MFI Legislative Brief

Yes, HB 1728 is a "Bathroom Bill"

H.B. 1728 allows persons to use public restrooms, changing rooms, locker rooms, etc., according to their "gender identity or expression," which the bill defines as "a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual's assigned sex at birth."

Due to this wording, any man can legally gain access to facilities reserved for women and girls simply by indicating, verbally or non-verbally, that he inwardly feels female at the moment. There is no way to distinguish between someone suffering from "Gender Identity Disorder" and a sexual predator looking to exploit this law. This is the dangerous reality of this bill.

While advocates of the bill are now denying the bill would affect single-sex bathrooms, the author of the bill has admitted just that fact. Attorney Laura Langley, of the Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), said in a Bay Windows article last year that under the bill "those [single sex] facilities would have to open their doors to anyone who identifies as and lives as the gender that they serve. A transgender person who identifies as a particular gender would be entitled to use bathroom, locker room and other single-sex facilities for that gender, regardless of whether or not they have had surgery or are taking hormones."

This bill would endanger the privacy and safety of women and children in public bathrooms and other very private places. We call on you to oppose this legislation and stand up for the privacy and dignity rights of ALL citizens.

 

Source: Bay Windows, "Advocates, opponents of trans rights bill to have their say on Beacon Hill", February 28, 2008: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc3=&id=70904

PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN
OPPOSE the Transgender Bill, HB 1728