Salt Lake City: An act that specifies which restrooms can be used in public buildings came to an end after a wild year on Utah’s Capitol Hill. The act was still awaiting the Governor’s signature as of Friday night, Mr. Spencer Cox.
After the House and Senate made some changes to ensure that minor students wouldn’t be charged for using a restroom that didn’t initially identify with their sex at birth, this bill went through some back and forth earlier on Friday.
In the end, HB 257 was largely approved by the government.
Unless a person has completely transitioned and changed their birth certificate, biological boys are required to use men’s areas and biological women in “government-owned or managed” facilities. It uses a person’s tissues to distinguish between male and female. This only applies to public areas; private companies are excluded.
See: The bill addressing transgender people’s bathroom access and privacy has been approved by the #UTLEG.
Sen @danmccay claims that using a restroom that doesn’t align with your sex at birth is “risk,” despite the fact that the bill does not impose criminal penalties for doing so. Photo: www.twitter.com/nwuRJK2Wls
January 27, 2024, Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir)
Additionally, the bill calls for more single-occupancy spaces in new construction and a feasibility study of installing them. Schools must create a “privacy strategy” for kids.
The bill’s Republican sponsor, Sen. Dan McCay, R-Riverton, was questioned about the effects of his proposal and who could use which restroom.
He advised people to use the restroom of their birth sex. They should look for a non-gender-specific restroom if there are any inquiries, he added.
Unless they cause “affront or alarm” or commit a crime like lewdness, pornography, or loitering, the act does not punish someone for simply using the incorrect restroom. And it makes those sanctions more severe, particularly when using the restroom or changing areas for people of the other sex. McCay continued by saying that a transgender person is “at risk” if they use the restroom of the gender they identify with rather than the one they were born with.
Mayors of Salt Lake City and SL County issue consequences from two contentious bills
“You will put yourself at greater risk if you enter a bathroom that is not consistent with your birth sex or birth gender.” “And I believe that’s the best way for everyone to ask themselves, ‘How can I avoid risk?’ How can I reduce my risk of being arrested and the fair alarm risk associated with the associated criminal penalties? I believe it to be fairly obvious, you know,” he said.
This is not finished.
Democrats assert that they will continue to push for policy changes, whether it be this program or the next.
Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said, “What we’re trying to convey to the people, this is not over.”
“This is the beauty of a citizen government where we are all going to go back and live with what we’re passing in those laws, whether it’s in higher ed, K-12 educational institutions, that interaction, the franchises themselves, you know, how that will work for all of us if we were to be witnessing situations.” “I believe that will serve as a lesson, so please return and complete the necessary tasks. Correct. Therefore, we’re urging citizens never to give up.
Utah Legislature approves HB 257
Before passing HB 257 and sending it to the Governor for approval, Utah legislators continued to make significant changes to it today. A new substitute that would guarantee that… Photo: twitter.com/IWxPw3bN1X
January 26, 2024, Equality Utah (@EqualityUtah).
The country’s most well-known LGBTQ rights advocacy organization, Equality Utah, expressed gratitude for the changes for students in a statement, but added that they “hold the position that trans Americans have the freedom and liberty to access facilities within common spaces.”
Additionally, they express “regret for the fear and problems” that many people in the community are experiencing.
He declined to comment to KSL Television on whether the Governor will sign it.
Sen. McCay stated that “they have never expressed any major concerns so far,” and that he and those working to pass this bill have been in contact with the Governor’s office.
