Discriminatory Restroom Ban Law Introduced in Texas

January 5, 2017 - Today Lt. Governor Dan Patrick introduced a bill cosponsored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, that would discriminate against transgender people under the guise of protecting women's and students' privacy. The bill would ban transgender people from using the restroom that matches the gender they live as every day and ban cities and towns from passing nondiscrimination ordinances that protect transgender people from discrimination.

"All of us, including transgender people and their families, care about privacy and safety in restrooms," said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director. "This bill singles out transgender people for discrimination, violating their dignity and hindering their ability to go about their daily lives just like everyone else."

More than 200 sexual assault and domestic violence organizations have debunked the notion that discrimination protects privacy and agree that transgender people should be able to use the restrooms that match the gender live as every day. Further, hundreds of American cities and towns, including Ft. Worth and Dallas, have passed nondiscrimination protections that ensure transgender people are able to go about their daily lives and use public facilities the same as everyone else, with no increase in problems.

Businesses across the nation have taken action against similarly discriminatory bills in Indiana and North Carolina, costing those states billions of dollars in lost contracts from the likes of the NCAA, SalesForce, PayPal, and many others. In addition, policies like this will the the catalyst for costly, unnecessary lawsuits.

Chuck Smith, Executive Director of Equality Texas said, "This unnecessary, unenforceable law would simply function as a tool to target and discriminate against transgender Texans and their families. That is simply unacceptable. As folks get to know transgender Texans, you'll find that they care about privacy and safety just like everyone else, and simply want to be able to go to school, work, out to dinner, and provide for their families."

Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people.

Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization dedicated solely to securing full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.