Significant action to stop anti-LGBT legislation in four key states

Significant vote in Missouri on anti-LGBT bill today/Action in Tennessee today to stop anti-trans bill 

Here is the top news today in four key states and their anti-LGBT legislation.

"Today, we are delivering a petition with close to 70,000 signatures urging Tennessee lawmakers to reject the harmful and discriminatory HB 2414," said ACLU-TN executive director Hedy Weinberg. "Courageous transgender youth and their allies are leading today's effort, ensuring that lawmakers know how this mean-spirited measure would hurt them personally. 

"It sends a clear message: In addition to its significant financial ramifications, this measure would have a devastating impact on young people in our state. Across the country people are watching Tennessee in the hopes that lawmakers put an end to this bill."

1. Missouri, SJR39: A broad FADA-like religious exemptions constitutional amendment would allow religiously-affiliated organizations receiving state funds, businesses, and individuals to discriminate against , same sex couples, children of same-sex couples, LGBT youth and more is expected to come to a vote in the House Emerging Issues committee today.

The bill was filibustered on the Senate floor for a record 39.5 hours, but was forced to a vote and passage in that chamber last month. Voices of opposition include: the state and local chambers (St. Louis and Kansas City); big companies like Square, Dow Chemical, and Monsanto; the NCAA; and the first openly gay NFL player and Missourian Michael Sam.

During today's hearing, we expect the measure could be voted on. If the legislature passes this bill, it would go on the ballot for a public vote either in a special or general election, to be determined by the Governor.

2. Tennessee, SB 2387/ HB 2414 and HB 1840/SB 1556: A bill that targets transgender students, once thought to be dead, was revived and is expected to be heard before finance committees in both chambers this week.   The bill would force students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match the students' birth certificates regardless of gender identity. This afternoon, we delivered nearly 70,000 signatures to the Governor from businesses and individuals who oppose this bill.  

Also in Tennessee, the governor has about a week left to act on a bill that would allow counselors to turn away patients simply because they may conflict in some way with the counselors' "sincerely held principles." This could result in discrimination against not only gay and transgender people, but women and virtually anyone else with whom the counselor may disagree.  

3. North Carolina, HB 2: Support for LGBT North Carolinians and backlash to North Carolina's discriminatory HB 2 continues to pour in from public figures, organizations, and businesses.  Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union with partner organizations filed a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's sweeping new anti-LGBT law, which prohibits localities from extending non-discrimination protections to LGBT people and forces transgender people to use restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity or break state law.  

The legislature returns for their regularly scheduled session on April 25, which will be their first opportunity to consider repealing this harmful and controversial new law.

4. South Carolina, S. 1203: A sweeping anti-trans bill that would force transgender people to use the wrong bathrooms in schools and government buildings and block localities from protecting transgender people from discrimination in sex-segregated spaces may be heard as soon as this week.

Of note, Governor Nikki Haley relayed that her state doesn't need this bill, stating, "When I look at South Carolina, we look at our situations, we're not hearing of anybody's religious liberties that are being violated, and we're again not hearing any citizens that feel like they're being violated in terms of freedoms."

"I'm a boy – I live my life as a boy, my friends know me as a boy, my parents accept me as a boy," said Henry Seaton, a Tennessee public high school senior who is transgender. "I shouldn't have to use the teacher's bathroom because some politicians feel uncomfortable with who I am.

"This drastic bill would legalize bullying and stigmatize and humiliate transgender students like me. That's not what laws should do.  Personally, I think our elected officials should spend their time making sure that every student can be safe and feel welcome."

Visit the ACLU LGBTQ bill-tracking page.

The Gayly - 4/18/2016 @ 4:22 p.m. CDT