Wisconsin Republicans are once again setting their sights on LGBTQ+ youth—particularly transgender individuals—by introducing a new slate of bills aimed at restricting gender-affirming care, limiting transgender students’ rights in schools, and forcing parental consent for name and pronoun usage. These efforts come hot on the heels of executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump, further emboldening state-level attacks on transgender rights.
These proposed laws, which have faced strong opposition from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, the Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, and other allies, represent yet another attempt to legislate transgender people out of public existence. Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), chair of the LGBTQ+ caucus, condemned the bills as part of a “broader national Republican effort” to erase trans identities by restricting access to medically necessary care and social inclusion.
Banning Transgender Athletes—Again
Two of the proposed bills take direct aim at transgender athletes, barring transgender girls and women from participating on teams that align with their gender identity in K-12 schools, the University of Wisconsin system, and Wisconsin technical colleges. These proposals follow a policy change by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), which, under pressure from the Trump administration, reversed its previous trans-inclusive stance. Now, transgender athletes in the state are prohibited from playing on teams that do not match their sex assigned at birth.
Wisconsin lawmakers, including Reps. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) and Dan Knodl (R-Germantown), celebrated the WIAA’s decision and are pushing to cement this exclusionary policy into state law. They claim their legislation is necessary to “protect women’s and girls’ rights in Wisconsin.” In reality, it is yet another example of political opportunism at the expense of an already vulnerable community.
FAIR Wisconsin Executive Director Abigail Swetz called these policies cruel and unnecessary. “When an athlete gets to play sports on a team where they belong, that can make such a huge difference, especially for our trans athletes who are already under attack from a hostile federal government,” Swetz said. “Our trans kids and young adults need love and support, not exclusion.”
Blocking Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Another bill seeks to prohibit healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care to individuals under 18, effectively cutting off access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries for minors. Co-authored by Sen. Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) and Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha), the bill claims to protect children from “non-medically necessary” procedures. The reality? It denies transgender youth access to lifesaving medical care backed by decades of research.
This legislative attack echoes Trump’s recent executive order barring federal funds from going to medical institutions that provide gender-affirming care. In response, Children’s Wisconsin hospital initially paused gender-affirming care for minors before reinstating it, underscoring the chilling effect such policies can have.
Senator Spreitzer called the bill the “cruelest” of the proposals. “Republicans are touting this idea that kids shouldn’t make permanent medical decisions before 18, yet we allow minors to make all kinds of medical decisions based on necessity,” he pointed out. “The difference is that this isn’t about safety—it’s about targeting trans youth.”
Medical experts and LGBTQ+ organizations continue to emphasize that gender-affirming care follows rigorous evaluation processes involving mental health professionals, doctors, and families. Studies show that transgender youth who access these treatments experience significantly lower rates of depression and suicide. Despite this overwhelming evidence, Republicans are intent on prioritizing ideology over medical consensus.
Parental Control Over Names and Pronouns
A fourth bill seeks to force schools to obtain parental permission before using a student’s chosen name and pronouns. Under this policy, teachers would be required to deadname and misgender students unless a parent submits written authorization—effectively forcing transgender youth to out themselves to their families, even in cases where they may face rejection or abuse.
Reps. Dittrich and Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franken), the bill’s authors, claim it is about “transparency,” but LGBTQ+ advocates argue that it is a thinly veiled attempt to make life harder for trans students. Spreitzer dismissed the bill as poorly written and out of touch with how names and identities function in everyday life. “People go by all sorts of nicknames—this legislation is just another way to micromanage schools into making life harder for trans students,” he said.
A Familiar, Exhausting Fight
None of this is new. Republicans in Wisconsin and across the country have repeatedly tried to push similar anti-trans bills, often using “protecting children” as a smokescreen for discrimination. Even though Governor Tony Evers has vetoed previous attempts and vowed to continue blocking such measures, the sheer persistence of these legislative attacks creates a hostile and dangerous environment for transgender youth and their families.
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature lacks the numbers to override Evers’ veto, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying. And while they claim their proposals reflect public opinion, polling data tells a different story. While anti-trans rhetoric may have found a home in the GOP, the majority of Americans—including many conservatives—oppose bans on gender-affirming care and restrictions on transgender rights.
The Bottom Line
Wisconsin is just the latest battleground in a national effort to roll back transgender rights. Currently, 25 states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, with more expected to follow. Trump’s executive orders have only added fuel to the fire, emboldening state legislatures to push anti-trans policies that they otherwise might not have dared to attempt.
Yet, despite the relentless attacks, the transgender community remains resilient. Advocates, allies, and Democratic lawmakers continue to fight back, determined to ensure that transgender individuals can live with dignity and access the care and support they need.
As Abigail Swetz put it, “This is a moment to organize and mobilize, and most importantly, to take care of ourselves and our community. We’ve faced hostility before, and we are still here.”
In the face of another wave of legislative attacks, one thing is clear: Wisconsin’s trans community is not going anywhere. And no matter how many bills Republicans introduce, the fight for trans rights will continue—because equality isn’t up for debate.
