JACKSON, Miss. (AP) 鈥 Mississippi's Republican-controlled House voted Wednesday in favor of a measure that would restrict transgender people's use of bathrooms and locker rooms in public buildings, including university dormitories.
The bill, which now goes back to the Republican-led Senate, says people are either male or female 鈥渁s observed or clinically verified at birth鈥 and must use the corresponding facilities. It also requires that public buildings have restrooms or changing areas designated for men only or women only, or single-person spaces that may be used by anyone.
Democrats who opposed the measure accused conservatives of marginalizing transgender people to try to score points with voters.
鈥淭hey used to run on race, colors, and all of that,鈥 said Rep. Willie Bailey, a Democrat from Greenville. 鈥淭hen they started running against people on abortion. Now they鈥檝e got to have an issue on transgender 鈥 it鈥檚 just silly.鈥
The bill is being considered in state legislatures across the U.S. as Republicans try to restrict which bathrooms transgender people can use and which sports they can play.
Republican Rep. Joey Hood of Ackerman, chairman of the Mississippi House Judiciary A Committee and a prominent backer of the bill, said it aims to ensure people are using facilities that align with their sex at birth.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make sure boys go to boys鈥 bathrooms, girls go to girls鈥 bathrooms,鈥 Hood said, an argument he made several times during the debate.
The bill would allow a person to sue another who uses a restroom or changing area that does not match their sex at birth.
It also establishes exceptions for emergency medical and cleaning workers and people who need assistance, including children younger than 12. They would be allowed to enter any public restroom or locker room regardless of gender.
Democratic Rep. Zakiya Summers of Jackson, who is Black, compared efforts to limit transgender people's access to public facilities to restrictions that Black people faced during the Jim Crow era.
鈥淚t reminded me of what my ancestors had to deal with at a time when they couldn鈥檛 go in the bathroom, either, and they wouldn鈥檛 dare stick their toe in a pool,鈥 Summers said.
At least 11 states have passed laws barring transgender girls and women from girls and women鈥檚 bathrooms at public schools, and in some cases other government facilities. The laws have taken effect in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Tennessee, while an Idaho ordinance is on hold and Utah's prohibition is scheduled to take effect July 1.
The Mississippi House and Senate have passed different versions of a 鈥淢ississippi Women's Bill of Rights,鈥 which defines the terms woman, man, mother, father, female, male and sex in ways that that sex is defined at birth. The two chambers would need to agree on a single version before the bill could go to Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.
In March the House voted for a measure that would have let sue jails or prisons if they encounter inmates of another sex 鈥 the bill included transgender people among that category 鈥 in restrooms or changing areas. However, the bill died in a Senate committee.
