Lawful Extremism: Florida's Anti-Trans Laws

Abstract

Can anti-trans laws be extremist? The third installment in the “Lawful Extremism” series examines two legislative sessions of the Florida State House of Representatives, during which three pieces of legislation were enacted that each implicated the rights of transgender people and those who support them. This paper considers whether the text of this legislation and the rhetoric used by bill sponsors and supporters articulate an extremist system of meaning, and how lawful extremist movements may choose to create friction to burden the lives of their chosen out-group rather than banning or imprisoning them outright. We then analyze how legislators may rhetorically obfuscate their system of meaning, often relying on inflammatory allegations of harm to women and children. We situate these strategies within the history of extremism and conclude by considering the consequences of this and similar anti-trans efforts around the United States.

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To Cite: Daviess, Beth, and Berger, J.M. “Lawful Extremism: Florida’s Anti-Trans Laws.” Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism, Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Occasional paper. December 2024.