Mitch Perry
Miami Republican Rep. Frank Artiles‘ controversial bill that would criminalize bathroom use for transgender people moves to its second committee in the House Tuesday, and LGBT activists are now in Tallahassee lobbying legislators to vote against it.
The Government Operations Subcommittee will consider HB 583, which would make it illegal for transgend people to enter sex segregated facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, or dressing rooms. Critics contend the bill also would compel businesses to discriminate against their own employees and customers, and invalidate nondiscrimination policies that already exist on the local level.
Artiles says he proposed the bill in response to Miami’s new nondiscrimination ordinance, which broadly protects trans rights. According to Artiles, the Miami ordinance lets men legally enter women’s restrooms and locker rooms in order to assault them. He says his legislation is needed to prevent rapes, molestations, voyeurism, and other crime in bathrooms.
Equality Florida, the LGBT activist group, has dozens of members they call “volunteer lobbyists” in Tallahassee this week for its Annual Lobby Days.
It has also issued a script for its members to use when calling up the 10 members of the Government Operations Subcommittee who will be voting on the bill Tuesday. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and House Majority Leader Dana Young are also on the list of legislators to contact.
In discussing his support from the House this past week for the amendment to repeal Florida’s ban on same-sex adoptions, Artiles acknowledged his bill has made international headlines, but he pushes back on the idea that his legislation is hateful.
“I’m not a homophobe. I’m not a transphobe. I’m a father,” Artiles said before voting for the bill.
While Equality Florida is trying to have the majority Republican House reject the bill, undoubtedly Christian conservatives are pushing legislators to support it.
The Florida Family Council has listed Artiles legislation as among the “good bills” being introduced in Tallahassee this session.
If the bill moves through the Government Operations Subcommittee successfully, it’s next stop would be in the House Judiciary Committee.
