In the Thursday announcement, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, "Every student should be able to have the full experience of attending school in America, including participating in athletics, free from discrimination." Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Alabama Rep. Neil Rafferty speaks in support of transgender rights during a rally outside the Alabama State House in 2021. The state is using the Dobbs ruling, which overturned Roe v. Wade and ended abortion access as a federal right, to argue it has the authority to ban gender-affirming medical care. Jake Crandall/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP hide caption
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has quietly signed into law a bill that would ban transgender students from playing girls' or women's sports in public schools and colleges. Jeffrey Collins/AP hide caption
Demonstrators gather on the steps to the State Capitol to speak against transgender-related legislation bills being considered in the Texas Senate and Texas House in May 2021 in Austin, Texas. Eric Gay/AP hide caption
Protesters rally at the Texas State Capitol on May 4, 2021 in Austin to stop proposed medical care ban legislation that would criminalize gender-affirming care. Erich Schlegel/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign hide caption
Rep. Wes Allen, sponsor of the House version of the bill, speaks during debate at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery on Thursday. Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP hide caption
Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder, Téo's Tutu by Maryann Jacob Macias, and My Rainbow by Trinity Neal and DeShanna Neal Penguin Random House hide caption
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen here on Feb. 24, signed a bill into law Monday that restricts the education of LGBTQ topics in the state's public schools. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
State Rep. Kera Birkeland, a Republican high school basketball coach who led Utah's efforts to ban transgender girls from youth sports, addresses a crowd of supporters on the steps of the Utah State Capitol on Friday in Salt Lake City. Samuel Metz/AP hide caption
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a weeklong celebration of Pride events in Austin schools this week violates state law. Here, he speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 1. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the legislature at the Statehouse, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. Darron Cummings/AP hide caption
Republican-pushed bills are seeking to deny minors access to hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Both are treatments that have been vetted and peer-reviewed by mainstream medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Demonstrators hold signs in support of transgender youth at the Texas State Capitol. Gabriel C. Pérez/KUT hide caption
Because attacks against transgender kids are increasing across the country, Minneasotans hold a rally at the capitol to support trans kids. UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images hide caption