Transgender bathroom bill revised: bill moves forward
Jan 24, 2024, 3:44 PM | Updated: Jan 25, 2024, 10:59 am
DURHAM, NC - MAY 10: Unisex signs hang outside bathrooms at Toast Paninoteca on May 10, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina. Debate over transgender bathroom access spreads nationwide as the U.S. Department of Justice countersues North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory from enforcing the provisions of House Bill 2 (HB2) that dictate what bathrooms transgender individuals can use. (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
(Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — A bill involving transgender bathroom use has passed a second reading in the Senate following significant changes.
HB257 initially required individuals to use the bathroom designated for their sex – unless they had undergone transgender surgery and legally changed their gender on their birth certificate.
On Wednesday, the bill was altered and currently does not bar transgender individuals from entering a public sex-designated bathroom. Instead, the bill focuses on “the actions of those who commit lewd and offensive behavior in a privacy space, no matter the gender,” and “strengthens criminal charges for those who commit offensive behavior in a bathroom.”
The bill instead requires that individuals enter locker rooms and changing rooms that correspond to their sex.
The bill states,” the objective remains the same; we want to ensure everyone feels comfortable in Utah.”
According to KSL TV’s Lindsay Aerts, many Republicans stood to thank the sponsor for making these big changes so they could support the bill.
#NEW: The senate has paused the bill on bathroom/privacy spaces as they wait for a 5th version of the bill to go online. They have passed out a paper copy to the media in the room that we can report once it’s online.
Stand by.
— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) January 24, 2024
The revised bill states it would require future government buildings to provide more options for privacy in changing rooms and strengthen criminal charges for those who commit offensive behavior in a “privacy space.” It outlines enhanced penalties for government entities and individuals.
Please read the complete story at KSLTV.com.
