The NFL today took its strongest stand yet against that so called 'bathroom bill' being considered lawmakers, saying it would 'certainly be a factor' when the league makes a decision about whether to hold Super Bowls of other events in Texas, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
League Spokesman Brian McCarthy said the proposal is 'discriminatory and inconsistent with our values,' and says it 'targets transgender persons.'
The bill would restrict the use of public restrooms to the gender listed on the individual's birth certificate. The measure, called S.B. 6, has so far not been passed by any Legislative committee and was not mentioned in Gov. Abbott's 'State of the State' speech.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is the key backer of the measure, says it is not discriminatory because a transgender person can go to court and get the gender on the birth certificate changed. He says the bill is needed to 'protect women' from sexual predators using the law to sneak into women's restrooms and assault women and children.
Patrick has also rejected talk that the bill could lead to major events in Texas being cancelled as 'extortion,' asking whether organizers would then threaten to start withholding events from Texas if the Legislature doesn't increase taxes, or repeal the Campus Carry law.
There are currently no Super Bowls planned in Texas through 2021.
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