Montana transgender bathroom bill killed in committee; ballot initiative vowed
HELENA — A bill that would have dictated which bathrooms people who are transgender can use was killed in a Legislative committee on Monday.
The Montana Locker Room Privacy Act was carried by Rep. Carl Glimm, R-Kila. Under the bill, if that initiative passed in November, a person could sue a government agency, such as a school or county, that didn't take reasonable steps to prohibit a member of the opposite sex from using a bathroom or locker room.
House Bill 609 was killed with 11 members of the House Judiciary Committee voting against the bill, seven voting for it and one abstaining.
Last week several people gave emotional testimony in front of the committee, saying the bill would discriminate against people who are transgender by forcing them to use a bathroom that does not comply with the gender they appear to be. Other opponents said the bill would put an impossible burden on Montana communities who would have to police facilities.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/montana-transgender-bathroom-bill-killed-in-committee-ballot-initiative-vowed/article_334716c1-0288-514c-855e-1f01fda79607.html