In a historic move, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, has declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people. The announcement comes amid growing concerns about the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights and a surge in discriminatory legislation across the country.
The decision by the HRC highlights the urgent need to address the escalating threats faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including the increasing number of bills targeting transgender youth, the denial of healthcare and housing rights, and the overall rise in hate crimes and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.
“LGBTQ+ Americans are living in a state of emergency. The multiplying threats facing millions in our community are not just perceived – they are real, tangible and dangerous,” the group’s president, Kelley Robinson, said. “In many cases they are resulting in violence against LGBTQ+ people, forcing families to uproot their lives and flee their homes in search of safer states, and triggering a tidal wave of increased homophobia and transphobia that puts the safety of each and every one of us at risk.”
In addition to the emergency declaration, the group published a digital guidebook with health and safety resources for LGBTQ+ folks, a chart of state laws related to LGBTQ+ folks, and a comprehensive report of the 2023 legislative climate.
This declaration comes not even a week into Pride month following “an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in 2023,” according to the Human Rights Campaign. It is a call to action for lawmakers, policymakers, and allies to prioritize and take concrete steps to safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals across all facets of life, including education, employment, healthcare, and public accommodations.
However, despite the attacks and active efforts to silence and hide LGBTQ+ Americans, the HRC stands firm in their belief that LGBTQ+ people are not going anywhere. “LGBTQ+ people nationwide will not be erased – not now, not ever,” the group said.
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