Thank you for the update, and specifically how adults are now being targeted. Even though I reside in a solidly blue state (MD) it's still been distressing to see the slow shift of the map to more and more red. Unfortunately I'm guessing the map will only get more red and potentially more "do not travel" before it gets better.
As someone who watched the progress of gay rights through the 90s and early 00s, with improved representation, greater societal support, and eventually marriage equality, I'm still hopeful that trans rights will follow a similar track and rights enshrined in law to combat the bigotry of red states. It will take time but a lot of courts have leaned into protecting trans rights including the Supreme Court. Whether that continues or not is to be seen.
Don't stand by, if you have the ability to vote, go vote for people that will protect our rights. At a minimum go vote for people that will at least not progress hatred and oppression. Your vote does matter. Some elections are literally won by a single vote and local politics will have major impacts going forward.
Not voting is NOT an option for us, or anyone that wants to support trans rights. Also third party presidential votes do not help (unless it's a republican voting 3rd party against Trump). They just split our voting power and give strength to Republicans.
Hillary (whether you like her or not) lost because enough Democrats voted (or didn't vote) for a third party that had zero chance of winning. Her loss put us in the position of an extremely conservative Supreme Court for effectively the next 50+ years (unless the court is expanded by Democrats).
If you are looking for a place to move that is protective of trans rights. I can easily recommend MD, I've been here over 20 years. In metro areas I've never had a bad experience in public. It's not the cheapest place to live but it is a relatively safe place.
Thank you for your work on updating us on state laws. We currently live in VA and want to make sure we retire to a state that will be safe for our adult children to visit.
Very helpful maps as always. Basically what the last year or two of maps seem to show is an ever-deepening polarization of the US on the issue, with red states getting generally worse, and blue states mostly maintaining their protections and in a few cases, even improving (MN, MD). The biggest unknown right now is what happens to all the protections and safe-refuge laws of the blue states if the GOP takes control of the Presidency and Congress in the next election? A rash of federal anti-trans legislation would be a near 100% certainty in that situation, and would that just steamroller the blue-state protections, or could some be maintained? That is the biggest question that no one is answering right now - perhaps because no one knows the answer.
Rethugs couldn't really do much at the federal level.
1. They wouldn't get anything past the Senate filibuster.
2. Even if they did pass something like a federal gender-affirming care ban, blue states would tell them to get lost, just like many have regarding legal weed. They don't have the manpower to enforce anything like that, and physicians are licensed by state boards, not by the federal government. The problem is (as far as transphobes are concerned) that, unlike narcotics, hormones are also prescribed to cis people, so the feds would have to have some way of knowing whether the person receiving the prescriptions was trans or not.
3. Worst case scenario, the feds attempt to subpoena records from state governments or medical institutions. By the sheerest of coincidences, according to the records, everyone's AGAB just so happens to be concordant with the type of hormones they are receiving.
Unfortunately, the commerce clause with a very conservative Supreme Court gives republicans a lot of power to pass federal bans on trans care or medicine in a spending bill (which can't be filibustered), or even under the FDA (which requires only the executive branch).
And it's very likely that the senate filibuster, at least in its current form, goes away under a republican trifecta. Mitch McConnell has indicated he's entirely ok with changing senate rules to whatever benefits republicans.
Well, I know that there are municipalities in red states that are declaring themselves to be sanctuary cities for trans people (I believe Kansas City, MO is an example). And state's rights are a pretty big deal in federal legislation. I can't think of a legal way for the federal government to find out who we are in order to prevent us from receiving health care.
They wouldn’t have to. In fact, they wouldn’t even need to legislatively ban GAC (adult or minors) outright. They could just make it effectively unobtainable through executive maneuvers with the FDA, or increasing the liability provisions such that doctors could no longer afford to provide this care. In that case, again it would come down to a conflict between federal and states, since several states have laws preventing GAC from being discriminated against by malpractice insurance.
Erin, thanks for your hard work. It means the world to my now-adult kids and to many people whom we love.
I was wondering if there was a map that you are aware of that shows overlap with trans issues and women's health laws together (maybe a collaboration with Jessica Valenti at Abortion, Every Day?). For that matter, what about book banning, which is another red flag? I suspect it would be pretty similar across all three and I'd love to be able to share something like that around. I just keep thinking to myself about the amount of privilege or ignorance it takes to go somewhere like Florida or Texas for a vacation and the things these states are doing to people. I'm fortunate to live in solid Blue WA and I'm doing what I can to help. I just don't think I could cross the state line into some of these states without feeling a little ill, yet a friend of mine with a trans daughter (whom she supports) just took off for Florida for some R&R.
Just thinking out loud here (because my cat isn't around to talk to!) but it would be interesting to see how some of these awful laws are impacting tourism in those places and if anyone else is even thinking about this the same way I am.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to move our family (which includes our transgender daughter) from Louisiana to Maryland last year and have vowed not to visit any state or country with anti-tran legislation. I wish others thought and felt the way you do. Thank you.
That's a lot to ask someone who is doing as much as Erin is. Plus, if that is asked, someone like me could come along and ask for a map that overlaps with Black issues. They're banning books about Black history too. These things all overlap a great deal, depending on how much a person intersects. It all got crazy when Roe vs. Wade was overturned. I'd think that information would be out there somewhere? Perhaps surrounding the 14th Amendment that States are legally taking apart. Just hoping for ya, because I don't think Erin has time to follow overlapping issues in the U.S.
You are talking about maps showing overlaps. Well, I lived most of my life thinking I was a woman, so I understand those things. I also spent all of my life as a Black person. I don't understand how you couldn't get there. Actually, I do understand why; you're a white woman who only thinks about other white women. I bet Black women would want something similar because they are hit hardest by abortion laws. Even collaborating with others is a "time" issue. There's only 24 hours in a day.
When the U.S. catches cold, Black people catch pneumonia. Ever hear that before? We intersect all of these issues combined.
Erin did say all of what she's been doing. If she gives you your map, she will then get tasked with lots of other things she may have 0 time for. What's difficult to comprehend about that???
1. My mom is Black. Was Black. She passed last month.
2. I am very familiar with the issues you raise. I think you completely missed all of the key parts of my pondering (including the part where I never asked her to *make* anything, just if she knew of one) and jumped to the stuff that you wanted to talk about.
I'm not going to continue this discussion. If anyone has seen anything like what I asked about, I would appreciate being pointed towards it. Thanks.
As someone who has worked in data science, mapping, and advocacy, I think the map overlaps you mentioned would be great and strategic. Attacks on trans people help republicans build power and they seem to go after cis women's rights then, yet few organizations focusing on cis women's rights seem to think fighting attacks on trans people might prevent attacks on cis women's rights. A map of overlays might help convince them!
I do not know of any such maps or dashboards (and do NOT consider juxtaposing different maps to be sufficient: I'm thinking an interactive dashboard would be more appropriate). If I come across something, I'll see if I can share it though!
Yes, exactly! That could be an incredible policy tool. It might be a project for some of the advocacy groups to collaborate on. More powerful together, right?
I was being sarcastic. Hahahahaha. Geesh, lighten up. I didn't say she needed to make a map of what I including in what you said. Yes, I saw a huge request. Any and everything is on the internet, and I put another comment in here pointing right to your map. Your mom being Black may have nothing to do with you. I've had white girlfriends. Does that mean they understood what it was to be Black? Anyway, I was posing something interesting that you might've not thought about when making requests of Erin's time.
Unfortunately the only reason Texas isn't dark red on the adult map is because the legislature doesn't meet this year. They only convene every two years, and then for only six months. That does put a bit of a cap on their ability to make mischief, because they don't have much time to get the actually necessary bills passed. The state's founding fathers did that on purpose.
Thank you for documenting the march to trans genocide by Republican elected officials. Of course we are all fighting against this. It is uncanny how hatred for us is so easily digested.
In the third paragraph, there's a sentence saying that bills against trans adults was common when the map was first developed. I think you meant to put *un*common? Or that most bills targeted trans youth? I'm on mobile or else I'd copy-paste.
Good work though, and thank you for keeping this map up to date! We used it when we were leaving Florida to choose our new home. Illinois has treated us well. 👍
Really appreciate this resource. I’m a trans man with 17 years’ experience working in flight test engineering for DoD contractors. I’ve been on the job market three times since transitioning legally and medically, and take great pleasure in refusing job offers in TX, FL and OH. (“Looks like a great job, solidly within my skill set. However, I’m transgender, so Texas is a hard no for me. I wish you the best of luck finding a qualified candidate!”) I’m lucky and privileged, and grateful to have the tools to show potential employers why it’s in their interest to fight anti-trans legislation. Also happy to pass this map on to queer friends who are job hunting.
I just wish my friends would take a look at this list before retiring to FL and chattering about the nice, tolerant little artist colony they found. Again, a hard no.
Not sure where to look other than your initial post on twitter but have you decided how to classify WA with the I-2081 passage this week? It still seems like a big gamble by Dems but I have not seen much coverage.
Thank you.
"Danni Askini, executive director of Gender Justice League, said concerned members of the community may think that passing the initiative instead of launching a ballot measure campaign against it meant Democrats were throwing queer people under the bus, but that hasn’t been her experience. The LGBTQ caucus has actively sought input from the start, she said. She strongly suspects the courts will get involved."
My family is in TN, and I’ve been following these bills and trying to fight them at the legislature. It’s amazing how many Rs have been sympathetic to the plight of parents of trans kids behind closed doors - they genuinely just don’t know what our experience is and I think are pleasantly surprised to find that we’re normal loving families. Despite their kindness and open hearts during personal meetings, I know this won’t translate to votes in our favor. They are bullied by the caucus into voting as a block. It sucks.
I feel like at this point I know which states are dangerous & why. But my bigger issue is knowing when the dark red warrants fleeing. Obviously it’s a personal choice. We’re wrestling with it right now and I think I just wish I had a clear sign that it was time to go. My kiddo isn’t at puberty yet so the medication ban isnt impacting us just yet. And I don’t want to uproot my whole family without knowing for sure we *need* to. But I don’t want to stay too long here and cause my kid to suffer. Moving from our community feels like suffering too. It’s just a lose-lose.
Anyways, thank you for all your work on this Erin. So grateful as always. ❤️
Hi Erin, I'm a subscriber and very grateful for your work. I often write about trans issues on Medium. May I have permission to use the maps you've published here? I'm doing a story on safety issues.
Thank you for these maps... as painful as they are to look at. I used to live in Florida- I went to college there (Gulf coast, Tampa Bay area). I met most of my friends there. It was a place I used to think of as home, and many of my happiest memories are there. Seeing that angry red hash on Florida's corner of the map is heartbreaking- not just to know that I'm not welcome there anymore, but for the people I still know who are still there... and because I don't know if all of them have found a way out yet (and that they should never have been faced with needing to). I've never felt like I belonged, not completely, not anywhere I've ever been, but... until a few years ago, I couldn't picture this country going the full Fourth Reich, either, and that's what the red on these maps represents to me, now. I wonder if anywhere will ever really be safe, within our lifetimes.
Thank you for the update, and specifically how adults are now being targeted. Even though I reside in a solidly blue state (MD) it's still been distressing to see the slow shift of the map to more and more red. Unfortunately I'm guessing the map will only get more red and potentially more "do not travel" before it gets better.
As someone who watched the progress of gay rights through the 90s and early 00s, with improved representation, greater societal support, and eventually marriage equality, I'm still hopeful that trans rights will follow a similar track and rights enshrined in law to combat the bigotry of red states. It will take time but a lot of courts have leaned into protecting trans rights including the Supreme Court. Whether that continues or not is to be seen.
Don't stand by, if you have the ability to vote, go vote for people that will protect our rights. At a minimum go vote for people that will at least not progress hatred and oppression. Your vote does matter. Some elections are literally won by a single vote and local politics will have major impacts going forward.
Not voting is NOT an option for us, or anyone that wants to support trans rights. Also third party presidential votes do not help (unless it's a republican voting 3rd party against Trump). They just split our voting power and give strength to Republicans.
Hillary (whether you like her or not) lost because enough Democrats voted (or didn't vote) for a third party that had zero chance of winning. Her loss put us in the position of an extremely conservative Supreme Court for effectively the next 50+ years (unless the court is expanded by Democrats).
If you are looking for a place to move that is protective of trans rights. I can easily recommend MD, I've been here over 20 years. In metro areas I've never had a bad experience in public. It's not the cheapest place to live but it is a relatively safe place.
Thank you for your work on updating us on state laws. We currently live in VA and want to make sure we retire to a state that will be safe for our adult children to visit.
Political persecution of a tiny sliver of Americans.
Just think about what that amount of effort could do to help the poor, the homeless, the hungry...smh😪
Very helpful maps as always. Basically what the last year or two of maps seem to show is an ever-deepening polarization of the US on the issue, with red states getting generally worse, and blue states mostly maintaining their protections and in a few cases, even improving (MN, MD). The biggest unknown right now is what happens to all the protections and safe-refuge laws of the blue states if the GOP takes control of the Presidency and Congress in the next election? A rash of federal anti-trans legislation would be a near 100% certainty in that situation, and would that just steamroller the blue-state protections, or could some be maintained? That is the biggest question that no one is answering right now - perhaps because no one knows the answer.
Rethugs couldn't really do much at the federal level.
1. They wouldn't get anything past the Senate filibuster.
2. Even if they did pass something like a federal gender-affirming care ban, blue states would tell them to get lost, just like many have regarding legal weed. They don't have the manpower to enforce anything like that, and physicians are licensed by state boards, not by the federal government. The problem is (as far as transphobes are concerned) that, unlike narcotics, hormones are also prescribed to cis people, so the feds would have to have some way of knowing whether the person receiving the prescriptions was trans or not.
3. Worst case scenario, the feds attempt to subpoena records from state governments or medical institutions. By the sheerest of coincidences, according to the records, everyone's AGAB just so happens to be concordant with the type of hormones they are receiving.
Unfortunately, the commerce clause with a very conservative Supreme Court gives republicans a lot of power to pass federal bans on trans care or medicine in a spending bill (which can't be filibustered), or even under the FDA (which requires only the executive branch).
And it's very likely that the senate filibuster, at least in its current form, goes away under a republican trifecta. Mitch McConnell has indicated he's entirely ok with changing senate rules to whatever benefits republicans.
Maybe, but again how do they enforce it?
Well, I know that there are municipalities in red states that are declaring themselves to be sanctuary cities for trans people (I believe Kansas City, MO is an example). And state's rights are a pretty big deal in federal legislation. I can't think of a legal way for the federal government to find out who we are in order to prevent us from receiving health care.
They wouldn’t have to. In fact, they wouldn’t even need to legislatively ban GAC (adult or minors) outright. They could just make it effectively unobtainable through executive maneuvers with the FDA, or increasing the liability provisions such that doctors could no longer afford to provide this care. In that case, again it would come down to a conflict between federal and states, since several states have laws preventing GAC from being discriminated against by malpractice insurance.
Yes, but the feds would still have to be able to find out who is trans.
Erin, thanks for your hard work. It means the world to my now-adult kids and to many people whom we love.
I was wondering if there was a map that you are aware of that shows overlap with trans issues and women's health laws together (maybe a collaboration with Jessica Valenti at Abortion, Every Day?). For that matter, what about book banning, which is another red flag? I suspect it would be pretty similar across all three and I'd love to be able to share something like that around. I just keep thinking to myself about the amount of privilege or ignorance it takes to go somewhere like Florida or Texas for a vacation and the things these states are doing to people. I'm fortunate to live in solid Blue WA and I'm doing what I can to help. I just don't think I could cross the state line into some of these states without feeling a little ill, yet a friend of mine with a trans daughter (whom she supports) just took off for Florida for some R&R.
Just thinking out loud here (because my cat isn't around to talk to!) but it would be interesting to see how some of these awful laws are impacting tourism in those places and if anyone else is even thinking about this the same way I am.
My husband and I were fortunate enough to move our family (which includes our transgender daughter) from Louisiana to Maryland last year and have vowed not to visit any state or country with anti-tran legislation. I wish others thought and felt the way you do. Thank you.
That's a lot to ask someone who is doing as much as Erin is. Plus, if that is asked, someone like me could come along and ask for a map that overlaps with Black issues. They're banning books about Black history too. These things all overlap a great deal, depending on how much a person intersects. It all got crazy when Roe vs. Wade was overturned. I'd think that information would be out there somewhere? Perhaps surrounding the 14th Amendment that States are legally taking apart. Just hoping for ya, because I don't think Erin has time to follow overlapping issues in the U.S.
I have no idea how you got there from reading what I wrote.
Besides, this was so easy, you can do it yourself. I merely did a search on 'map of anti-abortion laws by state' and POOF!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html
You are talking about maps showing overlaps. Well, I lived most of my life thinking I was a woman, so I understand those things. I also spent all of my life as a Black person. I don't understand how you couldn't get there. Actually, I do understand why; you're a white woman who only thinks about other white women. I bet Black women would want something similar because they are hit hardest by abortion laws. Even collaborating with others is a "time" issue. There's only 24 hours in a day.
When the U.S. catches cold, Black people catch pneumonia. Ever hear that before? We intersect all of these issues combined.
Erin did say all of what she's been doing. If she gives you your map, she will then get tasked with lots of other things she may have 0 time for. What's difficult to comprehend about that???
1. My mom is Black. Was Black. She passed last month.
2. I am very familiar with the issues you raise. I think you completely missed all of the key parts of my pondering (including the part where I never asked her to *make* anything, just if she knew of one) and jumped to the stuff that you wanted to talk about.
I'm not going to continue this discussion. If anyone has seen anything like what I asked about, I would appreciate being pointed towards it. Thanks.
As someone who has worked in data science, mapping, and advocacy, I think the map overlaps you mentioned would be great and strategic. Attacks on trans people help republicans build power and they seem to go after cis women's rights then, yet few organizations focusing on cis women's rights seem to think fighting attacks on trans people might prevent attacks on cis women's rights. A map of overlays might help convince them!
I do not know of any such maps or dashboards (and do NOT consider juxtaposing different maps to be sufficient: I'm thinking an interactive dashboard would be more appropriate). If I come across something, I'll see if I can share it though!
Yes, exactly! That could be an incredible policy tool. It might be a project for some of the advocacy groups to collaborate on. More powerful together, right?
I was being sarcastic. Hahahahaha. Geesh, lighten up. I didn't say she needed to make a map of what I including in what you said. Yes, I saw a huge request. Any and everything is on the internet, and I put another comment in here pointing right to your map. Your mom being Black may have nothing to do with you. I've had white girlfriends. Does that mean they understood what it was to be Black? Anyway, I was posing something interesting that you might've not thought about when making requests of Erin's time.
Unfortunately the only reason Texas isn't dark red on the adult map is because the legislature doesn't meet this year. They only convene every two years, and then for only six months. That does put a bit of a cap on their ability to make mischief, because they don't have much time to get the actually necessary bills passed. The state's founding fathers did that on purpose.
Thank you for documenting the march to trans genocide by Republican elected officials. Of course we are all fighting against this. It is uncanny how hatred for us is so easily digested.
In the third paragraph, there's a sentence saying that bills against trans adults was common when the map was first developed. I think you meant to put *un*common? Or that most bills targeted trans youth? I'm on mobile or else I'd copy-paste.
Good work though, and thank you for keeping this map up to date! We used it when we were leaving Florida to choose our new home. Illinois has treated us well. 👍
Good catch!
Really appreciate this resource. I’m a trans man with 17 years’ experience working in flight test engineering for DoD contractors. I’ve been on the job market three times since transitioning legally and medically, and take great pleasure in refusing job offers in TX, FL and OH. (“Looks like a great job, solidly within my skill set. However, I’m transgender, so Texas is a hard no for me. I wish you the best of luck finding a qualified candidate!”) I’m lucky and privileged, and grateful to have the tools to show potential employers why it’s in their interest to fight anti-trans legislation. Also happy to pass this map on to queer friends who are job hunting.
I just wish my friends would take a look at this list before retiring to FL and chattering about the nice, tolerant little artist colony they found. Again, a hard no.
These maps are an effective tool in sharing with folks our fight! Super work!
Not sure where to look other than your initial post on twitter but have you decided how to classify WA with the I-2081 passage this week? It still seems like a big gamble by Dems but I have not seen much coverage.
Thank you.
"Danni Askini, executive director of Gender Justice League, said concerned members of the community may think that passing the initiative instead of launching a ballot measure campaign against it meant Democrats were throwing queer people under the bus, but that hasn’t been her experience. The LGBTQ caucus has actively sought input from the start, she said. She strongly suspects the courts will get involved."
https://www.thestranger.com/queer/2024/03/06/79415002/lgbtq-advocates-are-ready-to-fight-the-parents-bill-of-rights
My family is in TN, and I’ve been following these bills and trying to fight them at the legislature. It’s amazing how many Rs have been sympathetic to the plight of parents of trans kids behind closed doors - they genuinely just don’t know what our experience is and I think are pleasantly surprised to find that we’re normal loving families. Despite their kindness and open hearts during personal meetings, I know this won’t translate to votes in our favor. They are bullied by the caucus into voting as a block. It sucks.
I feel like at this point I know which states are dangerous & why. But my bigger issue is knowing when the dark red warrants fleeing. Obviously it’s a personal choice. We’re wrestling with it right now and I think I just wish I had a clear sign that it was time to go. My kiddo isn’t at puberty yet so the medication ban isnt impacting us just yet. And I don’t want to uproot my whole family without knowing for sure we *need* to. But I don’t want to stay too long here and cause my kid to suffer. Moving from our community feels like suffering too. It’s just a lose-lose.
Anyways, thank you for all your work on this Erin. So grateful as always. ❤️
Thanks for the update. And when we psychologically buckle under facts, take a break and read compassionate fiction.
https://open.substack.com/pub/storiesbyjanus/p/is-this-the-way-it-always-has-been?r=28rbmj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hi Erin, I'm a subscriber and very grateful for your work. I often write about trans issues on Medium. May I have permission to use the maps you've published here? I'm doing a story on safety issues.
Thank you for these maps... as painful as they are to look at. I used to live in Florida- I went to college there (Gulf coast, Tampa Bay area). I met most of my friends there. It was a place I used to think of as home, and many of my happiest memories are there. Seeing that angry red hash on Florida's corner of the map is heartbreaking- not just to know that I'm not welcome there anymore, but for the people I still know who are still there... and because I don't know if all of them have found a way out yet (and that they should never have been faced with needing to). I've never felt like I belonged, not completely, not anywhere I've ever been, but... until a few years ago, I couldn't picture this country going the full Fourth Reich, either, and that's what the red on these maps represents to me, now. I wonder if anywhere will ever really be safe, within our lifetimes.