Texas Bathroom Bill: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google Lobby Against Proposal

Major technology firms including Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft are demanding legislators in Texas reject a proposed law that would prohibit transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity.

Executives at the companies, along with several other large tech firms, penned a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, urging him not to pursue such a bill, which the companies called “discriminatory” and “bad for business.”

Read: Texas House Approves ‘Bathroom Bill’ For Transgender Students In Public Schools Across State

"As large employers in the state, we are gravely concerned that any such legislation would deeply tarnish Texas' reputation as open and friendly to businesses and families," the company executives wrote. "Our ability to attract, recruit and retain top talent, encourage new business relocations, expansions and investment, and maintain our economic competitiveness would all be negatively affected."

“Discrimination is wrong and it has no place in Texas or anywhere in our country. Our perspective is grounded in our values and our long-held commitment to diversity and inclusion,” the letter said.

Joining Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft in signing the letter were the heads of Facebook, IBM, Salesforce, Cisco, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Gearbox Software, Celanese Corp., Silicon Labs and GSD&M.

The proposed law being considered by the Texas Legislature would require transgender students attending schools in the state to use restrooms that match the gender identity on their birth certificates.

The bill mirrors similar, controversial legislation approved in North Carolina last year. That law caused a similar outcry from the tech and business communities. PayPal scaled back its business in the state in the wake of the bill's enactment.

Read: Sex Discrimination: Texas House Adds Limited Definition Of Sex To Bill Regulating Uber, Lyft

Last weekend, the Texas House of Representatives approved a scaled-back version of the bill that would apply only to public schools. That version of the bill would bar transgender students from choosing the bathroom they use and allow schools to create single occupancy facilities.

The state Senate rejected that version as too weak. However, there has yet to be enough of a consensus within the Legislature to pass a stronger version of the bill that would apply to all schools in the state.

The Senate’s attempt to pass the bill stalled before lawmakers adjourned Monday, but it is believed Abbott may order the Senate back to work in a special session to pass the bill.

The attempt to pass the bathroom bill comes just weeks after the Texas Legislature attempted to attach an amendment defining “sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female" in a bill ostensibly designed to regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft.

The amendment was adopted by the House on a 90-52 vote but stripped from the bill before it was passed into law.