North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum, has signed a bill into law that permits public school teachers and state government employees to ignore the pronouns their transgender students and colleagues use. The new law also mandates teachers to inform parents or guardians if students identify as being transgender. Additionally, the legislation prevents transgender students from using the bathroom of their choice without prior approval from a parent or guardian. While supporters claim that this law boosts parental rights and brings peace of mind to educators, opponents argue that it infringes upon the constitutional rights of students and teachers.
This move is part of a larger push by Republican officials across America to curtail the rights of LGBTQ citizens. North Dakota has recently enacted several measures that restrict transgender rights, and at least 21 states have also banned or limited transgender women and minors’ participation in sports. The signing of the bill follows other such measures supported by Republican officials across several states marking a rollback on the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens.
The new law has been criticized by opponents for violating the constitutional rights of teachers and students and subjecting children to potentially harmful situations if they are at risk from a violent parent. Many people believe that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their gender identity and that the use of preferred pronouns is a basic human right. Transgender individuals face many challenges in society, including discrimination and violence, and laws like this only make their lives harder.
North Dakota has been at the forefront of a wave of anti-transgender laws in the United States. In recent months, the state has passed several bills targeting transgender individuals, including restricting access to bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers according to the gender they identify with. This law affects not only public spaces like college dorms and jails but also dorms controlled by the state board of higher education and correctional facilities.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals would require staff member approval to use facilities of their choice. Additionally, North Dakota’s governor recently signed a bill that restricts transgender healthcare, and a bill banning transgender athletes was also signed into law. These bills have faced opposition from activists who argue that they are discriminatory and unnecessary.
One of the most controversial bills passed in North Dakota targets minors seeking gender-affirming healthcare. The bill makes it a crime to provide minors with puberty blockers or hormone treatments and makes genital and top surgery a Class B felony for minors under 18.
Another bill aims to ban transgender girls and women from participating in female sports, claiming that it is necessary to preserve fairness in athletic competition. However, opponents argue that these bills are an attack on the rights of transgender individuals and are based on misinformation and fear-mongering.