Tennessee moves to the forefront with anti-transgender laws [View all]
Source: Associated Press
Tennessee moves to the forefront with anti-transgender laws
By JONATHAN MATTISE, KIMBERLEE KRUESI and LINDSAY WHITEHURST
May 23, 2021
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Conservative lawmakers nationwide introduced a flurry of anti-LGBTQ bills this year, but no states political leaders have gone further than Tennessee in enacting new laws targeting transgender people.
Lawmakers passed and Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed five new bills into law, consistently dismissing concerns that they discriminate against an already vulnerable population, that some of the laws are unworkable and that they could damage the states reputation.
Supporters defend the laws policy by policy, arguing that one protects parental rights, others protect girls and women and one even improves equality. Opponents reject those claims.
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Tennessee this year banned transgender athletes from playing girls public high school or middle school sports. The state is poised to become the first to require government buildings and businesses that are open to the public to post signs if they let trans people use multi-person bathrooms and other facilities associated with their gender identity.
Public schools, meanwhile, will soon risk losing lawsuits if they let transgender students or employees use multi-person bathrooms or locker rooms that do not reflect their sex at birth. Lee also signed legislation to require school districts to alert parents 30 days before students are taught about sexual orientation or gender identity, letting them opt out of the lesson.
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Read more:
https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-transgender-laws-b8d81d56287d6ed9d56c5da2203596b0