The HRC Endorses The Bill So You Know It Is OK… NOT!

In Utah there is a bill to protect LGBT in housing and employment which was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) so you know that it must be a good bill for trans people right?

‘Historic’ bill that aims to balance LGBT rights and religious freedom unveiled
Fox 13
Posted March 4, 2015
By Ben Winslow

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that aims to balance religious liberties and LGBT rights has been unveiled in the Utah State Legislature.

Senate Bill 296 would prohibit discrimination based on “sexual orientation or gender identity” in housing and employment. But at the same time, it also takes efforts to safeguard religious freedoms for people who oppose homosexuality.

The article goes on to mention “The bill defines “gender identity” and addresses restroom use for transgender people” and that got my radar up, just what do they mean by “addresses restroom use for transgender people” so I looked up the bill to see what it was that was addressed…

681  34A-5-110. Application to sex-specific facilities.
682    This chapter may not be interpreted to prohibit an employer from adopting reasonable
683  rules and policies that designate sex-specific facilities, including restrooms, shower facilities,
684  and dressing facilities, provided that the employer's rules and policies adopted under this
685  section afford reasonable accommodations based on gender identity to all employees.

As you can see that this gives a lot of wiggle room to employers, just what is meant by “afford reasonable accommodations?” Does it mean the janitor’s closet bathroom? Or the bathroom way down the hall on the third floor?

The article goes on to say,

SB296 was praised by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay rights group.

“This is an extraordinary moment for the state of Utah, for LGBT Americans, and for the Mormon Church, which, by supporting this legislation, shows a willingness to align with others on the right side of history,” HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. “The desire exhibited by the Mormon Church to work toward common ground should serve as a model for other faith traditions here in the United States.”

I don’t know about you but I don’t think this is a great bill because it allows for us to be segregated and forces us to use a “Transgender Only” bathroom.