SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Utah lawmakers advanced state-sponsored discrimination Wednesday when House Bill 302 passed the Utah House on a 50-23 vote.

Transgender youth deserve dignity and respect just like their cis peers, but so often legislation that targets them for discrimination is discussed in 30 second sound-bites. In the essay and news segment below, Candice Metzler, Executive Director for TEA of Utah, goes beyond the fear and the political maneuvering to discuss the core of what fairness means for our youth.

Transgender Education Advocates of Utah is deeply concerned about Utah House Bill 302, which is sponsored by Rep. Kera Birkeland and bears the misleading and discriminatory title “Preserving Sports for Female Students.”

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday to reverse a policy that prohibited transgender people from serving openly in the U.S. Military. 

"Today, I repealed the discriminatory ban on transgender people serving in the military. It’s simple: America is safer when everyone qualified to serve can do so openly and with pride," President Biden tweeted. 

Mayor Erin Mendenhall and the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to recognize November 20 as Transgender Day of Remembrance. 

More than 300 Trans Pride flags are on display at the Salt Lake City and County Building this week for Trans Awareness Week, and a virtual memorial is planned for Friday November 20 at 6 p.m.

"It has been a long four years for many Americans, including many transgender and gender diverse people. After years of being a target for numerous Trump administration policies, transgender and gender diverse people have new hope for positive change. 

"Today’s 6-3 Supreme Court decision will protect LGBTQ folks from discrimination in the workplace. Everyone deserves the right to pursue happiness and live authentically with dignity.