Advocates for Youth strongly condemns the expansion of Florida’s “don’t say gay or trans” bill to include grades 4-12. Though the bill permits teachers in higher grades to include sexual orientation and gender identity in sex education, it needlessly bans LGBTQ history and literature, and stigmatizes LGBTQ youth and families.
Young people have the right to lead safe and healthy lives. But gun violence and white supremacy have created an unsafe world for too many.
This week, Missouri became the first state to restrict gender affirming care for all transgender people - youth and adults. Advocates for Youth absolutely condemns the new rule and demands that it be withdrawn.
“These are shameful, harmful actions from Missouri’s attorney general,” said Debra Hauser, President, Advocates for Youth.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has overturned Judge Kascmaryk’s biased and unsound decision to suspend mifepristone’s approval while an appeal is heard, but has insisted that harmful, outdated, medically unnecessary requirements be reinstated. The case against mifepristone is groundless, and was fabricated as part of the anti-abortion movement’s efforts to end legal abortion everywhere in this country. Mifepristone is part of a safe and effective regimen for abortion care, and has been safely used by millions since it was approved over 20 years ago.
Advocates for Youth is appalled by Idaho’s new law, H.B. 242, making it illegal for anyone to help a young person under 18 obtain abortion pills or to “recruit, harbor, or transport” a young person under 18 out of state for abortion care without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Anyone convicted of what Idaho lawmakers are disturbingly calling “abortion trafficking,” faces between two to five years in prison and be required to pay a minimum of $20,000 in statutory damages.
Advocates for Youth is outraged by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s decision to stay the FDA’s approval of the abortion drug Mifepristone. Mifepristone has been available by prescription for 20 years and more than five million people have used it to safely end their pregnancies.