‘Bathroom Bill’ debate underway

After a week of hearings, the Texas Senate has started debate on the proposed “bathroom bill.”

Senate Bill 6 would force transgender people to use the bathroom that matches the sex listed on their birth certificate, and lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle shared fierce viewpoints.

District 18 Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst adamantly opposed amendments put forth by other lawmakers.

“I believe that the blurring of gender — although I respect that people internalize something different – believe that, all of that blurring will lead to less rights for women,” said Kolkhorst.

The bill applies to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools and government buildings. Violating the laws could result in fines up to $1,500 for the first offense and up to $10,500 thereafter.

El Paso Sen. Jose Rodriguez vehemently opposed the legislation citing the work his office does with the LGBT community.

“Part of it is our lack of understanding of the transgender community, part of it is fear; fear of the transgender community,” said Rodriguez. “As we’ve had in the past about other people who are different, and developed laws based on that fear, which ended up, eventually as we progressed, being overturned by the courts.”

Many senators have expressed concerns about the economic backlash Texas faces due to SB 6.

The website keeptxopen.org put out an open letter detailing the effects the legislation would have if passed, signed by 70 big-name businesses.