Public officials of a conservative enclave in Dallas almost unanimously repudiated an anti-transgender “bathroom” ordinance in a local battle that may help turn the corner on the discussion in Texas. John Wright has the details of Monday’s Rockwall City Council meeting:
First, nearly 100 LGBT activists gathered outside City Hall beforehand, in one of the largest pro-trans rallies in the state’s history.
Then, after several hours of emotional testimony and debate, council members overwhelmingly rejected a proposal from Mayor Jim Pruitt to criminalize some trans people for using restrooms according to their gender identity — and to require businesses to bar them from doing so.
Pruitt’s measure would have forced transgender individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. Businesses and individuals who didn’t comply faced fines of up to $500. Pruitt launched the proposal in response to Target’s common-sense policy of allowing people to use the bathroom and changing facilities they believe is appropriate for them. But he ultimately couldn’t find a single colleague to second his motion for a vote, despite using all the best scare tactics.
“This is for our children’s security, and frankly I don’t think a young girl should be subjected to seeing another’s genitalia when they are changing alone in a public restroom,” he said.
Good point, Pruitt. That’s exactly what Target said—feel free to expose your genitalia to others while using the dressing rooms. Honest to god, what an idiot.
Other council members argued the ordinance would be unenforceable and constitute unnecessary government intrusion into both the property rights of businesses and the privacy of individuals.
“If you believe that Target is a dangerous place for your child, don’t go,” said David White, whose remarks culminated in a heated exchange with Pruitt. “I think when government starts getting involved in where you pee or poop, it’s God-dang ridiculous.”
Oh, and Pruitt even tried to cheat.
Pruitt limited public input to the city’s residents and called on his wife, Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper, as a resource witness. But those moves did little to tip the scales of testimony in his favor.
One by one, opponents of the ordinance — including local attorneys, business leaders, psychologists, social workers, parents and trans youth — picked apart the false, fear-mongering slogan that sunk HERO and has become a rallying cry for opponents of nondiscrimination ordinances: “No Men in Women’s Bathrooms.”
For anyone who wants a heartening read on this topic, check out the entire article—it’s great to have access to this local reporting. Pruitt got buried. One can only hope he pays a steep political price for this opportunism gone awry.