‘Transgender Bill of Rights’ Introduced in House
In response to the rash of anti-trans legislation, a group of House democrats has proposed the “Transgender Bill of Rights” in an attempt to codify federal protections for trans Americans. This proposal would codify the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which protects gay and transgender employees from experiencing discrimination.
The “Transgender Bill of Rights” would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly include protections for sex characteristics and gender identity, as well as expand access to gender-affirming care and ban conversion therapy.
Representative Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, says, “As we witness republicans and an extremist Supreme Court attack and roll back the fundamental rights of trans people across our country, and as state legislatures across the country target our trans community with hateful, bigoted, and transphobic attacks, we are standing up and saying enough is enough.”
Representative Jayapal also states that this proposal would ensure trans people are allowed to live “full, happy lives.” Including Jayapal, the bill has 89 co-sponsors.
The proposal comes after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, and Justice Clarence Thomas called for the reevaluation of other landmark decisions including federal protections for birth control, and same-gender marriage. While Bostock has not been mentioned by the court and involves a different legal precedent, many continue to be concerned that the court may continue to roll back protections for queer people.
While the bill is a nice sentiment, it feels very similar to the Equality Act, which was designed to codify protections for LGBTQ people on a federal level. However, despite being passed by the House, the Senate has yet to vote on it, and it is unclear if it will and if the bill will be passed if it is voted on.
Ultimately, given the political landscape and continuing attacks against transgender Americans, the bill feels largely symbolic.
