Advocates condemns the Ohio legislature for the passage of a series of anti-transgender bills, over the override of Gov. DeWine. We are deeply saddened by the trauma and discrimination Ohio is working to inflict on gender expansive young people and their families.
The brief argues that Idaho’s recently passed Abortion Travel Ban, §18-623, exacerbates existing barriers young people in the state face when attempting to seek abortion care and actively harms their health, safety, and well-being in a myriad of ways.
The Act, which purports to extend resources for pregnant and parenting students, fails to expand meaningful accommodations for students and includes anti-abortion framing.
Yesterday, the Biden administration announced it will not release its proposed updates to Title IX until March of 2024 – a full year after it missed its first deadline. President Biden promised to revise Trump-era guidance that rolled back civil rights protections for survivors and LGBTQ+ students.
As organizations that are deeply invested in the safety and health of young people, especially those who are most marginalized, Advocates for Youth and SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change are concerned about the Kids Online Safety Act (S.1409), or KOSA. KOSA is being put forth as a bill to protect minors on social media, however in reality it will block young people from accessing critical and potentially life-saving resources, including sex education and sexual health resources.
“Parents understand that attacking vulnerable students is wrong and shouldn’t be any school board’s mission,” said Debra Hauser, President, Advocates for Youth. “We’re glad, but not surprised, that voters rejected the Moms for Liberty agenda. Young people are leading efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ youth are safe in their communities and celebrated for who they are, and we are proud to walk alongside them.”