Organizations in Alaska are applauding the introduction of HB 301, Representative Alyse Galvin’s bill to establish a statewide prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
The Alaska State Commission for Human Rights (ASCHR) is responsible for upholding all Alaskans’ civil rights by addressing discrimination based on characteristics like race, religion, and age. It covers discrimination that may take place in employment, housing and real estate, public accommodations, and banking.
In the landmark 2020 Supreme Court decision, Bostock v. Clayton County, the Court ruled that federal employment law prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, because sex-based discrimination includes sexual orientation and gender identity. However, in 2022, ASCHR began limiting its LGBTQ+ discrimination work to employment cases only, leaving many Alaskans without legal protections in other sectors. HB 301 would make it clear in law that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression is discrimination based on sex, and illegal in all areas covered by ASCHR.
Tom Pittman, Executive Director, Identity, Inc.:
“We see the downstream effects of discrimination every day. People postpone care, miss follow-ups, and interrupt medications because they do not feel safe navigating housing and basic services. National research suggests nearly 1 in 5 LGBTQ adults have avoided health care because they anticipated discrimination.
HB 301 is a clarity bill. It defines sex in Alaska’s civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. That makes protections explicit in areas like housing and public accommodations. When people know the rules apply statewide, they are more likely to stay stable and stay connected to care.
Alaska is a remarkable place to live, in part because we value freedom and fairness. HB 301 reinforces a statewide baseline that strengthens health and stability for LGBTQIA2S+ Alaskans in every community.”
Michael Garvey, Policy Director for ACLU of Alaska:
“LGBTQ+ Alaskans are our friends, neighbors, family, and coworkers. When it comes to earning a living, having a home, or being served by a business or government office, we all deserve the full protection of Alaska’s laws against discrimination. Our state and our communities are better off when all Alaskans are able to fully function in our civic, political, social and economic life, and Alaska law needs to support full equality for all of us.”
Alaskans overwhelmingly supported this bill when it was last introduced in the Alaska Legislature in 2023. Some Alaska local governments, including Juneau, Sitka, and Anchorage, have already passed ordinances banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Many communities, including those in Interior Alaska and rural Alaska, lack similar protections. This bill would ensure that all Alaskans are covered in non-discrimination prohibitions based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
HB 301 has been referred to the House State Affairs Committee.
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