The vast majority of America’s LGBTQ+ community feel less safe in the country because of the unprecedented rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, according to Community Marketing Insight’s (CMI) 17th Annual LGBTQ+ Community Survey, which was co-sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and others.
The data, which was published on 17 August, found that nearly eight in 10 LGBTQ+ adults feel less safe now as a result of the laws being passed.
Approximately 43 per cent of LGBTQ+ adults reported that gender-affirming care bans, which have been enacted in more than 20 states so far, have impacted the physical and/or mental health of themselves or their loved ones.
This figure was almost twice as high (80.1 per cent) among transgender and non-binary respondents.
A staggering 94 per cent of trans and non-binary people surveyed also said that gender-affirming care bans have made them feel less safe.
READ MORE: “Don’t operate in fear”: State Senator Shevrin Jones on anti-LGBTQ+ bills
There have been over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across 43 states this year alone, more than 80 of which have been signed into law.
This is already more than double last year, which was previously the worst on record.
This prompted the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to declare a “state of emergency” for LGBTQ+ people in America for the first time this June.
“Extremist, anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and their allies are waging a dangerous and cruel misinformation campaign”
“Just two months after HRC declared a National State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ people, this survey reveals that the current climate of hostility and fear is only growing worse, and that gender-affirming care bans are taking a detrimental toll on the physical and mental health of LGBTQ+ Americans,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the HRC.
“Extremist, anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and their allies are waging a dangerous and cruel misinformation campaign that seeks to stigmatise not only gender-affirming care but transgender and non-binary people as well.
“Through fear mongering and propaganda, extremist leaders are working overtime to manufacture panic, rile up their base, and coax them into opposing healthcare for transgender people, even though it’s endorsed by every major medical organisation.
“The rhetoric and misinformation is having a virtually universal impact on LGBTQ+ people, and further plunging us into a state of emergency that’s threatening the health and safety of every LGBTQ+ person.”
You can learn more about the survey here.
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