California bans government travel to more states due to LGBTQ laws

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California announced on Monday that its state-sponsored and state-funded travel ban includes five additional states as a result of recently enacted LGBTQ legislation.

The state’s attorney general, Rob Ponta, said state-funded travel to Arkansas, Florida, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia will be prohibited starting July 1.

“The states are part of a new and dangerous wave of new discriminatory bills signed into law in states across the country that work directly to prevent transgender youth from exercising, deny access to life-saving care, or otherwise restrict members’ rights other members of the LGBTQ community,” Punta’s office explained in a press release.

Republicans say the laws are intended to maintain fair competition in girls’ sports and to prevent young people from obtaining a medical intervention that affects their gender before they are old enough to understand the consequences.

The full list also includes Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas, bringing the total number of states to 17.

California Bans State Travel To Texas, 3 Other Countries Over Anti-LGBT Laws

Ponta said the US is in the midst of an “unprecedented wave of bigotry” [and] discrimination” that California will not tolerate.

“Instead of focusing on resolving real issues, some politicians believe it is in their interest to demonize transgender youth and prevent life-saving care,” he said in a statement. “Make no mistake: We are in the midst of an unprecedented wave of intolerance and discrimination in this country – and the state of California will not support it.”

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The travel restrictions were implemented in accordance with the Assembly Act 1887, whereby California is required to take action to avoid supporting or funding discrimination against members of the LBGTQ community.

As Fox News previously reported, there are some exceptions to the rule, including travel required to enforce state law or honor contracts agreed prior to 2017.

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