500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in the US last year – here’s what you need to know
With the introduction of more than 500 bills, 2023 was a record-breaking year for anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation in the US. WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER In 2021, more than 250 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills were introduced by lawmakers in the US, making it the worst year in recent history for this type of legislation.
Just two years later, this number more than doubled, with 2023 setting a new record for bills targeting the LGBTQIA+ community at more than 500.
From drag bans to restrictions on transgender people’s participation in sport, politicians pursued a number of different avenues when it came to rolling back LGBTQIA+ rights, all to varying levels of success.
Here, GAY TIMES takes a closer look at the legislation that was introduced last year and the impact it had on the community.