News & Commentary

This year, legislation has swept the country that threatens the trans and gender non-conforming community. More than 80 bills have been filed in state legislatures across the country in order to strip trans children of life-preserving healthcare, ban their participation in athletics, and deny them the dignity of recognition by their chosen name among other heinous acts. For years, myself and my colleagues at the ACLU have fought across the country alongside advocates in our states to kill bills which would violate the constitutional rights of transgender people, and, in many cases, put their lives only further at risk.  

Now that the 2021 regular session of the Alabama Legislature concluded on May 17, 2021, we’ll take a look back at the important advancements and disappointing setbacks for civil rights and civil liberties in Alabama.

Today, for the first time in Minnesota history, a white police officer has been convicted for killing a Black man. Now, we can finally say George Floyd’s name and make it synonymous not only with grief, anger, and loss over his brutal murder, but with a moment of justice.

Medical experts agree: Gender-affirming care is medically necessary care that can be life-saving for transgender youth. Medical decisions belong to trans youth, their parents, and their doctors.

We only have one word — unconstitutional.

Last week, eight people were murdered, six of whom were Asian women. We grieve for the victims, their families and communities, and to all who are impacted by this horrific attack, especially Georgia’s Asian American community and our own. 

Last week, Alabama's 2021 Legislative Session resumed after a week-long recess. We are hopeful, but one thing is overwhelmingly clear — we have a big fight ahead of us. Some of our top priority bills regarding criminal justice reform, voter rights, and LGBTQ+ rights appeared before our lawmakers for consideration. A brief synopsis of the bills and their current status are listed below:

As part of our Systemic Equality campaign, over the next two years the ACLU will be investing directly in Southern states and our Southern affiliates to further our commitment to racial justice work.

The 2021 Legislative Session has kicked off and there's no shortage of important legislation that calls us to act!