GOP Representative Susan Lynch of Tennessee has withdrawn the state’s version of a transgender “bathroom bill” for this year from consideration. The legislation as written would make transgender students use bathrooms corresponding to their gender assigned at birth, and has drawn quite a bit of criticism.
This is the second time the bill has been effectively dropped from a legislative session. Opposition from LGBT advocacy groups, worries about economic backlash, and testimony from transgender students persuaded legislators to table the bill the first time it was introduced. In addition, GOP Governor Bill Haslam expressed concern that the bill violates Title IX, which prohibits discrimination of students based on gender. That would put Tennessee’s federal education in serious jeopardy. It’s not a small amount of money either, as the state receives around $3 billion in aid from the Education Department every year.
It seems Tennessee has learned something from Mississippi and North Carolina. Both states passed broad, sweeping anti-LGBT measures that drew a large amount of economic and public backlash and sparked investigations by several federal departments.
But this move isn’t exactly a sign of open-minded tolerance. Tennessee has already passed a number of anti-LGBT bills. Just last week, the legislature approved a bill that would allow mental health professionals to discriminate against LGBT patients for violating their “sincerely held principles.” Lynch herself stated that:
“We know as soon as this bill passes, we’re going to be sued. So if we’re going to be heading into a lawsuit, we want to make sure we have the strongest position possible.”
Seems that someone learned something over the past month.
If nothing else, Republicans are starting to recognize that state sanctioned discrimination carries consequences, both economic and legal. A number of companies have already warned Tennessee that they oppose such a law.
Democratic state legislators praised the decision, calling it a sign that “Tennessee won’t be another North Carolina.” Not so fast, though. Lynch pledges to revive the bill again next year.
Featured image via Flikr by Dennis Hlynsky available under a Creative Commons license.
