In a floor session earlier this week, the Arizona Senate passed a bill calling for alternate bathroom facilities in schools for transgender students.
The bill proposed by Republican Sen. John Kavanagh prohibits transgender students from using restrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
"I'm concerned about the 99.9% of the people who are uncomfortable in those situations,” Kavanagh said. “Sometimes the good of the many has to overcome the will of the few. But in this bill I understand that situation and I do provide for an alternative shower, locker room or restroom for these individuals."
Democrat opponents of the bill argue that such a bill would only marginalize transgender students and create more of a divide in schools.
Democratic Sen. Analise Ortiz, who voted no on the bill, says there could be negative ramifications in schools if the measure gets passed.
“The bill does discriminate and it opens up schools to legal consequences by turning students and faculty into part-time gender police,” Ortiz said.
Kavanagh has been working on versions of his transgender bathroom bill for the last decade but hasn’t found success.
Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed two similar bills in 2023, stating that she will veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
