by Wyatt Ronan •
TENNESSEE – Today, the Tennessee House passed HB 1233 (SB 1367), a discriminatory bill that would deny transgender students access to the correct bathroom and locker rooms consistent with the gender identity. The bill further discriminates against transgender students and opens up schools to legal consequences if a student believes they have shared a sex-segregated space --bathrooms, locker rooms or other changing facility -- with a transgender student.
HB 1233 (SB 1367) is part of the 2021 “Slate of Hate” bills rippling through the Tennessee state legislature, along with the anti-transgender sports and business bathroom bills. These anti-equality pieces of legislation are being pushed by national extremist groups and peddled by lawmakers in Tennessee in an effort to sow fear and division.
In addition to this anti-transgender bill, the Tennessee House recently passed HB 1182 (SB 1224), another ‘bathroom bill’ that aims to prevent transgender people from using restrooms aligning with their identity and the legislature is considering HB 578 (SB 657), an anti-trans medical care ban, HB 800 (SB 1216), a bill that would prevent schools from providing an LGBTQ-inclusive education, and HB 372 (SB 193), a bill to permit all government employees, including teachers, first responders, and public officials to opt-out of diversity training.
Human Rights Campaign Associate Regional Campaign Director Melodía Gutiérrez released the following statement in response to the Tennessee House passing HB 1233 (SB 1367):
Resorting to outdated and baseless anti-equality arguments, the Tennessee legislature continues to relentlessly discriminate against and attempt to undermine the rights of LGBTQ and specifically transgender Tennesseans. Empowering those who wish to discriminate against transgender students and placing an undue burden on schools to accommodate these hurtful requests will lead to nothing but further stigmatization and degrading experiences for trans kids – all of whom deserve to feel comfortable and accepted at school just like every other student. Instead of focusing on addressing the serious challenges that affect the everyday lives of Tennesseans including healthcare, infrastructure, and a pandemic that requires decisive action from its state leaders, the legislature is focused on targeting transgender people and advancing their ‘Slate of Hate.’
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