transgender ban
Arkansas House committee changes controversial public bathroom bill
The Arkansas House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved an amended version of a bill that initially would have criminalized entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match an adult’s gender assigned at birth if children are present. Senate Bill 270 now limits potential misdemeanor charges and prosecutions to adults present “for […]
Arkansas governor signs law allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Monday that opens the door for medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors. Senate Bill 199, now Act 274, creates civil liability for a doctor who “performs a gender transition procedure on a minor … if the minor is injured, including without […]
Proposed law restricting school bathroom use will return to Arkansas House
A proposed law that would restrict bathroom use in Arkansas public and charter schools based on students’ gender assigned at birth passed the Senate with a 29-6 party-line vote Monday. House Bill 1156 would apply to multiple-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms, as well as rooms for students on overnight trips. It also requires schools to […]
Bill allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care goes to Sanders’ desk
A proposed law that would open the door for medical malpractice lawsuits against Arkansas doctors who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors passed the House on Wednesday and will go to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk. Senate Bill 199 would create civil liability for a doctor who “performs a gender transition procedure on a minor […]
Arkansas Senate approves bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use
The Arkansas Senate approved a proposed law Tuesday that would criminalize entering and remaining in bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match a person’s gender assigned at birth if there are children present. Senate Bill 270 would add the proposed Class C misdemeanor offense to existing state law regarding sexual indecency with a child. […]
Amended bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use will return to Arkansas Senate
A proposed law that would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a minor of the opposite sex” in a public restroom or changing room passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday after being amended. Adults who enter and remain in a facility that does not align […]
Arkansas bill restricting transgender adults’ bathroom use will be amended, returned to committee
Arkansas legislators will amend a proposed law that would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a minor of the opposite sex” in a public restroom or changing room. Sen. John Payton (R-Wilburn), the sponsor of Senate Bill 270, pulled the bill from consideration on the Senate […]
Arkansas panel OKs criminalization of using bathrooms that do not match a person’s biological sex
An Arkansas bill that opponents called the most stringent legislative attempt so far to restrict the behavior of transgender individuals passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday and will be considered by the full Senate. Senate Bill 270 would make it a crime if an adult “knowingly exposes his or her sex organs to a […]
Arkansas school bathroom use bill will be amended, sent back to committee
The bill that would restrict bathroom use in Arkansas public schools based on students’ gender assigned at birth will be amended and returned to the Senate Education Committee, Senate sponsor Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) said Thursday. House Bill 1156 was expected to receive a vote from the full Senate a day after passing the Senate […]
Arkansas bill allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care passes committee
A proposed law that would open the door for medical malpractice lawsuits against Arkansas doctors who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday and will go to the full Senate for a vote. Senate Bill 199 would create civil liability for a doctor who “performs a gender transition procedure […]
Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth awaits court ruling
*This story was updated at 6:25 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, with additional details from Thursday’s testimony. Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors awaits a decision from a federal judge after the defense rested its case Thursday. The proceedings lasted eight days, four in October and four in November, as the […]
“Detransitioned” adults defend Arkansas ban on gender-affirming care for minors
Two individuals who “detransitioned,” or lived as transgender but now live as their gender assigned at birth, testified in favor of the Arkansas law banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors Wednesday in federal court. Plaintiffs’ attorney Aviv Halpern asked Laura Perry Smalts of Oklahoma City if she was assigned female at birth. “I was […]