North Carolina lawmakers presented a bill that would ban drag shows, and Missouri placed restrictions on gender-affirming care.

Lawmakers Present Bill That Would Ban Drag Shows

According to WRAL News, North Carolina legislators proposed a bill on April 18 that would charge people participating in “adult entertainment” with a misdemeanor on a first offense and a felony on further offenses. The bill, House Bill 673, defines adult entertainment as "a performance featuring topless dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest.”

"The criminalization of drag is especially dangerous in our current cultural context," Equality NC, a LGBT rights organization, wrote in a press release on April 18 quoted by WRAL News. "Over the past year, the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys have increasingly targeted the LGBTQ+ community, protesting drag shows, nightclubs, and public events put on by the queer community. ... Anti-drag bills will only further embolden the far-right in their attacks." 

State Announces Restrictions On Gender-Affirming Care

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. Photo via Twitter.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced limits on gender-affirming care for adults on April 13, according to AP News. This comes after his announcement of limits on gender-affirming care for minors on March 20. The limit states that 18 months of therapy is required before receiving gender-affirming care and will be in effect from April 21 to next February.

“The Attorney General’s so-called emergency rule is based on distorted, misleading, and debunked claims and ignores the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence supporting this care,” the ACLU and Lambda Legal said in a joint statement. AP News also states that both organizations encouraged those affected by the limits to call.