Trend – LGBTQ Attacks

Proposed law restricting school bathroom use will return to Arkansas House

BY: - March 13, 2023

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 […]

Arkansas panel approves proposed ban on school employees using transgender individuals’ pronouns

BY: - March 9, 2023

A proposed law that would require school employees in Arkansas to address students and other employees by their given names and pronouns passed the House Education Committee on Thursday and will be heard by the full House. House Bill 1468 is meant to shield teachers and other school employees at all levels of public education […]

Bill allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care goes to Sanders’ desk

BY: - March 8, 2023

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

BY: - March 7, 2023

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

BY: - March 6, 2023

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

BY: - March 1, 2023

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

BY: - February 27, 2023

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 […]

Rally-goers express their opposition to Senate Bill 43 during an event that was held on the steps of State Capitol in Little Rock on Jan. 19, 2023. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

Bill that initially targeted drag shows becomes Arkansas law

BY: - February 27, 2023

A bill that originally would have restricted where drag performances can be held in Arkansas but now does not mention the word “drag” at all became law Friday. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed 15 bills on Friday, including Senate Bill 43, which was heavily amended earlier this month in order to survive potential legal challenges. […]

Activists rally on the Arkansas Capitol steps on Feb. 23, 2023, to protest several bills moving through the Legislature that they say infringe on civil rights, including affirmative action, access to public education, health care for transgender youth, citizen-led ballot initiatives and several others. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Protesters gather at Arkansas Capitol to oppose wide range of legislation targeting civil rights

BY: - February 23, 2023

A crowd of about 75 people gathered Thursday afternoon on the Arkansas Capitol steps so legislators would know that the people they represent “are not sitting quietly” in the face of attacks on their rights, said Kymara Seals, a co-organizer of the protest. “We are at our house, the people’s house,” Seals said to a […]

Arkansas Senate approves bill to hold libraries accountable for ‘obscene’ material

BY: - February 22, 2023

A bill that would open the door to criminal liability for the distribution of “obscene” content by school and public libraries passed the Arkansas Senate on a party-line vote Wednesday and will next be considered by the House. All six Senate Democrats voted against Senate Bill 81, and 27 Republicans voted for it while two […]

Arkansas Senate approves bill allowing malpractice suits for transgender minors’ health care

BY: - February 21, 2023

A proposed law that would allow medical malpractice lawsuits against Arkansas doctors who provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors passed the Senate on Tuesday with a party-line vote and will go to the House for consideration. Senate Bill 199 would create civil liability for a doctor who “performs a gender transition procedure on a minor […]

Arkansas school bathroom use bill will be amended, sent back to committee

BY: - February 16, 2023

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 […]