Human Rights Campaign Condemns North Dakota House for Advancing Latest “Slate of Hate” Targeting the Existence of Transgender and Non-Binary People

Bismarck, ND – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, denounced members of the North Dakota House for passing another round of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that targeting both transgender youth and adults in the state. The law passed today – HB 1522 – comes on top of other anti-transgender legislation introduced yesterday and late last week. Together, these five bills constitute a ruthless, targeted attack on transgender and non-binary North Dakotans aimed at preventing them from simply living as their authentic selves, without any reason other than discrimination. Among the bills in this latest series now before the Senate are:

• HB 1522, passed today, prohibits transgender students from using a school toilet that conforms to their gender identity and prohibits schools from requiring students to use pronouns respectfully.

• HB 1473, passed yesterday, prohibits transgender people from using toilets and showers in domestic violence shelters, correctional facilities and college dormitories consistent with their gender identity.

• HB 1474, passed Friday, requires that individuals, regardless of a person’s gender identity, be identified by their assigned sex at birth in all forms of government data collection.

• HB 1254, passed Friday, bans physicians from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth, while allowing cisgender youth who need similar treatment for other issues to continue receiving that care.

• HB 1297, passed Friday, prevents a transgender person from changing the gender marker on their birth certificate.

The North Dakota House also passed two bills on Feb. 15 that, once signed, will ban transgender students from participating in school sports that conform to their gender identity, and will apply to all K-12 levels and higher education institutions.

The above legislation is the result of ongoing far-right pressure on lawmakers, led by political extremists and disinformation campaigns on social media and other platforms. These are just a few of hundreds of bills being pushed by national anti-LGBTQ+ organizations in dozens of states.

In response, HRC’s Legislative Director and Senior Counsel, Cathryn Oakley, released the following statement: