Same Sex Bathroom Bills fails to get key Committee Hearing
April 15th, 2015 by Mike VasilindaSame sex bathroom legislation that has been highly controversial a the state capitol failed to get a key committee hearing this week effectively killing the bill. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, transgender activists say it is too early to claim total victory. the legislation requires people to use restrooms matching the gender on their official ID’s.
The House Judiciary Committee held it’s final hearing this week. Not on the agenda; Same Sex Bathrooms. Chair Charles McBurney of Jacksonville chose not to force his members to vote on something so divisive.
“If its not going to be heard in the Senate, or its not going to go far in the Senate, regardless of its merits or lack thereof as the case may be, we don’t hear it” says the Jacksonville lawmaker.
At the bills last hearing, 50 people signed up to speak.
“What is going to happen to me when I walk into a male bathroom? Asked a man undergoing transformation to a woman.
Because the bill didn’t get heard, its fair to say its on life support, but nothings really dead here until lawmakers go home.
Sponsor Frank Artilles says he isn’t backing down.
Q: Dead?” we asked.
“Um, I don’t know. The legislative process doesn’t end until May second.”
Q: Would you attempt to amend it?’
“We’ll see. Everything on the table.”
Artilles options are limited. To revive the legislation he would have to attach the bill as an amendment to another bill dealing with the same chapter of law…There is only one likely target…legislation being voted upon next week protecting pregnant women from discrimination. We asked Sponsor Geraldine Thompson is she would accept such an amendment,
“I would not” she told us.
Carlos Smith of Equality Florida says he will be watching to make sure there are no shenanigans with the bill…while at the same time saying people made their voices heard.
“Citizens, everyday citizens are not going to be, they’re not going to tolerate this type of discrimination” says Smith.
And on the same day the committee didn’t hear the bill, lawmakers sent the Governor legislation ending the states ban on gay adoptions.
The legislation requiring people to use the bathroom of the gender on their official ID isn’t the only highly controversial bill on life support. Senators said this week they would likely not hear the bill allowing gays to be discriminated against by adoption agencies.
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