A bill advancing in Montana’s House of Representatives would require transgender people to use public bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. The measure passed 58-42 with unanimous Republican support and Democrat opposition.
If approved, the bill would apply to public facilities, including schools, jails and prisons, mandating separate restrooms and changing rooms for males and females. The bill defines sex based on a person’s X and Y chromosomes and their ability to produce eggs or sperm.
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Republican sponsor Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe argues that the bill protects women’s privacy in spaces meant to be safe. She says women should not be forced to compromise due to “cultural trends.”
However, opponents of the measure, including two Democratic lawmakers, have strongly criticized the bill. Zooey Zephyr, a transgender representative, called the bill dangerous for trans women. Zephyr pointed to a legal addition allowing individuals to sue if they encounter someone of the opposite sex in a restroom or changing room.
Last month, Zephyr faced a bill that would have prevented her from using the women’s restroom at the Montana Capitol. She said, “Trans people walk through the state of Montana afraid enough already.”
Critics also raised concerns about the potential cost of implementing the bill. They also question how local governments would verify a person’s reproductive makeup.
Before heading to the Republican-controlled Senate, the bill must pass one more vote in the House.
In recent years, similar bills targeting transgender bathroom access have been passed in at least 11 other states. They include Utah, Florida, Alabama and Ohio.
Tags: Democrats, Gender identity, House Democrats, House Republicans, Montana, Republicans, Transgender
[Lauren Taylor]
A BILL PUSHES FORWARD IN THE MONTANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AIMED AT RESTRICTING BATHROOM ACCESS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
EVERY DEMOCRAT OPPOSED THE MEASURE, WITH 42 VOTING AGAINST IT, WHILE ALL REPUBLICANS BACKED IT, SECURING A MAJORITY WITH 58 VOTES IN FAVOR.
THE BILL REQUIRES PEOPLE TO USE RESTROOMS THAT ALIGN WITH THE SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH, RATHER THAN THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.
IT APPLIES TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, JAILS, AND PRISONS, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE SEPARATE RESTROOMS AND CHANGING ROOMS FOR MALES AND FEMALES.
THE BILL DEFINES SEX BASED ON BIOLOGY, USING A PERSON’S X AND Y CHROMOSOMES AND THEIR ‘“NONAMBIGUOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL GENITALIA PRESENT AT BIRTH.”
A REPUBLICAN SPONSOR OF THE BILL SAYS WOMEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SACRIFICE THEIR PRIVACY IN PLACES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE, DUE TO “CULTURAL TRENDS.”
TWO MONTANA LAWMAKERS CALLED FOR THE MEASURE TO BE REJECTED ON WEDNESDAY, INCLUDING ZOOEY ZEPHYR, A TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY IMPACTED BY A SIMILAR BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BARRED HER FROM USING THE WOMEN’S RESTROOM INSIDE THE CAPITOL.
SHE SAYS “Trans people walk through the state of Montana afraid enough already.” AND THIS BILL COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS FOR TRANS WOMEN.
SHE ALSO POINTED OUT A LEGAL PROVISION IN THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO SUE IF THEY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN A RESTROOM OR CHANGING ROOM.
OPPONENTS QUESTIONED THE COST OF THE BILL AND HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD CONFIRM AN INDIVIDUAL’S REPRODUCTIVE MAKEUP.
BEFORE MAKING ITS WAY TO THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE, THE MEASURE MUST SECURE ONE MORE HOUSE VOTE.
IN RECENT YEARS AT LEAST ELEVEN OTHER STATES ROLLED OUT SIMILAR BILLS TO BAN TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM USING BATHROOMS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR
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