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# Advocates warn against anti-trans bills in the US
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/advocates-warn-against-anti-trans-bills-in-the-us/
- Published: 2021-03-13T09:09:01.000Z
- Updated: 2021-03-12T12:03:18.000Z
- Description: ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign have warned against the high number of anti-trans bills in the US.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ, South Dakota, Trans athletes, Trans Rights, Trans Youth, Transgender, US, US politics

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/protect-trans-youth-1.jpg)

The **American Civil Liberties Union** (ACLU) and the **Human Rights Campaign** (HRC) have warned against the high number of anti-trans bills in the **US**, the majority of which aim to limit young trans people’s access to gender-affirming healthcare and school sports, saying it will have an adverse effect on the mental wellbeing of trans youth. Speaking to [*ABC News*](https://abcnews.go.com/US/catastrophic-number-state-bills-target-transgender-youth-advocates/story?id=76138305&ref=scenemag.co.uk), **Chase Strangio**, deputy director for transgender justice at the ACLU, said: *“I’ve been doing this work a long time, and frankly, never really seen anything like this, in terms of the nature of the rhetoric and the sweeping nature of the bills.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/support-trans-youth-1.jpg)

Strangio said at least 24 states have now introduced bills which aim to ban young trans athletes from participating in school sports. **Kate Oakley**, state legislative director and senior counsel for the HRC, described the bills as *“invalidating”*, and said they are *“trying to isolate them* \[trans youth\] *and prohibit them from accessing care”.* She also said bills against trans healthcare “inventing” a problem that does not exist, as puberty blockers do not make permanent changes to young people’s bodies and can be *“life-saving.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans-athletes-belong-ni-sports-1.jpg)

Despite the warnings against anti-trans bills, **South Dakota** is due to pass a bill against trans athletes, with state governor **Kristi Noem** saying she intends to sign it, [tweeting](https://twitter.com/govkristinoem/status/1369017886514311180?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1369017886514311180%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.them.us%2Fstory%2Fsouth-dakota-governor-kristi-noem-anti-trans-sports-bill-hb1217&ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“In South Dakota, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day by defending women’s sports! I’m excited to sign this bill very soon.”* Although a handful of US politicians have insisted the bills are designed to protect women, a[ recent study](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/report-finds-trans-inclusion-in-sport-doesnt-harm-cis-youth/) found trans participation in sports poses no threat to cisgender youth, suggested anti-trans rhetoric relies on *“scare tactics, stereotypes, and unwarranted claims that transgender women have a physiological advantage over cisgender women.”*