On Friday, Utah lawmakers approved a bill that prohibits transgender individuals from using bathrooms in schools and government buildings that align with their gender identities.
A new House Bill 257 has been introduced, titled “Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying and Women’s Opportunities.” This bill aims to establish the state’s legal definition of “male” and “female” based on a person’s genitalia rather than their gender identity. The bill is now on its way to the governor’s desk for final approval.
Lawmakers in Utah have once again passed legislation that restricts the rights of the state’s transgender community, marking the third consecutive year.
In a striking turn of events, the bill has been passed, a mere seven years after North Carolina’s controversial HB 2 sparked widespread national outrage. The passage of HB 2 in Utah has garnered relatively little attention compared to the boycotts and protests it sparked in other states.
While global corporations, big-name performers, and college sports leagues made headlines for their opposition to similar bills, the response to the Utah bill has been relatively muted, with most of the attention coming from advocates and LGBTQ individuals residing in the state.