Hot on the heels of South Dakota passing its anti-trans student bathroom bill, Tennessee has started to make progress towards passing its own bill that would enact similar changes within their own public school system. HB2414, according to the Tennessee General Assembly website, “requires students in public schools and public institutions of higher education to use restrooms and locker rooms that are assigned to persons of the same sex as that shown on the students’ birth certificates.”
It’s important to note that the state of Tennessee does not allow people to change the sex marker on their birth certificates under any circumstance.The law specifically states (according to Lambda Legal): “The sex of an individual will not be changed on the original certificate of birth as a result of sex change surgery.” Whereas most states require surgery or even simply a physician’s note, Tennessee is the only state that explicitly bars transgender people from changing their birth certificates.
Given this fact, HB2414 would essentially block transgender students from using their proper bathroom. As of right now, the bill is still making its way through subcommittee hearings. According to the Tennessee Equality Project website, the House Education Administration and Planning Subcommittee will be hearing the bill on March 1st. Depending on their response, it’s possible this bill could make it through to be voted on by the House.
Folks who live in Tennessee: consider this your chance to do something about stopping your state from becoming just like South Dakota. Protect the transgender children and students in your community.
(image via Shutterstock/VGstockstudio)
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Published: Feb 25, 2016 12:23 pm