Texas Senate Moves Anti-Transgender Bill to Final Vote

Discriminatory and Likely Unconstitutional Bill Tentatively Passed by Texas State Senate

The Texas Senate Tuesday evening, after several hours of often poorly-informed debate, has tentatively passed SB6, by a vote of 21-10. One final vote, likely Wednesday, is required for the legislation to move to the House.  

SB6 is a bill designed to ensure transgender people are unable to function equally and fully in society by banning them from using public facilities that correspond with their gender identity. Republican State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (photo) sponsored the bill, which would force transgender people to use restrooms and changing facilities of their biological sex. The legislation also prohibits towns, cities, and other localities from adopting transgender protections.

In a stunningly tone-deaf and false tweet, this is how Sen. Kolkhorst characterized today’s vote:

Debate by those in favor of the legislation included stunning remarks by state lawmakers who falsely claimed that if the bill were not enacted men could use women’s restrooms with no consequences, and others who claimed that they were supporting the bill not because of transgender people, but because of perverts who might enter restrooms with ill intent without it.

In other words, they were supporting the legislation but claimed it absolutely wasn’t about discriminating against trans people.

Sen. Kolkhorst even admitted that the bill would actually not do anything to protect women, but it would, she claimed, make them feel safer.

She also opposed an amendment that would recognize people by their gender identity, not their biological sex, as the bill is worded.

But an amendment to ensure localities including school districts not be allowed to make transgender rights a prerequisite of doing business was passed, just in case it was not clear enough in the original text.

Unsurprisingly, Democratic State Sen. José Rodríguez’s bill, an omnibus LGBT nondiscrimination bill that he proposed as an amendment to SB6 was rejected, 21-10.

Sen. Kolkhorst actually claimed she is hoping as a result of this discriminatory and likely unconstitutional legislation tourism in Texas will increase. 

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.