with Lea and Roosevelt counties.

Republicans, a minority in the legislature, opposed the bill saying it could put the state at odds with neighboring Texas, which has banned abortion at all stages of pregnancy with limited exceptions.

Three North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities are on a recent "best of" list for LGBTQ+ campuses.

The Best Colleges Campus Pride Index is a list of the top 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities for LGBTQ+ students. The list looked at factors such as LGBTQ+ studies programs and course offerings as well as the availability of resource centers and student support services.

North Carolina Central University is number two on the list, North Carolina A&T is number four, and Fayetteville State University is number six.

Eric Martin, coordinator for the LGBTA Resource Center at North Carolina Central University, said over the years, the center's role on campus has expanded.

"We are now involved more in things like new employee orientation, we're involved a lot more in departmental trainings with other departments," Martin explained. "Because the campus knows that we're here, and they know that we are a resource and because they also value students."

Martin noted the center is a hub for student activity and open to all. Center sponsored events include an LGBTQ+ Prom, Lavender Graduation, and Transgender Awareness Events.

North Carolina A&T opened an LGBTA center three years ago, but the campus LGBTQA support group known as PRISM goes back over a decade.

Gerald Spates, director of the Office of Intercultural Engagement LGBTA Resource Center at A&T, said many students are now coming to campus with an awareness of the institution's commitment.

"They're coming in already aware," Spates observed. "They're attracted to the institution, for a lot of reasons, but especially if they're part of the LGBT community, they want to know that they can be their authentic selves."

Spates pointed out since the resource center opened at A&T, he has seen just as many allies participate as LGBTQ+ students.

"At LGBTA resource center, I get as many allies, equally when it first opened, as students who are open members of the community, and that's what I really want it to be," Spates emphasized. "I want it to be a space that everyone when you enter that space, you feel comfortable, and you feel safe."

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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