Future Timeline

Legislation that would extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ people across Pennsylvania cleared a critical committee hurdle in the state House on Monday, 22 years after the bill was first introduced.

The bill, which now goes to the House floor for a vote, would simply add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to the list of protected classes under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure on a party-line vote of 12-9.

The proposal inspired emotional and passionate rhetoric from supporters as Republican members of the committee suggested it would infringe on the religious convictions and freedom of individuals and institutions and lead to unintended consequences.

Following the vote, the bill’s co-prime sponsors, Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, and Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, embraced its original sponsor, Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny embraced.

A Missouri judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a first-of-its-kind rule restricting access to gender-affirming health care for transgender kids and adults, just hours before it was set to take effect.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo ruled against Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's emergency rule on transgender health care, putting it on hold until at least Monday. Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield minors from what he describes as experimental medical treatments.

Transgender Missourians and health care providers sued to stop it from taking effect as scheduled Thursday. They argued that Bailey sidestepped the GOP-led Legislature and acted beyond his authority in attempting to regulate gender-affirming health care under the state's consumer-protection laws.

The rule would "essentially outlaw, on less than two weeks' notice, virtually all medically-necessary treatment for gender dysphoria in Missouri, treatment that is supported by every major medical association in the United States," attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in court filings.

Kansas lawmakers fell short of overriding Gov. Laura Kelly on a measure that would have banned gender-affirming care for transgender youths, a win for trans rights advocates as states across the country pursue similar measures.

SEATTLE (AP) — Democratic governors in Washington state and Minnesota on Thursday signed into law legal protections for people who travel to those states seeking reproductive and gender-affirming procedures and treatment.

They are the latest blue states to enact safeguards against bans or limits on transgender and abortion healthcare in Republican states.

In Seattle, Gov. Jay Inslee wore a pink tie as he signed a bill that bans other states from using Washington state courts or judicial processes to enforce their bans on abortion and gender-affirming health care. The law blocks related warrants, subpoenas, extradition requests and court orders from other states related to those out-of-state patients.

“Freedom of choice is a health care issue. We are protecting access to health care,” Inslee said.

weatheriscool wrote: ↑Fri Apr 28, 2023 5:33 pm

The American taliban sucks!