LGBTQ Equality Maps Updates: March 2024
In this rapidly changing landscape, MAP’s LGBTQ Equality Maps provide a detailed snapshot of the current state of LGBTQ laws and policies in the United States. See below for state level and local level policy updates as of March 7, 2024.
▸▸ State Policy Updates
Bans on medical care for transgender youth
See our Equality Map here and our supporting citations with additional information here, including a chronology and details on effective dates, exceptions, lawsuits, and more.
There are now 23 states with a ban or restriction on medically necessary, prescribed health care for transgender youth. Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) transgender youth live in states with these bans. However, lawsuits have been filed against the bans in 16 of these states, with another lawsuit soon to be filed in Ohio.
- February 29: In Indiana, the state’s full ban on transgender youth’s medical care went into effect. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier temporary block that kept parts of the ban — specifically the ban on prescribed medication and “aiding and abetting” transgender youth in receiving medically necessary care — from being enforced.
Bans on gender marker changes on birth certificates
See our Equality Map here and our supporting citations with additional information here.
- February 20: In Montana, the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is again banning gender marker changes on birth certificates.
— A lawsuit over a similar policy was first filed in 2021 and ended in mid-2023 with a court ruling the policy unconstitutional and barring the state from enforcing it. Read more detail in our supporting fact sheet.
— However, the state DPHHS has now reinstituted the policy effective immediately, arguing they are required to do so because of a new state law enacted in 2023 that defined “sex” throughout state law, enabling such discrimination against transgender people.
Religious exemptions for public officials solemnizing marriages
See our Equality Map here and our supporting citations and with additional information here.
- February 21: In Tennessee, the state enacted a religious exemption law that allows public officials (among other people) to refuse to solemnize a marriage they disapprove of, which could include LGBTQ people, interracial or interfaith couples, and more. Tennessee is the third state with such a law, and the first to enact such a law since 2016.
▸▸ MAP’s LGBTQ Equality Bill Tracker
To continue highlighting trends across the country, included below are MAP’s current bill tracking counts for anti-LGBTQ bills in state legislatures.
Note: these counts may differ from other organizations or public counts for a variety of reasons, and this work is greatly facilitated by the work of other organizations including the ACLU and the Equality Federation and their member state groups.
This year is on track to again break records the number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislature. As of March 6, 2024, the count of anti-LGBTQ bills so far in 2024 is:
- At least 450 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across at least 36 states.
- At least 38 bills redefining “sex” to enable discrimination against transgender people have been introduced across at least 20 states.
▸▸ Local Level Policy Updates
- Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, enacted a new, comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance. It covers both sexual orientation and gender identity, and it applies across employment, housing, and public accommodations.
— It is the fourth county and 75th municipality total across the state to enact a comprehensive ordinance. These local ordinances now cover 37% of Pennsylvania’s population.
▸▸ MAP News
Naomi Goldberg became MAP’s Executive Director on March 1, 2024. Naomi is MAP’s former LGBTQ Program Director and Deputy Director, and she stepped into the role following the 18-year tenure of Ineke Mushovic as executive director and co-founder.
Read more about Naomi’s vision for this year and beyond in her letter to MAP’s supporters.
