Last night, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed two bills that limit the rights of transgender people. HB500 effectively bans transgender women from playing sports and HB509 bans transgender people from amending their birth certificates. While similar bills have been introduced across the country, Idaho is the first to sign a transgender athlete bill into law.

“It’s shameful that Gov Little chose to sign hateful anti-transgender bills the night before Transgender Day of Visibility. Idahoans from across the state reached out to share their stories and demand a veto after the bill’s passage,” said David Topping, director of advocacy for Equality Federation. “In the midst of this national crisis Idaho’s legislature sent an anti-trans youth sports bill to the governor. Our nation is in the middle of a pandemic. Our economy is in chaos and people are dying. We should be finding ways to pull together–passing laws designed to harm transgender people is hurtful, offensive, and the last thing anyone should be doing.”