RALEIGH, N.C. — A new bill addressing bathroom privacy is quickly drawing the ire of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy groups.
Tabor City Republican Brenden Jones introduced House Bill 562 this week. It would toughen penalties for trespassing from 10 days to 120 days behind bars if a person uses a bathroom other than the one for the gender on their birth certificate and the use occurs in a "multi-occupancy bathroom, shower, or changing facility."
Jones foreshadowed the legislation in a Facebook post after lawmakers repealed the controversial bathroom bill, House Bill 2, last week.
"I have joined with Sen. (Danny) Britt in drafting a bill that strengthens existing law and offers even more protections for everyone in restrooms and changing facilities," Jones wrote Thursday. "It will specifically state (that) it is a second-degree trespass for entering the restroom or changing room of the opposite sex."
The law does not specifically mention gender identity. But some advocates argue it is anti-LGBT.
"Even though the law doesn't specifically mention transgender people, I would beg to say that it's very clearly targeting them," Matt Hirschy, with Equality NC, said.
"I don't know why anyone would want to delve us into such a tremendously bad conversation for our state," Hirschy said.
Channel 9 contacted Jones' office Thursday to request an interview Thursday but did not immediately hear back.
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