Voting for offices such as the Governor, State Legislature, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives can impact laws that are put into place for LGBTQ rights. This year, there has been a rise in anti-trans legislation being passed by legislators in their states. A majority of state legislation is dictated by the governor, who essentially manages the state executive branch and can sign bills into law – or veto legislation that they oppose. The elected governor in a state can impact the way that LGBTQ people navigate their daily lives.
When voting in gubernatorial and state legislature elections, voters should keep in mind where their candidates stand on the rights of LGBTQ people, and the protections that they would add for citizens of the LGBTQ community. Those concerned with the welfare of LGBTQ rights should also look for local positions such as School Board on your ballot. The candidates listed could make final decisions around whether or not conversations around gender identity and sexuality are discussed in classrooms and in books.