In 2024, 343 anti-trans bills were introduced across the United States, and 255 bills carried over from 2023. Though over 200 bills have been rejected so far, 42 have been passed and signed into law, and an appeal on one of the 2023 bills is pending a U.S. Supreme Court decision later this year.

Many of these bills aim to ban or restrict gender-affirming care, particularly for minors. This includes banning access to puberty blockers—which have been used to hold off puberty in cisgender children for decades—and other restrictions. Some recent bills also aim to ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors, despite evidence that people under 18 rarely undergo these types of procedures (only when it is deemed medically necessary).

If enacted, some of these new laws will force trans individuals to stop their medical treatment or incorrectly align their gender with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Anti-trans bills are more than just socially harmful; they negate the rights of trans individuals to their bodily autonomy and well-being and put their health in danger. Research has shown that without gender-affirming care, trans people face increased risks of depression and suicide. 

The following summary is a regional breakdown of some anti-trans health care bills that have passed in 2024 legislative sessions.

Western and Pacific U.S.

Idaho has passed several bills this year targeting trans people, including one that bans the use of public funds for gender-affirming care. This also applies to state employees using employer-issued health insurance and adults covered by Medicaid.

A Wyoming bill prevents minors from receiving gender-affirming care and penalizes doctors who provide gender-affirming care to people under 18.

Midwest

Following Missouri’s lead, Ohio passed a so-called SAFE act to ban gender-affirming care for minors. The acronym stands for Save Adolescents from Experimentation, a title that misleads the public into believing that transgender children are in danger of being used for or undergoing experimentation. 

Northeast

New Hampshire’s legislature has passed multiple anti-trans bills this year. HB619, which is pending the governor’s signature, aims to prohibit gender-affirming genital surgeries for people under 18—even though there is no evidence of such surgeries being performed on minors in the state—and ban the use of public funds for gender-affirming surgeries.

South

The South has the most active anti-trans health care legislation in the country. Most Southern states have passed legislation to prevent trans minors from accessing gender-affirming care. 

However, the surge in anti-trans health care bills is fairly new. Only Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas had banned some form of gender-affirming care prior to 2023.

This year, South Carolina passed a bill that prohibits gender-affirming genital surgeries for people under 18 and bans the use of public funds for gender-affirming surgeries.

Tennessee has passed multiple bills to restrict access to gender-affirming care. HB2310 allows parents to sue any adult who helps a minor obtain gender-affirming care out of state without parental consent. And HB2619 prohibits the use of state funds to provide gender-affirming care for people who are incarcerated.

What this means for the future of transgender health

So far, the 2024 legislative season has continued to threaten the health and well-being of trans individuals. Anti-trans health care legislation has not only challenged the global increase in social acceptance of trans people since 1980, but it also goes against the opinion of medical professionals who agree that gender-affirming care is lifesaving. 

Whether it’s meant to galvanize conservative voters or is part of a larger effort to further conservative ideals, anti-trans legislation hurts individuals and isolates a growing community. 

To keep track of all current anti-trans legislation, visit TransLegislation.com. For specific information regarding gender-affirming care legislation, visit the Human Rights Campaign’s map resource.

Resources

If you or anyone you know is affected by anti-trans health care legislation, help may be available. Check out the following resources:

If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For international resources, here is a good place to begin.