LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Another bill impacting students who are transgender has been pre-filed in Kentucky. House Bill 30 would "ensure that student privacy exists in school restrooms, locker rooms, and shower rooms."
It would make it so students would have to use facilities designated for their biological sex.
Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, called the legislation "absurd," saying that legislators are "once again, attacking Kentucky's trans kids, trying to police where they pee."
The bill would require schools to provide "the best available accommodations" for transgender students. Some accommodations the bill lists include single-stall restrooms or "controlled use" of faculty bathrooms, locker and shower rooms.
Students who are transgender will have to tell school officials, and parents or legal guardians must provide written consent to receive the accommodations.
Meanwhile Martin Cothran, senior political analyst at the Family Foundation, a Christian fundamentalist lobbying organization, backs the bill and explained the group feels bathroom use should be restricted to assigned birth gender.
Hartman said he feels this bill is a clear violation of Title IX, since Democratic lawmakers and leaders have already written laws that support LGBTQ+ rights.
"This is a decision that the Supreme Court has made over the past several years that so many folks have agreed," Hartman said.
On the other hand, Cothran feels ideology needs to be taken out of the bathroom debate, adding that the bill serves as guidance when there is an ongoing battle like this.
"We think the distinction between the two kinds of bathroom is biological and that should be the basis of any policy," Cothran said.
However, Hartman feels legislators should take this time to shift gears and write laws supporting transgender students instead of attacking them.
"The state legislature needs to pass a statewide fairness law to finally close that gap and ensure that all LGBTQ+ people across Kentucky are treated with basic dignity and respect," he said.
A national survey by GLSEN, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ students, said multiple school districts around the country have reported an increase in sexual and physical assaults specifically against transgender students.
A 2019 national survey of LGBTQ students found 54% of those who participated in the study experienced verbal harassment based on gender identity.
Right now, House Bill 30 is in the committee, which means it has been assigned for study. If it is released by the committee it is in then it will be put on the calendar to be voted on.
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Hartman feels this bill is a clear violation of Title 9 since democratic lawmakers and leaders have already written laws that support LGBTQ+ rights.
On the other hand, Cothran feels ideology needs to be taken out of the bathroom debate.
Hartman also believes legislators should take this time to shift gears and write laws supporting transgender students instead of attacking them.
"The state legislature needs to pass a statewide fairness law to finally close that gap and ensure that all LGBTQ people across Kentucky are treated with basic dignity and respect," said Hartman.
The Family Foundation says this bill serves as guidance when there is an ongoing battle like this.
Cothran said, "we think the distinction between the two kinds of bathroom is biological and that should be the bases of any policy."
Right now House Bill 30 is in the committee which means it has been assigned for study and if it is released by the committee it is then put on the calendar to be voted on.