California Bans State-Funded Travel to 5 States with Anti-LGBTQ Laws

California's Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announced at a press conference on Monday that the state will now restrict state-funded travel to Florida, Montana, West Virginia, Arkansas, and North Dakota due to the anti-LGBTQ+ laws recently passed in those states.

Citing the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Bonta said that it's become clear that the same fight remains even today.

"Make no mistake: We're in the midst of an unprecedented wave of bigotry and discrimination in this country," Bonta said, noting that the recent legislation specifically targeted trans youth. "And the State of California is not going to support it."

In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill forbidding trans girls from playing sports at public schools.

In May, Montana also banned trans youth from playing in sports in teams that align with their gender.

West Virginia recently passed its version of the anti-trans sports ban.

Gov. Doug Burgum signed a law in North Dakota that would allow the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people from school groups.

Finally, in Arkansas, a law bans doctors from providing gender-affirming health care to trans youth.

"It's unfortunate that some politicians would rather demonize trans youth than focus on solving real issues like tackling gun violence, beating back this pandemic, and rebuilding our economy," Bonta said.

California's list now contains 17 states where state employees are not allowed to travel unless it's under special circumstances, The Associated Press reported. The other states include Texas, Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee. The restrictions come under California's Assembly Bill 1887.