SC senators continue hearings on transgender bathroom bill

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senators are taking more testimony on a bill limiting the bathroom choices for transgender people, as debate on similar bills continues across the South.

Most of the people at Wednesday's hearing opposed the measure. Only a fraction of attendees could fit inside the room. A larger room has been reserved Thursday.

Republican Sen. Lee Bright says his bill is about the privacy and safety of women and children.

Transgender people say the proposal puts them in danger of harassment and violence. Opponents also say it would cause economic fallout, as North Carolina's law did.

The proposal requires multistall bathrooms on public property to be used "based on biological sex." It would also bar local governments from requiring businesses to let transgender people use the bathroom of their choice.

Grayson Driscoll, 13, doesn't use the bathroom at school like other children his age. He is a female-to-male transgender student. Rather than use the girl's bathroom, which is awkward for him, he walks across the whole campus of his school to use a bathroom reserved for the school nurse.

I know people wonder why I’m walking to this other bathroom," he said. “I just want to use the men's room where I feel comfortable, if this bill passes, that will never happen."

On Wednesday, Driscoll was speaking on a big stage, in front of the senator who introduced a bill that would keep him from using the men's room at school or in any government building.

"Please don’t do this to me, and please don't do this to my transgender peers," Driscoll said.

For the first time, people for and against a South Carolina bill similar to North Carolina’s HB2, spoke out in Columbia.  A passionate crowd overflowed a small meeting room.   Most had to listen to the proceedings from the hallway.

Known as Senate Bill 1203, it was introduced by Spartanburg Republican Sen. Lee Bright. It would require people to use the bathroom in public buildings based on their biological gender only. It would also prevent local cities and counties from passing laws to change that, as the city of charlotte did.

Four people spoke in favor of Bright’s bill including a pastor, John Gardner.

"God made two sexes. He made them male and female. I think this bill will protect lives," he said.

Following the public hearing, Bright said he stands firm on his bill, and will push to move it forward.

First speaker is a pastor. He is the only person speaking in favor of the bill. Dozens will speak against it. pic.twitter.com/Za7FuQZQ5B

“I still think if a woman or female child is in restroom they should not have to deal with the fact that a man feels he has the right to walk in there, because he identifies as a woman," Bright said.

Chase Culpepper, a male-to-female transgender teen, sued the state Department of Motor Vehicles after she was told she could not take a driver's license picture as a female. She was later allowed to appear as a woman on her license. On Wednesday, she spoke out against the bill.

“I just ask for you to look at me and tell me that I belong in a men's restroom," she told the senator.

Democrat Sen. Joel Lourie also moderated the hearing. He applauded the crowd of transgender people who spoke out in public, calling them brave, and strong for taking a stand.

"I’m going to work and do everything i can to protect your rights," he told them. "I couldn't disagree more with senator bright on anything than I do on this bill."

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said he was not there to speak for or against SB1203. However, he said he knew of no cases where a transgender person had ever assaulted anyone in a bathroom in South Carolina.

Then Bright asked him if someone pretending to be transgender had ever committed such a crime, and Nettles didn't have an answer.

More than 50 people had signed up to speak Wednesday in Columbia, and because time was short, a second public hearing will be held Thursday, Bright said.

It's doubtful that the bill will reach the Senate floor for a debate. Even if it does, House members have said they won't likely take it up during this session which ends in June.​

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