Texas takes a major step toward enacting its own transgender 'bathroom' law

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
(Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

On Sunday night, the Texas House approved 91-50 an amendment that would prohibit transgender students at public and charter schools to use the restroom or locker room that matches their gender identity, overriding any local school district accommodations. Transgender students will be directed to use single-occupancy restrooms and locker rooms, said the amendment's sponsor, Rep. Chris Paddie (R), who insisted that it has "absolutely no intent" to discriminate and is "absolutely about child safety."

The broader bill, on public school emergency preparedness, is expected to be approved Monday, and easily clear the Senate, which passed a broader, North Carolina–style transgender bathroom bill, SB 6, earlier this year. House Speaker Joe Straus (R) opposed that bill — a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and especially Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) — and it never came up for a House vote. Along with Straus and the Texas legislature's badly outnumbered Democrats, the transgender bathroom bill is opposed by major companies, chambers of commerce, and the NFL and NBA. That's no small matter, The Associated Press notes. "Since 2004, Texas has hosted more combined Super Bowls, NBA All-Star Games (three), and NCAA men's Final Fours (five) than any other state."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.