Two little stories from across the pond which are victories for the Trans community in the USA dears. Anti-Trans Bills defeated in both Arizona and Texas.
In April 2013 an ordnance was approved in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on gender identity. Needless to say this made the hackles raise on a few opponents and Republican Representative John Kavanagh introduced a bill which would make it a crime for any person to use a public restroom or washing facility associated with a sex other than that assigned at birth, as stated on a birth certificate.
Silly boy Mister Kavanagh. Just what did he expect? For people to produce their birth certificates along with other proof of identity at the door of a public loo? Hmmm, seems so. Read on.
Kavanagh’s Bill caused uproar with claims of government overreach and intrusion into privacy. Was he deterred? Not for one moment. In fact Kavanagh then re-introduced his Bill with an inclusion to enlist citizens and businesses to monitor the gender of those using public restrooms. Basically he wanted private enterprise spying on people’s privates.
However members in Kavanagh’s own caucus group have voiced concerned about his definitions and he has now shelved his Bill, he says until next year. Frankly, I can’t see this one getting out of the starting gate (or should that be stalls dears?).
Meanwhile, deep in the heart of Texas (no dears, I’m not singing with a pair of chaps on my knees), it is law that trans people can marry if they can provide proof of a sex change. The Texas Legislature meets every two years and in April Senator Tommy Williams (Republican – gosh, shock horror, who would have thunk it?) attempted to remove this trans-positive law.
Stating the case of Littleton vs Prange (1999), Senator Williams tried to argue that ones gender is determined by sex at birth and this can never be changed. Headed up by former Transgender Foundation of America board member (now with Equality Texas) Daniel Williams, Senator Williams’ anti-trans Bill was roundly defeated and the pro-trans Texas legislature stands.
Silly man. Senator Williams should have learned when he tried to table exactly the same Bill in 2011 – and lost then on exactly the same grounds he lost this year.
Xandra 