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Kyler's avatar

I live in Utah, no one has said or done anything about the bathroom ban. Originally there was a website to report "sightings". Someone made a different website that you could keep open on your browser and it would spam reports to them, they got rid of the website. They are pushing sex segregation in other places, like university dorms. I'm doing what I can to find ways to fight this Republican super majority, because it will only continue to get worse and we can't let that happen!

Shawn's avatar

The bathroom laws really show that conservatives think trans people don’t pass and that we’re basically just crossdessers with no medical transition. I’d wager that probably a majority of medically- transitioning trans people, if they’ve been long enough in the process, do pass, especially for the purposes of using the restroom (easy enough to go quickly in and out, keep your head down, not say anything if your voice is especially clockable). I pass completely as a cis man (other than I have to sit to pee, but so do some cis men), so there is absolutely no way I could safely use the women’s room, nor would I try even if I was in fucking Florida. Men don’t pay attention to each other in the restroom anyway. And if women didn’t treat restrooms like a fucking social gathering, they wouldn’t clock anyone either. I always hated that about using women’s room back in the day. I’m fucking pissing, Susan, stop talking to me.

Michelle Paquette's avatar

The new Texas law (goes into effect in December) is a weird one. They’re trying to use a variation of their ‘bounty’ legislation to penalize the facility operators should a transgender person use a restroom that doesn’t match the original guess of sex at birth. There is no legal penalty for the transgender transgressor.

“ A political subdivision or state agency shall take every

reasonable step to ensure an individual whose sex is opposite to the

sex designated for a multiple-occupancy private space under

Subsection (a) does not enter the private space.”

The actions a Texas resident has to take, and the requirements on the facility and the attorneys are fairly complicated. None of this involves the transgender person.

“ SUBCHAPTER C. ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 3002.101. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A political subdivision

or state agency that violates this chapter is liable for a civil

penalty of:

(1) $5,000 for the first violation; and

(2) $25,000 for the second or a subsequent violation.

(b) Each day of a continuing violation of this chapter

constitutes a separate violation.

Sec. 3002.102. COMPLAINT; NOTICE. (a) A resident of this

state may file a complaint with the attorney general against a

political subdivision or state agency for a violation of this

chapter only if:

(1) the resident provides the political subdivision or

state agency a written notice describing the violation; and

(2) the political subdivision or state agency does not

cure the violation before the end of the third business day after

the date the written notice is received.

(b) A complaint filed under this section must include:

(1) a copy of the written notice; and

(2) the resident's sworn statement or affidavit

describing the violation and indicating the resident provided the

notice required by this section.

Sec. 3002.103. DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL: INVESTIGATION

AND NOTICE. (a) Before bringing an action against a political

subdivision or state agency for a violation of this chapter, the

attorney general shall investigate a complaint filed under Section

3002.102 to determine whether legal action is warranted.

(b) The political subdivision or state agency subject to the

complaint shall provide to the attorney general any information the

attorney general requests in connection with the complaint,

including:

(1) supporting documents related to the complaint; and

(2) a statement on whether the political subdivision

or state agency has complied or intends to comply with this chapter.

(c) If the attorney general determines legal action is

warranted, the attorney general shall provide to the appropriate

officer of the political subdivision or state agency charged with

the violation a written notice:

(1) describing the violation and location of the

multiple-occupancy private space found to be in violation;

(2) stating the amount of the proposed penalty for the

violation; and

(3) requiring the political subdivision or state

agency to cure the violation on or before the 15th day after the

date the notice is received to avoid the penalty, unless a court

previously found the political subdivision or state agency liable

for a violation of this chapter.”

The penalties would be levied against the facility and will go into a pre-existing state victim compensation fund.

I can’t imagine how this could be made to work in practice when, for example, that big ole Airbus lands at DFW and 500 passengers in desperate need of a restroom enter the terminal. “Every reasonable step” there involves mostly getting out of the way!

Aleksandra Vaca's avatar

A lot of them are like that. They implement a bounty system, except proving they violated it is so difficult, so nothing ever happens.

But yes, Texas’ is especially weird. It doesn’t define what curing the violation even is, so whenever someone does file the complaint, how can they prove the building didn’t cure it? Then they need an affidavit just to escalate it…it’s extremely difficult to even pursue a fine…