Idaho governor signs two anti-trans laws just hours before Trans Day of Visibility

The governor of Idaho, Brad Little, signed two anti-transgender bills into law on Monday, just hours before the annual celebration of Trans Day of Visibility.

The first bill (HB500) limits the ability of trans people to participate in school sports and the other (HB509) will make it harder to change birth certificates.

Governor Little’s office did not publicly comment on the laws but LGBTQ+ rights groups immediately condemned them.

The Idaho branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took to Twitter to slam the governor’s decision:

The backlash on social media was swift and people had a lot of thoughts:

Addressing the timing of the new laws, ACLU questioned the governor’s priorities during a global health crisis of the coronavirus (also known as Covid-19) pandemic.

Similarly, GLAAD’s associate director of transgender representation, Alex Schmider said:

Tonight, on the eve of Transgender Day of Visibility and while the United States is overwhelmed with a massive public health crisis, Idaho Governor Brad Little passed legislation targeting some of the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community – transgender children.

Although medical experts, sport governing bodies, and Idaho’s major employers have spoken out against these two bills, Governor Little has instead sided with discrimination. Now, more than ever, transgender people need to be supported, not subjected to state-sponsored discrimination and suffering.

Wondering how you can help?

The ACLU urges trans people and their allies to contact Governor Little’s office or tweet him to express their disappointment at his signing of the new laws:

The ACLU said they’ll see Governor Little “in court” when they fight the decision.