The Implications of Arkansas Anti-Trans Legislature

Megan Breninger

Now more than ever before there has been a rising visibility of transgender Americans and an unmatched advocacy for their legal rights. Despite the growing support, the trans community continues to have to fight for equality. In case you weren’t already aware, Arkansas is at the forefront of implementing anti-trans legislation.

If you haven’t yet researched Arkansas’ recent government actions, visit these articles to learn more about the recent bills that are targeting transgender individuals in Arkansas:

“Fairness in Women’s Sports” Act, signed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on March 25, 2021

Bans transgender women and girls from competing in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity

The “Medical Ethics and Diversity” Act, signed by Arkansas Gov. Hutchinson on

Allows health care professionals (doctors, pharmacists and insurance companies) to refuse to provide non-emergency healthcare based on personal “moral” objections

Arkansas “Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE)” Act, waiting to be signed by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on April 5, 2021

If signed by Gov. Hutchinson, will ban gender-affirming care for trans youth

More information on recent anti-trans legislation and the implications

If you are unfamiliar with the process in which a bill become a law, visit this link to review the process, provided by the State of Arkansas House of Representatives

In NBC’s article, Rumba Yambú, the director of Intravasive, a group that supports trans people in the state, had a statement that I believe is important for us to consider. Yambú said, “It’s already difficult enough to survive here, when they’re not actively creating more laws to oppress us.”

Trans people are faced with the hardship of finding safe and inclusive environments wherever they go and we should be focusing on ways to improve the acceptance and quality of life of these individuals, not restricting them. There are many health disparities transgender people experience, including the shockingly high levels of sexual abuse and assault. As the Arkansas Legislature continues passing these discriminatory anti-trans laws, the mistrust in professionals and the risk that transgender individuals will avoid seeking professional help after an assault only grows stronger. Advocating for our survivors extends beyond their assault. It means we must work together to minimize the pre-existing health disparities of those within their community and fight for them to be supported by society.

If you haven’t yet read through the links above, I highly urge you to do so. Furthermore, you can help veto the ban on gender-affirming care to trans youth in the following ways:

  • Contact the governor

Call the Governor’s office at 501–682–2345 or email him at asa.hutchinson@governor.arkansas.gov and let him know he needs to veto this bill.

  • Speak out on your platform

Tips for allies found here: https://www.glaad.org/transgender/allies

Further information on ways to help can be found by visiting this link: https://www.seventeen.com/life/a35978774/trans-healthcare-rights-organizations/

Bill update

As of Monday, April 5, Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas vetoed the bill that would make gender affirming surgeries and medications illegal to trans youth. Hutchinson’s rejection was noted by Raquel Willis, a transgender activist, as a significant sign for “the trans community and all of our supporters [to see] that the energy that we’re putting into this fight has a real impact.” Unfortunately, the fight must continue because as of today, April 7, 2021, both the Arkansas House of Representatives (72–25) and the Arkansas Senate (25–8) were able to override Gov. Hutchinson’s veto with a majority vote. Therefore, the bill will go into effect 90 days after the General Assembly recesses on April 30.

During the Senate’s session, only Senator Clarke Tucker spoke against overriding Gov. Hutchinson’s veto. He compared the gender-affirming care ban to the past racial segregation laws and noted how the people had wrongfully used their power on the matter back then. “Today we know those bills were wrong,” Tucker spoke, “The most powerful people in the state were bullying the most vulnerable people in the state then. And I just wonder, when are we going to stop doing that? If we only love those who love us, then what is our reward? When we see a stranger our job is to welcome them.”

“This is not about who is ‘right.’ If facts could win this, trans people and their allies would be winning,” writes Jude Ellison Sady Doyle, renowned author, “Trans people will obviously fight this until the end. Yet trans people are a tiny minority in this country, less than 1 percent by some estimates, and the success of any political fight depends on lots and lots of cis people caring too. It depends on cis people acting as if their own lives are at stake. So here is what I will tell you: They are.”

Note: Cis people refers to those whose gender identity is the same as the sex assigned to them at birth.

“These bills are opposed by organizations dedicated to children’s health, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the National Association of Social Workers, and more,” says The Human Rights Campaign’s Wyatt Ronan, “These attacks on transgender youth are fueled by discrimination, not facts.”

Share this post

The Role of Prison Staff in Preventing Sexual Assault at Pasadena Jail

By Naomi Cook, Guest Contributor • 30 Mar, 2023
Located in Pasadena, TX, is the Pasadena Jail, and on this page , you can know how many inmates stay out their full terms in prison or be held temporarily until they are routed to another prison in the state. One of the biggest concerns and approaches that Pasadena Jail staff is taking in recent years is the statistics surrounding prison inmates and reducing sexual assault at their facility, and the role of prison staff in preventing sexual assault at Pasadena Jail for it is crucial. It is essential for staff to create a culture of zero-tolerance for sexual assault and to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. By actively working to prevent sexual assault, prison staff can create a safer environment for inmates and ensure that justice is served.

How to Use Online Dating Apps Safely

By Teresa Siqueira, Porch.com • 13 Oct, 2022
The ultimate guide to dating app safety

Domestic Violence: Don’t Sweep It Under the Rug

By Lavatria Williamson • 01 Oct, 2022
The National Domestic Violence Hotline estimates that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience domestic violence. That is roughly 33.3% and 25%, respectively. If so many people in our community are being affected by domestic violence, then why aren’t we talking about it? Although Black people are disproportionately affected by this detrimental disease, it has somehow become ingrained in the very root of our cultural identity. Every day there are media headlines being posted on social media about celebrity couples engaging in physical violence. Rap songs are glorifying toxic masculinity including the oversexualization and objectification of women. Even frustrated parents are turning to physical punishments to discipline their children. In August 2022, rapper Blueface and his girlfriend, Chrisean Rock, got into a physical altercation in Los Angeles. This incident took the media by storm. Thousands upon thousands of people flooded comment sections with jokes and memes, essentially making light of the situation. Many may think of the story as comical, but domestic violence is never funny. It is a community issue that has plagued Black families for generations. The reason that this issue continues to permeate is due to the lighthearted way that Black people discuss serious topics. Statistically, we face higher cases of poverty, racism, low educational attainment, and domestic violence. This is likely due to the historical context in which Black people have existed in this country. When you live in a country where racism and sexism are rooted in the cultural context and institutional processes, it can make other issues seem less important or less dire, but domestic violence is indeed life or death. By having open dialogue and calling out problematic comments and jokes, we can start to make positive changes in our community and ensure the success of future generations. Disagreeing with your significant other is a normal part of any healthy relationship. However, name-calling, intimidation, stalking, sexual violence, physical violence, financial abuse, and emotional abuse are not. You are deserving of healthy, honest, and stable relationships free from the ugliness and toxicity of abuse. Let’s change the conversation and bring awareness to domestic violence and sexual assault. If you or someone you love are in an unhealthy relationship, please consider asking for help. To learn more about domestic violence visit: http://thehotline.org/

Meet Kacie Parrish, One of Arkansas's Top 40 Nurse Leaders Under 40

By Taylor McKinney • 02 Sep, 2022
An interview with Kacie Parrish, a rising leader of NWA Forensic Nurse Team

What Women's History Month Means to a Mini-Millennial

By Carly Palozola & Sandra Gibbons • 01 Mar, 2022
A Gen Alpha's take on Women's History Month

Black History Month & Why It Resonates With Our Mission

By Prentis Grayson • 01 Feb, 2022
Black History Month (formerly known as African American History Month), originated in 1976, when it was officially recognized by then-President Gerald Ford during the United States Bicentennial Celebration, but its celebration began many years before. It's important to acknowledge that the history of Black Americans began many decades earlier. In this article, we will dive into what Black History Month is, how it started, and what it means to the NWA Center for Sexual Assault.
More posts
Share by: