The Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in its 40-year history, declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community as anti-LTBTQ+ sentiment is on the rise. Cheddar News explains.

<div class="block">The Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in its 40-year history, declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community as anti-LTBTQ+ sentiment is on the rise. Cheddar News explains.</div>

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Human Rights Campaign Declares State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Community

And the human rights campaign is declaring a state of emergency for the LGBT Q plus community. Senior reporter Chloe Yellow has been tracking this story. Chloe, what is going on here? It means that conditions in the US are dangerous for the LGBT Q community for the first time in its 40 year history. The human rights campaign, which is America's largest LGBT Q civil rights organization is sounding the alarm on safety conditions for the community. Hence the emergency declaration human rights campaign, President Kelly Robinson said in a statement, quote, LGBT Q plus Americans are living in a state of emergency. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived, they are real tangible and dangerous. Adding that quote as we kick off LGBT Q Pride Month human rights campaign will be working tirelessly to educate and arm the LGBT Q plus community with information and resources to ensure their safety. Now, the organization also released a digital guidebook that includes health and safety resources and a summary of state by state laws for individuals living in or traveling to states that are hostile to gay individuals. It's for individuals and families to arm themselves with knowledge. Perhaps if you're considering a move, it lists resources to finance a move and find employment in a safer state. Now, if you're unable or unwilling to move to a more LGBT Q friendly state, it offers tips for ways you can fight back how, for example, to find or build a community to navigate a school board which can drive equity and inclusion policies or to file complaints with federal civil rights offices. The equal opportunity Employment Commission is specifically for work related violations. The Department of Human Health Health and Human Services is for health care related violations. And of course, the Department of Education is for schooling now. Anti LGBT Q sentiment has surged over the past several years. According to the human rights campaign, the 2023 state legislative session has been the worst on record with more than 525. Anti LGBT Q bills filed 220 of which targeted trans people and 77 that actually passed and that's just as of June 8th. Now. Unfortunately, this is not a new trend. There has been a steady increase in these types of bills dating back to 2015 and starting in 2020 trans and non binary youth became a big focus of many of them. And the types of bills passed in 2023 run the gamut from don't say gay type bills like the one in Florida that prevent discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom to pronoun refusal. And the most common bills we see are bans on gender affirming care which make up about 23 0.4% of the bills, bathroom bans which make up 11.7 and transgender sports participation bans which are about 10.4% of those bills. Now, according to the human rights campaign, it's no coincidence that we're seeing a surge in anti LGBT Q legislation and specific types of bills. In particular. Many bills use language that is taken directly from model legislation proposed by a handful of coalition groups like the Heritage Foundation, which is funded by the Koch Brothers Family Policy, alliance and alliance, defending freedom among others. Now, much of this sounds very doom and gloom but there are some bright spots, many states are passing anti LGBT Q legislation but others are pushing back. Michigan, for example, became the 22nd state to sign non discrimination protections into law. Pennsylvania is about to and Minnesota banned conversion therapy. Duarte back to you.