Most anti-LGBTQ bills failed in 2022

The majority of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2022 have failed, despite a record number proposed last year.

Statistics released by the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday (January 26) showed that fewer than 1 in 10 anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed last year became law.

The nonprofit found at least 315 laws that discriminated against LGBTQ+ people to some degree, 29 of which were passed.

A shocking number appeared as part of it State Equality Index 2022 – annual review of the state of LGBTQ+ equality in the United States.

It says some of the proposed bills contain “old discriminatory tropes” that have plagued LGBTQ+ groups for years.

Many others have tried to use the wave of anti-transgender hysteria to push efforts to ban gender-affirming care or further suppress the rights of trans youth.

It found that in 2022, 149 US bills targeted the transgender community, many of which targeted individuals under the age of 18.

By comparison, 24 pro-equality bills were passed in 2022, from progressive legislation making it easier for trans people to change their names to The Respect for Marriage Act.

In a statement, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Policy Jodi Winterhoff said, “The 2022 State Equality Index shows how states across the country have battled another record year of anti-LGBTQ+ legislative attacks.

“These bills are terrible public policy, and we are also acutely aware of how every harmful anti-LGBTQ+ bill that is signed into law has a devastating impact on the lives and well-being of LGBTQ+ people.”

One of the most significant trends of 2022 has been the resurgence of anti-LGBTQ+ bills aimed at teaching the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” schools.

It was the first of its kind passed and signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in late March.

A blow to LGBTQ+ rights in the region, which has led to LGBTQ+ topics being completely banned from classroom discussion, has led to several copycat laws in states like Pennsylvania and Indiana.

During this time, the use of art homophobic slur “groomer” exploded on social media platforms with 9,219 tweets the day after the bill was signed into law – roughly every nine seconds.

Fears that 2023 could be even worse for LGBTQ+ people have come after a massive rise in anti-LGBTQ+ bills in January alone.

In 2023, over 100 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been proposed “Don’t say gay” imitators. to bills that attempt to define drag shows as “adult entertainment.”

Activist Erin Reid – who was detailing each anti-transportation bill have been proposed so far – said the wave of bills has “terrorized the transgender and straight communities”, while blaming the wave of anti-transgender panic that has started in the US.

In addition, the Equality Federation’s Fran Hutchins said, “It’s more important than ever to focus on protecting LGBTQ+ people in states where the work is hard but the impact is big.”