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.