The Trump party aims to further restrict the visibility of transgender people: Public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade would be barred from discussing the existence of transgender people. A corresponding bill (H.R. 7661) was introduced in the House this week by 18 Republican representatives led by Representative Mary Miller.
The draft specifically targets all public schools nationwide—from kindergarten to 12th grade—and would require them not to “develop, conduct, support, or promote” any programs, activities, books, or other materials that contain “sexually oriented content.” In the bill’s wording, this would explicitly include “gender dysphoria” and “transgenderism.” The term “transgenderism” is often used by right-wing groups or the Catholic Church as a catchphrase to deny the existence of transgender people or to question the recognition of their identity.
The vaguely worded draft could not only affect curricula but could even render supportive services for transgender people impossible. Moreover, transgender teachers would presumably have to keep their trans status hidden from students and colleagues.
Due to its similarity to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida, the new draft has already been described in the media as a “Don’t Say Trans” law. The policy implemented by the anti-queer Governor Ron DeSantis prohibits the mention of queer people in classroom instruction in Florida—also through the 12th grade (TheColu.mn reported). Other conservative states such as Iowa, Indiana, or Mississippi have passed similar laws.
Draft apparently coordinated with Trump’s State of the Union address
The draft was introduced in Congress just hours after Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. The president used the nearly two-hour speech to reprise anti-trans arguments. He also urged a broad ban on medical treatment for transgender youths, even though several studies have shown that such treatments can significantly reduce suicide risk in this group (TheColu.mn reported). With this transphobia, the Republicans appear to be trying to boost their chances in the November midterm elections.
Republican administrations at the state level are also stepping up actions against transgender people. For example, Kansas on Wednesday invalidated all driver’s licenses held by transgender people whose gender markers did not reflect their birth sex. Under the law, transgender people who continue to drive now face the possibility of imprisonment. (dk)
