Last year, Townhall covered how Montana became the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading stories to children at public schools and libraries, known as “Drag Queen Story Hour.” These events are marketed towards young children at libraries all across the country.
Predictably, after the legislation was passed, LGBTQ+ advocates filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legislation.
Now, a Republican lawmaker in West Virginia introduced legislation that would classify people who believe they are transgender as “obscene matter” and ban them from going within 2,500 feet of a school.
The legislation, S.B. 197, states that “prohibited displays” at schools should include “any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances or display to any minor.”
Any school staff that allow this form of “obscene material” within 2,500 feet of a school may face up to one year in prison, a fine up to $500, or both.
Previously, West Virginia lawmakers passed legislation banning irreversible, experimental so-called gender-affirming care for people under 18 years old. This includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy treatment, and sex reassignment surgery. In addition, the state has prohibited transgender athletes from competing in sports that align with their “gender identity” instead of their biological sex.
“I coach a girl’s basketball team and I can tell you... we all know what an absolute advantage boys would have playing against girls. We don’t need that,” Republican Gov. Jim Justice told reporters last year.
WOWK TV reported this week that the Republican-led state legislature introduced a bill that would ban this kind of transgender care for people up to age 21, in addition to prohibiting mental health professionals from supporting a “transgender” patient’s “delusion” about gender identity.
In total, over 20 states have passed laws banning experimental, irreversible so-called “gender-affirming” care for minors. Many of these states have also passed laws protecting women’s sports from so-called “transgender” athletes. The latest state to do this is Louisiana, and Ohio’s governor passed a similar Executive Order banning gender transition surgeries for children.