Across the United States, legislation intended to limit LBGTQIA rights has been increasing for at least five years, but as of April 3, 2023 has already seen more than twice as many bills of this kind introduced than in all of 2022, according to data from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Of these 417 bills, 17 are related to education, 142 are related to health care (more than two-thirds of these aim to block trans youth from getting gender-affirming care,) 39 are related to drag performances, 38 are related to civil rights and the rest are related to identification, public accommodations and other barriers.
In 2023 so far, 24 bills restricting LGBTQIA rights have passed in 11 states: Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Georgia.
LGBTQIA Pride Month was established to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
The riots were sparked when police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City, for the inn’s reputation of being a gathering place for the LGBT community. Rioting went on for six days.
