A Tennessee bill requiring educational institutions with overnight student housing to provide separate bathrooms based on “immutable biological sex” is now awaiting approval from Republican Gov. Bill Lee. The Republican-led Senate passed the measure on Thursday, despite opposition from LGBTQ+ activists and the chamber’s small Democratic contingent, as reported by the Associated Press.
The legislation is the latest in a series of measures targeting the transgender community in Tennessee, where Republican lawmakers have repeatedly introduced bills impacting the LGBTQ+ community as part of a broader national trend.
Earlier this year, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox approved a transgender restriction bill explicitly targeting university housing. According to the law, transgender college students are prohibited from living in dorms consistent with their gender identity, as reported by the Associated Press.
Gov. Lee has not publicly commented on the Tennessee bill but has shown no opposition to previous anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, making it likely that he will sign it into law. If approved, the measure would take effect immediately.
The Associated Press further reports that GOP Rep. Gino Bulso, who sponsored the bill in the Republican-controlled House, said he introduced the measure after hearing concerns from constituents. They claimed their daughter was asked to room with a transgender female student during a private university’s summer program. Although they declined, they were later upset about shared bathrooms and showers.
Currently, Tennessee law already bans transgender students and staff from using school bathrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity. For those seeking additional privacy, the law requires schools to provide a single-occupancy facility where possible. A federal judge dismissed a legal challenge to this statute late last year.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Republicans have banned gender-affirming care for most minors and attempted to restrict events featuring drag performers, as reported by the Associated Press.
If signed into law, the bill could face legal challenges from civil rights groups advocating for transgender rights. LGBTQ+ activists argue that such measures contribute to discrimination and create additional barriers for transgender students. Similar legislation in other states has sparked lawsuits, with courts weighing the balance between individual rights and state policies.
