Texas House passes transgender bathroom bill mandating use based on biological sex
The Texas House recently passed Senate Bill 8, commonly referred to as the “transgender bathroom bill,” which mandates that transgender individuals use bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sensitive facilities in government buildings according to their biological sex rather than their gender identity. The legislation applies to public schools, universities, prisons, jails, and family violence shelters. it includes fines ranging from $5,000 to $125,000 for violations. The bill faced criticism from Democrats, who described it as anti-transgender and accused it of encouraging discrimination and vigilantism. Conversely, Republicans defended the bill as a necessary measure to protect the safety and privacy of biological women and girls. after passing in the House with an 86 to 45 vote, the bill will return to the Senate for approval of amendments before being sent to Governor Greg Abbott, who has expressed support for the legislation.
Texas House passes transgender bathroom bill mandating use based on biological sex
The Texas state House this week passed a bill requiring transgender-identifying residents on government property to use private facilities that correspond with their biological sex, marking a major breakthrough for advocates.
State Republicans have for years sought to advance such a measure, but have been stalled in the House despite repeatedly passing similar provisions in the Senate.
That changed on Thursday, when the chamber passed Senate Bill 8 in an 86 to 45 vote. The legislation prohibits transgender-identifying people in public schools and universities, prisons, jails, and other taxpayer-funded buildings from using bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sensitive spaces on the basis of gender identity. Those impacted must use facilities that align with their biological sex, according to the bill, which contains proposed fines for violators from $5,000 to $25,000 for first offenses, and from $25,000 to $125,000 for subsequent violations.
The “bathroom bill” would also apply to private facilities in family violence shelters.
Democrats this week slammed SB 8 as being anti-trans, with state Rep. Jessica González framing the legislation as “basically a vigilante potty police.”
“This isn’t about protecting girls,” state Rep. Jolanda Jones said. “It’s about turning neighbors into narcs. It’s creating what I call the ‘vagina vigilantes’: strangers empowered to decide gender based on nothing more than their prejudice, ‘Who is man enough, who is woman enough to use a restroom?’”
Republicans argued the bill is a common-sense measure to protect vulnerable biological women from biological males in sensitive spaces.
“When it comes to choosing between my little girl’s safety and privacy and a grown man’s bathroom preferences, I’m going to choose my little girl every time, and I would hope that you would do the same,” State Rep. Angelia Orr said.
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“When it comes to the dignity, privacy and safety of Texas women and girls — there is no compromise,” she continued. “This is completely non-negotiable.”
The bill needs another vote in the Senate to clear amendments made in the House version. If passed, it will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), who has signaled support for the legislation, for final approval.
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