It should come as no surprise that the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is anti-LGBTQ+, given the escalation of such sentiments across the nation.
During the 2023 legislative session, more than 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across 43 state houses; more than 200 of these targeted transgender and non-binary people, particularly youth.
As of August 2023, more than 80 bills had passed, making it the worst year on record for LGBTQ+ rights. What happens when these discriminatory policies force LGBTQ+ people to move to more supportive enclaves, which also have some of the most expensive housing in the country and highest per capita rates of homelessness?
This question is particularly salient for LGBTQ+ adolescents and young adults who often lack social, familial, and financial support.