NCTE Condemns Committee Action on AZ Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill, SB 1045
Yesterday, in a 7-4 vote, the unnecessary and discriminatory bathroom bill, SB1045, moved forward from the Appropriations Committee to the House floor. SB1045 renders local LGBT nondiscrimination laws unenforceable and protects businesses and other facility managers that choose to discriminate against transgender and gender nonconforming public restroom users. In response to the committee vote on SB1045, National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling said: "The Arizona Appropriations Committee approved an incredibly discriminatory and hateful bill that specifically targets transgender people. Rejecting the thousands of people who've spoken out against SB1045 in Arizona and across the United States, Rep. Kavanagh and his six allies instead chose to defend discrimination and protect discriminators. SB1045 brings more shame to Arizona's legislature for isolating and targeting another marginalized community. Transgender Arizonans and our allies stand stronger and more determined to put an end to Rep. Kavanagh's anti-transgender campaign."
Rep. John Kavanagh, the bill author, pushed SB1045 after his failure to pass SB1432 last week. SB1432, known as the "papers please" bathroom bill, would have criminalized people for using a restroom that does not match their birth certificate. Both SB1432 and SB1045 were developed in response to Phoenix's LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance enacted in February of this year. Keisling added, "SB1045 is an unnecessary bill, disconnected from the reality facing transgender Arizonans. Over half of transgender Arizonans have faced harassment or discrimination in places of public accommodations. And stripping local governments the ability to end this violence against us is a dangerous abuse of the capitol's authority." The National Center for Transgender Equality applauds the advocacy of advocates in Arizona who fought off SB1432. And NCTE will continue to work with advocates across the state as SB1045 moves forward.
