The Arizona Republic
Opponents of a Phoenix proposal to broadly outlaw discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents have given the effort a new nickname: the “Bathroom Bill.”
The label zeroes in on the concerns of some conservative business and religious leaders who say the law would allow transgender people to use restrooms designated for the opposite sex. They contend a man who identifies as a female would be allowed to use the women’s bathroom under the law.
“I’ve got two small kids and I just would not feel comfortable having a man following them in the bathroom,” said City Councilman Sal DiCiccio, an outspoken critic of the move. “This bathroom thing is a problem.”
But gay-rights advocates and supporters of the proposal say those fears aren’t based in reality. They contend that similar issues have rarely occurred in the 166 cities and counties that have already adopted similar protections for GLBT residents, and the law does not specifically mention bathrooms.
