CEO DATELINE - Texas ‘bathroom bill' opposed by associations scaled back
CEO DATELINE - Texas ‘bathroom bill' opposed by associations scaled back
- May 23, 2017 |
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Walt Williams
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Texas lawmakers have scaled back a proposed law requiring individuals to use public restrooms corresponding to their sex at the time of birth amid pressure from businesses and industry associations.
The Texas House of Representatives approved legislation Monday restricting transgender students from using public school bathrooms not corresponding to their biological sex, the Washington Post reported. While widely criticized by LGBT advocates, the proposed law is much narrower in scope than the legislation initially floated by Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick, who wanted to restrict transgender access to all public restrooms. http://wapo.st/2qg58kQ
Patrick's proposal was modeled after North Carolina's controversial "bathroom bill," which has reportedly cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost business since it became law in 2016. Earlier this year, nearly three dozen visitors bureaus, local chambers of commerce and national associations formed the "Texas Welcomes All" coalition to fight the enactment of a similar law in the Lone Star state. Coalition members include ASAE, TechNet, Professional Convention Management Association and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
The coalition welcomed the news of the death of the boarder bathroom bill, which died in the Texas House earlier this month. The group has remained silent about the new proposal, which was included as an amendment to an unrelated school hazard preparedness bill. The new language would exclude facilities used for trade shows, conventions and other association events.
Texas would become only the second state to restrict the use of public restrooms based on biological sex if the legislation becomes law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Fifteen states considered similar bathroom bills this year but most were turned down. http://bit.ly/2qRMR1b
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