House Bill 71 has officially passed the Idaho legislature and been signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little. This bill comes near the end of a long legislative session that had many bills brought up to limit access to needed programs to already marginalized groups.
To get the perspective of someone who is impacted directly by this legislation, we talked to Gig Dodson, who requested that we refer to them by Gig.
“I think people that have a platform should use it to benefit the people that are affected by their platform,” Gig said in reference to recent legislation affecting transgender people.
All three District 6 legislators who represent Gig and fellow constituents voted to pass the gender-affirming care bill in all instances.
“It’s so obvious that (legislators) don’t care about distress, because when you pass things like this, it causes distress in trans kids,” Gig said of S1100, which requires school restrooms and changing spaces to be divided by biological sex.
Legislative attacks on transgender individuals’ rights are not just happening in Idaho. All across the country, bills regarding gender-affirming care have been popping up in state legislatures. Indiana passed a law similar to the Idaho bill that is currently being challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU is filing a lawsuit against Indiana senate bill 480 saying that it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Ken Falk of the ACLU said that “This law would be devastating to trans youth and their families.”
Bills like these are currently passed in 15 states while still being considered in 17 other states, according to The Human Rights Campaign Foundation. That is over half of the states in the U.S. which house around 50% of transgender youth in America.
Those bills are only regarding the limit of gender-affirming care to transgender youth, however. Bills regarding other forms of limitation placed on transgender youth aren’t included in those statistics. State legislatures have succeeded in limiting transgender youth’s access to resources in many other ways.
Gig believes that reinforcing heteronormative structures harms all children because it does not prepare them for the real world. “That teaches their peers to say, ‘I’m gonna listen to the cishet straight person instead of the person who’s actually (affected by) this issue.’”
One bill that many state legislatures have attempted to and succeeded in passing is one regarding transgender athletes competing in sports. According to the Movement Advancement Project, as of April 12, there are 21 states with bans such as these. Out of these states, Idaho was the first to pass legislation restricting trans athletes.
“People who are in the legislature are scared of what (marginalized people) can do. And so, they just decide to keep them in a state of fear so that they don’t express themselves and live up to their potential,” Gig said.
With all these state legislatures passing bills restricting transgender youth, it is now up to the federal government to prevent future restrictions. One of the ways the current federal government is preventing more restrictions is through a proposed change to Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federal education programs according to NPR.
“I think being hopeful is important,” Gig said. “I’ve always had the mindset that it’s a matter of time before people are going to have to accept that gay people exist.”
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Margy
So "Our View" does not say what person or group this is, at least I have no Idea. Any document or opinion that is unsigned has no value. I was just reading on the mysterious increase of Tourettes that is affecting young girls. It is a known fact that the minds of children are very susceptible to influences. Many of these influences can make them act, believe or behave in ways that will have lasting impacts on them. When you teach a child something that is not true about themselves, like they are a different gender then they are physically born, this can only have long term negative effects. Thoughts and feelings are not the truth, they are only subjective and cannot be substantiated.
Richard
If a guy thinks he is a female that does not make him a female. Evolution has made humans either male or female. Thinking you are a different sex is wishful thinking. Asking the majority to change their lives for a very small minority is biological absurdity. Compassion is much preferred over stupidity!
Alice Lawson
Love the new law!!! Go Idaho!! Stick to our morals and religious beliefs!!
Patricia Carothers
As per the " Gender Based" sports iss ud, I agree with the state imposed limitations. If these 'athletes " have a biological advantage (men becoming "women") then there should be sports events geared specifically for those gender "doctored" individuals, similar to Special Olympics for mentally disadvantaged children/youth/adults. I agree with the biologically identified for bathrooms, unless they have separate bathrooms available to them, which is a good idea for them and others. These options should be discussed and implemented. They want to be different, they are different, and this reality (such as it is) should be addressed in a practical sense and Not in the overly emotional non-rational way it is being addressed now.
Michelle
So what you're saying in this article/opinion is that you're for more federal government control over us and less freedom. You're also for offending the majority to coddle the minority. Logically, that makes zero sense.
Boots
What happens when these children don't get mental help and start committing suicide?? Evil Senate!
Darryl
Your comments in this article are sick and wrong, your not thinking about the impact are on the normal individuals, only the mentally unstable that are being taken advantage of.
Orbre schoonover
I choose God and His word and instructions to us (Bible)