The Mississippi House, controlled by Republicans, has passed a bill that restricts transgender individuals from using bathrooms and locker rooms that do not align with their sex at birth. The bill, which must now go back to the Republican-led Senate, states that individuals are either male or female as observed or clinically verified at birth and must use corresponding facilities. The measure also requires public buildings to have separate restrooms for men and women, as well as single-person spaces that can be used by anyone. Democrats opposing the bill accused conservatives of marginalizing transgender individuals to gain political points.
This bill is part of a larger trend in state legislatures across the U.S. where Republicans are pushing for restrictions on which bathrooms transgender individuals can use and which sports they can participate in. Republican Rep. Joey Hood, a prominent supporter of the Mississippi bill, argued that it aims to ensure individuals are using facilities that align with their sex at birth. The bill also allows individuals to sue others who use restrooms that contradict their sex at birth, with exceptions for emergency workers, children under 12, and those who need assistance. Democratic Rep. Zakiya Summers compared the efforts to restrict transgender access to public facilities to the restrictions faced by Black individuals during the Jim Crow era.
At least 11 states have passed laws prohibiting transgender girls and women from using bathrooms designated for girls and women in public schools and government facilities. These laws have already taken effect in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and others. The Mississippi House and Senate have passed different versions of a “Mississippi Women’s Bill of Rights,” which defines terms like woman, man, mother, father, female, male, and sex in a way that supports the idea that sex is determined at birth. Both chambers would need to agree on a single version before the bill can be sent to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves for approval.
In March, the House passed a measure that would have allowed incarcerated individuals to sue jails or prisons if they encountered inmates of a different sex, including transgender individuals, in restrooms or changing areas. However, the bill was not passed by a Senate committee and failed to move forward. The debate over transgender rights and bathroom usage has become a contentious issue in various state legislatures, with Republicans advocating for restrictions based on sex at birth, while Democrats and advocates for transgender rights argue for more inclusive policies. This ongoing debate reflects larger societal divisions over gender identity and discrimination against marginalized communities.
