The stage is set for a wild day at the State Capitol on Friday, as the Texas Senate has set a committee hearing on that bill to limit transgender bathroom rights, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Groups on both sides of the issue have already made plans to testify. The line of people wanting to speak out on the bill is expected to start forming before dawn tomorrow, and when the issue came up in Senate hearing during the regular session, testimony didn't end until 4AM the following morning, after lawmakers had heard from more than 500 people.
Emmitt Schelling, who heads the San Antonio Gender Association, was there to testify before, and he'll be there again on Friday.
"It is disappointing, specifically when our community, statistically and factually, is faced with higher rates of oppression," he said.
The 'Bathoom Bill,' would limit the use of public restrooms in public buildings and schools, to the gender on the user's birth certificate. It would also overturn local 'Non Discrimination Ordinances' which require that business owners open restrooms in 'public accommodation' businesses for use on the basis of a person's 'gender identity.'
The Bathroom Bill is opposed by school districts, business and tourism groups, and by most employers, but it is strongly supported by movement conservtives, evangelical groups, and by most 'traditional values' groups.
Much of the support stems from a belief that male sex predators would use 'Non Discrimination Ordinance' protections to enter women's rest rooms under the guise of being 'transgender' only to commit crimes in the restroom against women and girls.
Opponents say those claims are ridiculous. They point out that somebody who is determined to commit a top-count felony of sexual assault is not going to be deterred by the fact that there is no 'Non Discrimination Ordinance' laws in place, any more than 'gun free zone' signs are likely to deter a person bent on committing a gun crime.
They also say the law, barring the posting of a 'birth certificate monitor' at every restroom, is unenforceable, and crimes committed in restroom are very rate in any case. They also point out that sexual assault, voyeurism, and child abuse are crimes whether they are committed inside restrooms by people claiming to be 'transgender' just like if they were committed any place else.
The measure is supported strongly by Texas President Dan Patrick, who has cleared the agenda for the session so it can be debated and passed.
Support, however, is tepid in the Texas House, where Speaker Joe Straus is expected to use parliamentary maneuvers to kill it.