Transgender Bathroom Controversy 2017: Texas Bill Could Cost Lone Star State Millions If Passed

A new legislature unveiled by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas on Thursday could ban transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice. Senate Bill 6 would require people to use bathrooms or locker rooms based on the gender they had been assigned to at birth.

The bill was announced at a news conference in Austin days before the state’s legislative session is scheduled to begin. Patrick said the bill aims at protecting children in public schools and anyone else who makes use of public facilities.

“The people of Texas elected us to stand up for common sense, common decency and public safety,” the Houston Republican reportedly said. “We know we’re on the right side of the issue. We’re on the right side of history.”

According to the bill, businesses have the freedom to draft their own bathroom policies and the state is banned from interfering with those decisions. It also proposed civil penalties for school districts and government properties that deviated from allocating restrooms based on a person’s “biological sex.”

However, Texas business groups and Democrats opposed the bill calling it discriminatory, adding that it was bad for business.

“Texas cannot afford discrimination. It’s bad for business, bad for Texans, and just down right wrong,” State Democratic Party Executive Director Crystal Perkins said.

The Texas Association of Business said the bill could do some serious damage to the state’s economy. Chris Wallace, the association’s president, said if the bill is passed, it could leader to an estimated 185,000 people losing their jobs with the Lone Star state losing $8.5 billion in gross domestic product.

“All Texans care deeply about safety and privacy, but Senate Bill 6 isn’t about either of those things,” Wallace said calling the legislature “wholly unnecessary.”

The bill’s sponsor GOP Sen. Lois Kolkhorst reportedly said her “thoughtful and unique” bill would allow people to lodge complaints if they witness something in public bathrooms that made them uncomfortable.

“I’m filing this legislation not to start a controversy, but to end one and give solutions to a very tough issue,” she added.

Some Republicans in the GOP-dominated state legislature have also expressed their misgivings about the bill, which Patrick vowed to prioritize. Republican House Speaker Joe Strauss said the legislature won’t be the highest priority.