Washington, DC—Today, after hearing the testimony of over 200 Texans against the bill, the Senate State Affairs Committee voted to pass SB 3, a bathroom ban targeting transgender children. National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling offered the following statement in response:
“For nearly eleven hours, Texans sat in front of the committee members and begged them not to hurt transgender children. Senators heard from transgender people, their families, and allies of all stripes—women’s rights advocates, faith leaders, business owners, teachers, doctors—who explained why this bill would endanger transgender children, jeopardize the local economy, and do nothing to protect anyone’s privacy or safety. One after another, transgender Texans and their loved ones shared painful experiences with violence and mistreatment that stand to be exacerbated by SB 3. It is shameful—beyond shameful—that most of the committee members chose to ignore their appeals to common sense and common decency. As the bill advances to a floor vote in the Senate, we urge all representatives to listen to their constituents and their conscience and reject this cruel bill.”
