Texas Lawmakers Consider Bill Limiting Transgender Individuals' Use Of Public Bathrooms [UPDATED]

AUSTIN, TX — Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday touted the filing of a bill he championed and largely crafted to limit access to public bathrooms for transgender individuals despite considerable opposition to the measure—including business leaders saying the backlash to such efforts could result in losses of up to $8.5 billion for the state economy.

“The people of Texas elected us to stand up for common decency, common sense and public safety," Patrick asserted moments after the bill was filed.

A self-described Republican and conservative Christian, Patrick has led the charge against transgender people wanting to use public bathrooms matching their sexual identity, taking on the initiative as something of a crusade. In so doing, Patrick has framed his mission as one meant to protect women and children from sexual predators at worst and to safeguard their privacy at the very least — painting transgender individuals as posing a threat to public safety.

Patrick went on a full-court press in condemning a move by the Obama administration to codify rules related to transgender students' use of the bathrooms of their choice, setting the stage for the bill filed on Thursday. He appeared on several national current affairs programs to detail his efforts, but his messaging was met with skepticism as to its claims of a transgender threat, including skepticism from conservative pundit Megyn Kelly, who openly challenged him on his portrayals of transgender individuals in a testy exchange.

Perhaps in light of such questioning, the proposed legislation has been re-branded several times. It was set to be introduced as the "Privacy Protection Act," a name change from the more gender-specific "Women's Privacy Act" title Patrick had previously peddled — itself a reboot from the clunkier "Women’s Privacy and Business Protection Act."

Along the way, however, Patrick has gained a powerful ally in Gov. Greg Abbott, who joined him in the fight against transgender people using the bathrooms of their choice. In a much-discussed tweet, Abbott once mocked an initiative by President Barack Obama to set guidelines for schools to follow as it relates to transgender students' bathroom needs, contrasting his effort to that of John F. Kennedy's lunar landing undertaking.

On Thursday, Patrick settled on the more broadly named "Texas Privacy Act" as his Senate Bill 6 is dubbed. In a prepared statement, Patrick posited his move as a strike for "common decency" among other considerations while touting the virtues of separate facilities assigned by gender.

"This legislation codifies what has been common practice in Texas and everywhere else forever — that men and women should use separate, designated bathrooms," Patrick said in a prepared statement. "It is supported by an overwhelming majority of Texans including both Democrats and Republicans, Hispanics, African-Americans and Anglos, men and women."

He added that the bill also will enable businesses not to be forced to comply with government guidelines as it relates to bathroom use: “SB 6 also ensures that businesses have the freedom to determine their own bathroom policies and that no public school can institute a bathroom policy that allows boys to go in girls restrooms, showers and locker rooms and girls to go in boys restrooms, showers and locker rooms."

In acknowledging critics of his long-planned bill, Patrick assured it was not meant to discriminate against certain members of society but rooted on safety and privacy: “This issue is not about discrimination — it’s about public safety, protecting businesses and common sense. I congratulate Sen. Kolkhorst for filing SB 6 and for her commitment to protecting the privacy of Texans and keeping them safe.”

While it's been Patrick that has pushed aggressively for the bill, it was Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, who formally filed the bill.

Despite Patrick's assertions of widespread support for his pet bill, many Texans disagree with the notion that transgender people pose a public threat and their bathroom use should be dictated. In addition to skeptical journalists questioning Patrick's visions of bathroom predators, other critics have said no evidence exists to support his fears. The business community joined the chorus of detractors, warning that passage of such legislation would lead to substantial backlash that could cost the state billions of dollars in revenue.

Last month, the Texas Association of Business released a report detailing how such legislation could cost the state economy $8.5 billion annually while threatening 185,000 jobs. The hardest hit industries would be in the travel and tourism industries, according to the TAB report.

“Protecting Texas from billions of dollars in losses is simple," Chris Wallace, president of the business group, said during a news conference at the Capitol when the study was unveiled. "Don’t pass unnecessary laws that discriminate against Texans and our visitors. We cannot slam the door on the Texas miracle of openness, competitiveness, economic opportunity and innovation.”

He cited losses in other states passing similar legislation, prompted by boycotts to protest what they view as discriminatory bills. The same would occur in Texas, a state that boasts of its robust economy. The TAB report warned of potential losses in the state's gross domestic product, including $964 million to $8.5 billion should the legislation be introduced; significant job losses with estimates as high as 185,000 jobs; loss in the ability to attract, recruit and retain top talent, especially among millennials; and drastic hits to the convention and tourism industry, which has a direct economic impact of $69 billion, generates more than $6 billion in state and local tax revenues.

To read the full TAB report, click here.

Patrick has been seemingly undeterred despite such concerns over his efforts, which have been championed by Gov. Greg Abbott and other conservatives. While Patrick's office has yet to release details on the specific language of the bill, he's made clear in the past that it would dictate the use of public restrooms based on a person's gender at birth rather the one with which a person identifies.

If the bill becomes law, Texas would emerge as the fifth state with such legislation limiting transgender bathroom use. Virginia and Kentucky filed similar legislation just this week.

>>> Dan Patrick, official photo