Georgia Equality is celebrating the defeat of more than a dozen anti-LGBTQ+ bills as state lawmakers wrapped their legislative session in the early hours of April 3.
All anti-LGBTQ+ legislation was halted, including House Bill 54, which would have prevented doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to minors and restricted gender-affirming care for transgender people.
"Despite underhanded tactics being employed in these last couple weeks, over 2,500 of us contacted our legislators and nearly 400 came out to the Capitol to make their voices heard in person," Georgia Equality said.
The defeated bills included: SB 30 restricting medical care for trans youth, SB 39 denying coverage of care under the State Employee Health Benefit Plan, SB 74 criminalizing librarians sharing LGBTQ+ content, SB 497 forcing outing of LGBTQ+ students, HB 104 and 267 further restricting trans youth sports participation, HB 671 banning drag performances, and HB 1210 creating exemptions for non-affirming parents.
"Scapegoating LGBTQ+ Georgians is not a winning political strategy," Georgia Equality said. For advocates who spent weeks at the Capitol, the session's end brought relief after months of uncertainty.
