A description of the very short bills are as follows:
Requires all public restrooms, other than single occupancy restrooms, to be gender-divided restrooms.
Prohibits the appropriation or expenditure of state revenues for the purpose of creating a gender-neutral environment, unless required by a federal or state court order
Both HB 1338 and HB 1339 are similar to bills that have been filed in Florida, Kentucky and Texas.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming people often face stress, anxiety and discrimination when accessing gender-specific bathrooms. Everyone has the right to use the bathroom without fear of harassment. Transgender people are part of our workplaces and our neighborhoods, and they need to be able to use the restroom safely just like everyone else.
A.J. Bockelman, PROMO Executive Director, added, “These bills are intended to stoke the fear of transgender people portrayed as predators. Fourteen cities and counties in Missouri and over 200 cities and counties across the country have passed laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in public accommodations with no increase in public safety incidents. You would think the legislature had more pressing issues to address rather than pursue straw-man arguments.”
