Georgia State Legislative Session Ends; Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates Defeats Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Sex Ed Bills

ATLANTA, GA — The 2024 Georgia State legislative session concluded. With an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-sex education bills, Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates (PPSEA) helped lead the defeat of these harmful bills. 

 

Georgia Public Policy and Organizing Manager Hannah Davis said, “We worked tirelessly to defeat an unprecedented number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills and anti-sex education bills. The team participated in and hosted three community lobbying days, including a  “Pink Out the Halls.” Ultimately, our supporters lobbied 30+ legislators and had conversations regarding updating midwifery licensure, stopping anti-trans legislation, and expanding sex education curriculum in Georgia, just to name a few. The team established a legislative session action council and hosted bi-weekly meetings from January through March. Using power mapping strategies, we turned first-time volunteers into community leaders.”

 

Through teamwork and coalition building with groups like Amplify, SPARK, Feminist Women’s Health Center, Reproductive Freedom For All, SisterLove, SisterSong, YWCA, SiX, Georgia Equality, Human Rights Campaign, TransParent, Georgia Youth Justice Coalition, and many more, the PPSEA team was able to beat down all anti-sex education bills and almost all anti-LGBTQ+ bills. 

 

PPSEA also sponsored Lobbying days by sponsoring the “Georgia Reproductive Justice Advocacy Day” hosted by SisterLove and “Pride to the Capitol" hosted by Human Rights Campaigns. Our PPSE education team also sponsored “Pink Out the Halls: A Sex Ed Day” in partnership with Georgia’s Public Policy and Organizing team.

 

Here are the bills that we were able to help defeat:

 

Anti-LGBTQIA+ 

HB 840 - Ban on drag performances when minors are present

HB 936 (Added to HB 1104) - Ban on use of school facilities by transgender students

HB 1045 - Bans teachers from teaching K-12 students content relating to sexual orientation or gender identity 

HB 1128 - “Women's Bill of Rights”

SB 88 - "Don't say gender identity"

SB 141 (Added to HB 1104) - Broad ban on medical care for transgender adolescents, including medications that delay puberty

SB 154 - Book ban in schools

SB 180 - Religious Freedom Restoration Act

SB 365 - Notification to parents and legal guardians of public school students of the right to receive email notification each time their child obtains school library materials

SB 394 - Book Ban – Restricting Explicit and Adult-designated Educational Resources (READER) Act

SB 438 - Ban on transgender athletes in schools

SB 519 (Added to 1170) - Bans on puberty blockers for minors 

 

Anti-Sex Education 

HB 910 - Requires age verification for people accessing websites with pornographic websites

HB 1036 (Subbed to 298) - Requires an ultrasound to be shown to high school students, reinforcing the reality of pregnancy and the truth about human development

SB 532 (Added to 1104) - Ban on teaching sex ed to K-5 students

 

PPSEA appreciates its dedicated supporters, coalition partners, and lawmakers who defended reproductive rights and healthcare access alongside us. While celebrating these victories, PPSEA remains committed to advocating for policies that promote equity, justice, and autonomy for all.

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As the organizing, advocacy, and electoral arm of Planned Parenthood Southeast, PPSEA engages in a range of electoral activities, including voter education and mobilization. We firmly believe that elected officials should champion policies and programs that empower women and their families to make informed choices regarding the prevention of unintended pregnancies and the cultivation of healthy families. PPSEA is dedicated to educating and mobilizing the public while supporting the election of lawmakers who prioritize these critical issues.