Single-Sex Bathroom Bill Floats With House Committee

State Rep. Frank Artiles’ proposed single-sex bathroom bill has made it past its first big hurdle without flushing down the drain.

The Miami Republican’s proposal cleared the House Civil Justice Subcommittee Wednesday, according to House records.

With a total of nine votes in favor and four against, the bill officially gets to move forward on its next step to becoming a law.

While the subcommittee gave it a greenlight, not all lawmakers are happy with the proposal that would make it a crime to use a public bathroom designated for the opposite sex.

“This ridiculous legislation seeks to criminalize the transgender community,” Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, was quoted by WTSP as saying. “Are we really going to be known as the state that allowed such a hateful bill become a law?”

See Also:

• Single-Sex Bathroom Bill Floated in Florida House
• Florida Lawmaker Accused of Punching Spring Breaker

“The purpose of this act is to secure privacy and safety for all individuals using single-sex public facilities,” Artiles explained in the bill’s text. “Single-sex public facilities are places of increased vulnerability and present the potential for crimes against individuals using those facilities, including, but not limited to, assault, battery, molestation, rape, voyeurism, and exhibitionism.”

Exceptions do exist.

Unisex restrooms are exempt under the proposed law as are family bathrooms. The law also wouldn’t apply to bathrooms that are meant for use by only one person at a time.

The law would apply to locker rooms, public shower facilities and dressing rooms.

A Senate companion bill has been filed and was referred earlier this week to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice, state records indicate.

Artiles’ controversial bill has drawn fire from the transgender community, as well. Equality Florida’s transgender director Gina Duncan has called the measure “dehumanizing,” WTSP reported.

Artiles is the Florida lawmaker accused earlier this week of punching a 21-year-old college student in a Tallahassee bar. He’s denied those allegations.

What are your thoughts on this proposal? Should the bill pass or does it go too far? Tell us by commenting below.

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