The Bathroom Bill
Most of the bills tabled in the Texas House of Representatives prove to be controversial. The Texas ‘Bathroom Bill’ topped the list of controversial bills in 2017. Senator Lois Kolkhorst drafted and proposed the bill. Even though the majority of the Senate supported the bill, the House of Representatives had a different opinion about it (Davis, 2017). Since it involves Texas citizens’ rights, many issues indicating its passing or disregard occurred. Notably, the Texas House of Representatives convened a special overtime session to debate the bill; eventually, it failed.
The Bill’s Proposed Solution
The Bathroom Bill seeks to force transgender individuals to use restrooms, showers, and locker rooms correlating to the identity on their birth certificates. For example, a transgender girl must use the boys’ restroom because her birth certificate reads “male.” According to Senator Kolkhorst, there should be boundaries between gender, and a girl born a boy who seeks to use a women’s restroom violates privacy rights of the other users of that bathroom (Davis, 2017). Those favoring the bill argue that it will protect girls and women and preserve their privacy. Opponents assert the bill discriminates transgender individuals and endanger their lives. Such laws encourage those opposed to transgender transitions to instigate violence and harassment against them. Bodily harm, emotional and psychological torture, could be used against transgender girls and boys by their schoolmates. Also, the emotional and mental harassment may result in suicide. The proposers observed that if passed into law, it would apply to high schools and local government buildings only. As such, the impact would be in the school-going transgender individuals, and not the entire population.
Arguments in Favor of the Bill
Security was one of the arguments presented in support of the bill. Even after a boy changes genders to female, some individuals still believe them to be “male.” Hence, having male children sharing private rooms with girls could lead to cases of rape and sexual harassment. Another argument supporting the Bathroom Bill is the need for proper accommodation for all high school students. Children deserve comfortable environments to thrive academically and psychologically. Even though boys who change their gender to girls may feel comfortable among other girls, the girls may be uncomfortable. Additionally, girls may feel threatened by their transgender counterparts, thus affecting their choice of housing and learning. Girls may be uncomfortable living in the same quarters with individuals they consider boys. Therefore, they choose to look for accommodation in places without transgender persons. Consequently, making such choices forces them to move houses or dormitories affecting their social lives. Hence, transgender girls should be accommodated separately from other girls. In addition to security and proper shelter, privacy was another reason to push for the passing of the Bathroom Bill. Bathrooms and showers are intimate spaces that should only accommodate people of the same gender. Having transgender children sharing bathrooms with ‘normal’ children could be an invasion of privacy (Davis, 2017). Therefore, the bill seeks to ensure that there are respect and observation of confidentiality in intimate rooms.
Arguments against the Bill
While the Bathroom Bill supporters presented their arguments, opponents argued that it discriminates against transgender children. According to groups of lawmakers and advocates of civil rights, the law discriminates against young transgender people who already face challenges in society. Also, the opponents argued that passing the proposed legislation would endanger the transgender children and possibly expose them to dangerous situations. A transgender girl forced to share a bathroom with boys becomes vulnerable to sexual assault (Jereb, 2017). Finally, passing and exercising the contents of the Bathroom Bill violates the civil and human rights of transgender children at school. Every individual has the right to freedom of expression, but passing a law that restricts transgender children to separate bathrooms based on their birth certificate gender restricts that right.
The Parties and Political Leaders Involved
Consequently, Texas Senate lawmakers supported the bill unanimously. Nevertheless, the Republicans in the House of Representatives were divided. While some, including the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, and state representative Ron Simmons supported the bill, others opposed it. Women legislators such as Kolkhorst and Jessica Farrar felt it was necessary. On the other hand, the Speaker of the House, Joe Straus, opposed the bill and ensured that it did not appear in the House committee. Business community representatives and civil rights activists also spoke against the Bathroom Bill, threatened to take action against its passing. This left some individuals concerned that passing the bill would lead to an economic boycott by Fortune 500 companies and other organizations, as witnessed in North Carolina. There was also the issue of educators disobeying such a law because many opposed it and considered it unnecessary (Beese & Martin, 2017). Even though a heated debate over the Bathroom Bill engulfed the Senate and the House of Representatives in Texas for a long time, it later came to a halt. While the speaker declined to present it to the committee, members refused to vote on it.
In conclusion, Texas’ Bathroom Bill is controversial as it touches on sensitive issues including children and sexuality. It raised concerns about discrimination and security with both advocates and opponents claiming that it will affect the safety of school-aged children. However, those opposing the bill cited their reasons as discrimination and endangerment of children among others (Jereb, 2017). Eventually, the legislative session ended without passing the bill. Nonetheless, the advocates of the bill hope that the debate will continue at the next meeting.