Anaya Nolan
The number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and bills proposed and passed across the world has been increasing. In the United States, over 470 local anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 2023, with more than 145 passing at least one chamber. This is an almost 11-fold increase in just five years. Globally, at least 67 countries have national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults, and at least nine countries have national laws criminalizing forms of gender expression. These laws have severe consequences for LGBT people, impacting their access to employment, health services, and police protection.
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What You'll Learn
Anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the US
The number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced and passed at the state level in the US has surged in recent years. In 2023, a record-breaking number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in state legislatures, with over 145 such bills passing at least one chamber. This marks a significant increase compared to 2018, when only 38 bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights were introduced at the state level.
These anti-LGBTQ+ bills encompass a range of restrictive measures, including laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, laws requiring or allowing the misgendering of transgender students, and ""bathroom bills" restricting restroom access based on gender identity. Some states that have been particularly active in advancing these laws include Tennessee, Florida, North Dakota, and Texas.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, has highlighted the hostile legislative climate facing the LGBTQ+ community. They attribute this wave of legislation to extremist groups with a history of working to oppress LGBTQ+ rights.
While the majority of anti-LGBTQ+ bills do not become laws, the raw number of bills introduced has contributed to a growing number of enacted laws. As of May 2023, 51 anti-LGBTQ+ bills had been signed into law across various states in the US.
Looking ahead, the trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation shows no signs of abating. In 2024, there was a further increase in the number of bills introduced, with a particular focus on targeting transgender individuals. This trend has continued into 2025, with 987 bills under consideration that would negatively impact transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
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Anti-LGBTQ+ laws by country
Anti-LGBTQ+ laws vary widely by country and jurisdiction, with at least 67 countries having national laws criminalizing same-sex relations between consenting adults. Here is an overview of some of the countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws:
Russia and Lithuania:
While these countries do not criminalize same-sex acts or forms of gender expression, they prohibit "propaganda" in support of LGBT rights, which effectively silences activists.
Saudi Arabia:
Although there is no codified law, police in Saudi Arabia routinely arrest people based on their gender expression.
Brunei:
Brunei has enacted laws against sex between women and gender non-conformity, with harsh punishments such as death by stoning for anal intercourse.
Oman:
Oman has national laws that criminalize "posing as" or "imitating" a person of a different sex.
Malaysia:
Malaysia criminalizes "posing as" a different sex, not in its federal criminal code but in the Sharia codes of its states and its federal territory.
Nigeria:
Nigeria criminalizes transgender and gender non-conforming people in its northern states under Sharia law.
United States:
In the United States, there has been a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation at the state level, with a record 70 anti-LGBTQ+ laws enacted so far in 2023. These include laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth, laws allowing the misgendering of transgender students, and ''bathroom bills'' restricting transgender students' access to school restrooms. Some states that have been particularly aggressive in advancing these laws include Florida, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.
Commonwealth Nations:
The majority of the countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly known as the British Commonwealth, still criminalize sexual acts between consenting adults of the same sex. Homosexual activity remains a criminal offense in 29 out of 56 sovereign states of the Commonwealth.
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Religious exemptions for discrimination
In the United States, religious exemptions have been sought by individuals and organizations seeking to avoid compliance with anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ+ rights. These exemptions have taken various forms, including comprehensive protections for entities that do not wish to provide services to LGBTQ+ people, as well as more narrow exemptions in specific areas such as adoption, foster care, and healthcare services. Critics argue that these exemptions are not carefully balanced and often show no regard for the harms inflicted on those who are discriminated against.
The increase in anti-LGBTQ+ bills and laws in the United States has been driven by Republican lawmakers and has targeted various aspects of LGBTQ+ rights. For example, some laws restrict the recognition of transgender rights, such as banning transgender students from using school restrooms that match their gender identity or allowing the intentional misgendering of transgender individuals. Other laws censor curriculum and prohibit schools from providing counselling or training related to gender or sexual diversity.
The impact of these religious exemptions on the LGBTQ+ community is significant. Research has found that LGBTQ+ individuals who are aware of these exemptions are more likely to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity and experience psychological distress. They also face barriers in accessing important services, including healthcare, which can have serious consequences given the higher risk of physical and mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community.
The expansion of religious exemptions has not been limited to the United States. Globally, there has been a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ laws and restrictions, with at least 67 countries criminalizing same-sex relations and nine countries criminalizing forms of gender expression. These laws create a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and contribute to discrimination and stigma.
To address these issues, civil rights organizations have been working to strike a balance between religious liberty and LGBTQ+ liberty. The Equality Act pending in Congress aims to limit the ability of religious individuals to claim exemptions under federal law. Additionally, organizations like the Human Rights Campaign provide ongoing updates and snapshots of anti-LGBTQ+ legislative activity to raise awareness and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
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Bans on gender-affirming care
Gender-affirming care is a model of care that includes a spectrum of medical, surgical, mental health, and non-medical services for transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive people. This care is aimed at affirming and supporting an individual's gender identity and is highly individualized. It is age-appropriate care that is medically necessary for the well-being of many transgender people who experience symptoms of gender dysphoria or distress due to a mismatch between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth.
By preventing doctors from providing this care or threatening to take children away from parents who support their child's transition, these bans prevent transgender youth from accessing medically necessary, safe health care that is backed by decades of research and supported by every major medical association in the country. As of July 2025, 40.1% of transgender youth aged 13-17 (around 120,400 individuals) are living in the 27 states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care. This includes Arkansas and Montana, where bans have been temporarily blocked or are on hold due to court orders.
Some states have also passed laws that allow individuals who received gender-affirming care as minors (or their family members) to sue their medical providers for malpractice. For example, Arkansas passed such a law in 2023, which a federal judge blocked in June of that year, ruling it unconstitutional. However, the state has said it will appeal the ruling. Similarly, Montana's ban was blocked by a judge in May 2025, but the state may yet appeal this decision as well.
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Anti-LGBTQ+ laws in sports
LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and fans face discrimination in their everyday lives, including in sports. In the absence of federal non-discrimination laws, such as the Equality Act, LGBTQ+ individuals in sports remain unprotected from employment discrimination, discrimination at sports events, and other barriers to participation in athletics.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights' (NCLR) Sports Project, founded in 2001, works to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender players, coaches, and administrators receive equal treatment, free of discrimination. The project has litigated cases on behalf of LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches, advised schools and athletic associations, and collaborated with LGBTQ+ sports leaders to combat anti-LGBTQ+ bias in sports. Despite these efforts, anti-LGBTQ+ laws in sports persist and continue to be introduced.
In 2023, over 470 local anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced by conservative Republican members, with a particular focus on banning transgender athletes from sports. As of 2022, 27 states have banned transgender people from participating in sports under their gender identity. These bans are driven by anti-LGBTQ+ groups spreading misinformation and seeking to stigmatize and discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. Despite claims that these laws are necessary, legislators have been unable to justify them, and they have been denounced by major medical associations as harmful to the health of young people.
The surge in transgender sports bans has been accompanied by a rise in transphobic attitudes in sports. A 2018 HRC study found that over 80% of LGBTQ+ youth athletes are not out to their coaches, and many experience anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes in youth sports. The study also revealed that LGBTQ+ youth participate in sports at a much lower rate than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. These laws and attitudes create significant barriers to inclusion and participation for LGBTQ+ individuals in sports, highlighting the urgent need for federal non-discrimination laws to protect their rights and ensure equal opportunities in athletics.
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Frequently asked questions
A record 70 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been enacted so far this year.
Over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed in 2023, with more than 145 passing at least one chamber.
Some of the states that have proposed the most anti-LGBTQ+ bills include Florida, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and West Virginia.
