Markey Reintroduces Transgender Bill of Rights Resolution

U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts on Feb. 11 reintroduced a congressional resolution calling for sweeping federal protections for transgender and nonbinary Americans, reviving an effort first introduced in a prior session of Congress.

The "Transgender Bill of Rights" resolution, filed in the Senate alongside companion legislation in the House led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and co-led by Reps. Sara Jacobs of California and Mark Takano of California, outlines a broad framework urging Congress and federal agencies to strengthen civil rights protections based on gender identity.

According to Markey's office, the resolution calls for updating and enforcing federal civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX, to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in employment, housing, education, health care and public accommodations. It also urges federal agencies to ensure access to gender-affirming health care, protect transgender students, and address violence targeting transgender people.

"Trans rights are human rights," Markey said in a statement announcing the measure, arguing that transgender Americans are facing increased discrimination and legislative attacks in states across the country.

The resolution itself does not change federal law. Instead, it expresses the sense of Congress and lays out policy goals that supporters say should guide future legislation and regulatory action. Similar versions introduced in previous sessions did not advance to a vote.

In announcing the reintroduction, lawmakers cited what they described as a growing number of state-level measures restricting access to gender-affirming care, limiting participation of transgender athletes in school sports, and curtailing how gender identity is addressed in schools.

Advocacy organizations including Advocates for Trans Equality endorsed the resolution, calling it a reaffirmation of federal commitment to protecting transgender people from discrimination.

The measure arrives in a closely divided Congress, where major civil rights legislation faces steep procedural hurdles. Whether the resolution gains traction beyond its introduction remains uncertain, but supporters say it signals continued Democratic backing for expanding statutory protections for transgender and nonbinary Americans.

Markey, a longtime supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, has previously co-sponsored the Equality Act and other federal legislation aimed at expanding anti-discrimination protections.