Iowa Republicans push to restrict bathroom access for transgender students
SF 335 and HSB 208 would require students only use bathrooms that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate
SF 335 and HSB 208 would require students only use bathrooms that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate
SF 335 and HSB 208 would require students only use bathrooms that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate
Some Iowa House and Senate Republicans are moving forward with bills that would limit what bathrooms transgender students can use.
and would require students only use bathrooms that correspond to the sex listed on their birth certificate. Authors of the bill said they plan to expand the legislation to include locker rooms, showers and other school facilities.
Both bills moved forward out of subcommittee Tuesday after parents, students, LGBTQ advocates and school staff made passionate pleas, both in support and opposition, to lawmakers.
The bill would allow any Iowan to submit complaints if they believe anyone is using the wrong restroom at school. The plan directs the attorney general to investigate complaints.
"This bill empowers everyday individuals to attempt to police restrooms and make even non-transgender individuals like myself feel unwelcome simply because of how they're dressed, how they style their hair, or how someone thinks a man or a woman should look," said Becky Tayler, the executive director of Iowa Safe Schools.
Others argue the bill provides safety and privacy for all children.
"My concern isn't about transgenders. It's not those individuals that are most likely to be sexual predators, but rather the sexual predators that could exploit this type of situation by posing as transgendered in order to gain access to women and girls," said Iowa mom Amber Williams. "One assault would be one too many."
Parents of transgender children, like Kate Middleton, also shared their concerns with lawmakers.
"We're not asking boys to come into the girls' bathroom and peek over the sides and laugh at each other. I would be concerned about that too," Middleton said. "We're asking trans girls and girls to use the same bathroom, go into the stall, go pee and go out. If someone wants to masquerade as a man to do harm in a girl's bathroom, then we have trouble with cisgender troubled men or boys, and that should be our concern."
She also argues that single-occupancy bathrooms for transgender students should not be the only bathroom option allowed to them.
"I have heard some concerns, especially with a really large high school such as West High in Iowa City, where the only gender-neutral bathroom is way, way, way on the other side," Middleton said. "If kids want to go use that and make it back for their class that they're trying to get to, they're usually tardy, and then that's an issue. If they want to use the health office, they can, but that's often in use with kids who are sick."
Iowa mom Amber Williams argues providing transgender students a single-occupant restroom would provide "a safe space for all."
"I asked my 13-year-old son how he would feel if a girl who identified as a boy came into the bathroom if he was using it. He replied that would be 'super awkward.' My-15-year-old replied that he would not feel comfortable remaining in the bathroom or a locker room [and] certainly not undressing or showering. This bill allows the districts to accommodate with single occupant bathroom."
The bill would allow schools to provide "alternative facilities" upon request.
