There is pandemonium in the queer community of West Virginia. And it is because of a dangerous bill headed to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice. The bill is one that will outlaw non-binary gender designations on birth certificates. And the fact that it is now on its way to the governor’s desk means it is almost law.
Still, the Republican governor, who is running for the U.S. Senate, has yet to speak publicly about the bill. But some suspect he may sign it as he is known to be conservative.
Justice has even previously signed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors and transgender children’s participation in sports. The state’s only LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, Fairness West Virginia, has responded to the bill. They oppose the legislation and have called it discriminatory.
At this time, West Virginia doesn’t allow non-binary gender markers on birth certificates. According to the bill’s sponsor, Republican Del. Chris Pritt, he just wants to ensure the state doesn’t start offering the option in the future.
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A similar bill, one that repeals the gender balance requirement in Iowa, has also passed a house vote and is on its way to the state governor’s desk. Republican lawmakers supporting the bill argued that it made sense ten years ago but not anymore.
According to them, we don’t need gender balance since it is not about men or women. Meanwhile, Democrats believe that if the bill becomes law, it will set Iowa back several paces.
They say the board should represent the people of Iowa, and the gender balance requirement needs to be in place for that to keep happening. Non-binary people are those who identify as not strictly male or female. At least a dozen states offer some form of third-gender ID on birth certificates.
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Some states even take the process of inclusion further by making it easier for non-binary folks to thrive. Unfortunately, Oklahoma is not one of those states. In fact, it was the first U.S. state to explicitly outlaw the use of non-binary gender designations on state birth certificates in
Meanwhile, the federal government issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation in 2021. That may have seemed like a step forward for the country, but states still have the power to make things harder for queer people.
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Not too long ago, Indiana’s ban on giving gender-affirming care to minors went into immediate effect. It is yet another unfriendly act towards the queer community, many of whom believe their kids have the right to make these decisions.
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