Utah officials in charge of handling complaints regarding transgender people using public bathrooms have received over 4,000 bogus complaints in just 72 days since the launch of the program. The state auditor’s office, which created an online complaint form to comply with the state’s controversial “Sex-based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying and Women’s Opportunities” bill, has found that none of the complaints so far appear to be credible. The law mandates that Utahns can only use bathrooms matching their reproductive organs, and violations must be reported to the auditor’s office for investigation.
The law, which went into effect on May 1, requires the state auditor’s office to establish a process for receiving and investigating alleged violations. If a violation is unresolved, the issue is referred to the Utah attorney general’s office, which can impose fines of up to $10,000 per violation per day on the government entity at fault. Utah Auditor John Dougall noted that the phony claims have been relatively easy to identify, and the law specifically states that complaints must involve publicly owned or controlled facilities, programs, or events. Citizens are encouraged to try to resolve concerns directly with the government entity before submitting a complaint to the auditor.
While there is no legal consequence for making false reports to the auditor’s office, repeatedly providing false information to emergency officials can result in a misdemeanor charge. The law primarily affects Utah’s transgender community, which makes up less than 1% of the state’s population. In addition to being restricted to using restrooms based on their biological gender, transgender individuals are also prohibited from using locker rooms and showers at public facilities that do not align with their biological gender. However, those who have undergone gender reassignment surgery and have legally changed their gender on their birth certificates are exempt from these restrictions.
Despite the large number of bogus complaints received by the auditor’s office, Auditor Dougall believes that the legislature may not have anticipated the extent of public backlash resulting from implementing the law. The online tool created for reporting violations specifies that complaints only pertain to publicly owned or controlled facilities, programs, or events. Transgender individuals in Utah face restrictive bathroom and locker room policies that conflict with their gender identity, leading to issues of discrimination and exclusion from public facilities. The law has sparked controversy and debate within the state regarding the rights and protections of the transgender community.
While the intention behind the legislation was to address concerns related to privacy and anti-bullying, the implementation of the law has resulted in a flood of false complaints and criticism. Advocates for the transgender community argue that the restrictions imposed by the law infringe on the rights of transgender individuals and perpetuate discrimination. As the state auditor’s office continues to receive and investigate complaints, the impact of the law on Utah’s transgender community remains a contentious issue. Despite the significant challenges faced by transgender individuals in accessing public facilities, there are ongoing efforts to raise awareness and advocate for policies that promote inclusivity and equality for all individuals, regardless of gender identity.
