Transgender bathroom debate: Lawmakers in Massachusetts pass bill allowing use of restrooms based on gender identity

A sign marks an 'all-gender restroom' at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. on May 13, 2016. Reuters

The Massachusetts' House of Representatives has passed a bathroom bill on Wednesday that will allow transgenders to use restrooms according to their gender identity.

Voting 116-36, lawmakers passed the bill despite protests from people who went to the House to voice their concerns.

The bill requires public accommodations to open their restrooms and lockers rooms to persons based on their gender identity.

In the House version, the state attorney general is mandated to issue regulations for referral to law enforcement any person who asserts gender identity for improper purpose.

Republican Rep. Marc Lombardo expressed concern that the bill would allow men to enter a women's bathroom for nefarious purposes.

"This bill before us today is not a bill that would protect rights," he said, according to the Boston Globe. "This is a bill that would take away rights from more than 99 percent of the population — the basic right to privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms, the rights of our children to feel safe in a bathroom."

Rep. James Lyon expressed concern over the safety of kids.

"This has nothing to do with transgender. It has to do with the protection of our children," he said, CBN News reports.

Rep. Elizabeth Poirier warned that a perpetrator may take advantage of the law to harm a young man or woman, saying the bill is "opening the door to this happening."

The bill will now be reconciled with the Senate version before it is sent to Gov. Charlie Baker, who indicated that he will sign the bill because of the provision on penalising anyone who asserts gender identity and misuse the law.

"We've certainly listened to a variety of points of view from many sides and have said, from the beginning, that we don't want people to be discriminated against. If the House bill were to pass in its current form, yeah, I would sign it," he said.

related articles
Transgender male war vet sues California barbershop for refusing to cut his hair, citing religious beliefs
Transgender male war vet sues California barbershop for refusing to cut his hair, citing religious beliefs

Transgender male war vet sues California barbershop for refusing to cut his hair, citing religious beliefs

Franklin Graham furious after transgender teacher got $60,000 award from school for being \'misgendered\'
Franklin Graham furious after transgender teacher got $60,000 award from school for being 'misgendered'

Franklin Graham furious after transgender teacher got $60,000 award from school for being 'misgendered'

Trans teacher gets $60,000 as school settles harassment suit over fellow tutors\' refusal to call her \'they\'
Trans teacher gets $60,000 as school settles harassment suit over fellow tutors' refusal to call her 'they'

Trans teacher gets $60,000 as school settles harassment suit over fellow tutors' refusal to call her 'they'

Vermont becomes 5th U.S. state to ban gay conversion therapy; governor says treatment is \'absurd,\' widely discredited
Vermont becomes 5th U.S. state to ban gay conversion therapy; governor says treatment is 'absurd,' widely discredited

Vermont becomes 5th U.S. state to ban gay conversion therapy; governor says treatment is 'absurd,' widely discredited

Christian school stands by biblical values despite risk of losing U.S. federal funding
Christian school stands by biblical values despite risk of losing U.S. federal funding

Christian school stands by biblical values despite risk of losing U.S. federal funding

Gender Wars: California state bills could be \'Armageddon\' for Christian colleges
Gender Wars: California state bills could be 'Armageddon' for Christian colleges

Gender Wars: California state bills could be 'Armageddon' for Christian colleges

When secularism becomes sacred: The attack on free speech and why it\'s dangerous for Christians
When secularism becomes sacred: The attack on free speech and why it's dangerous for Christians

When secularism becomes sacred: The attack on free speech and why it's dangerous for Christians

Strange but true: At least 10,000 people in U.K. choose to live and dress like dogs
Strange but true: At least 10,000 people in U.K. choose to live and dress like dogs

Strange but true: At least 10,000 people in U.K. choose to live and dress like dogs

Women protest after man who identifies as woman is admitted at women\'s shelter
Women protest after man who identifies as woman is admitted at women's shelter

Women protest after man who identifies as woman is admitted at women's shelter

Defenders of Christian values clash with LGBT liberals in Brazil\'s gay pride parade
Defenders of Christian values clash with LGBT liberals in Brazil's gay pride parade

Defenders of Christian values clash with LGBT liberals in Brazil's gay pride parade

News
Sex offender ‘manipulating’ system to stay in the UK as ‘Christian’ asylum seeker
Sex offender ‘manipulating’ system to stay in the UK as ‘Christian’ asylum seeker

Immigration judges found his history of sexual offences did not invalidate his claim to Christian conversion

Disappointment as St Albans council votes to end prayers before meetings
Disappointment as St Albans council votes to end prayers before meetings

A local Christian leader in the city of St Albans has criticized a vote by the council to scrap prayers before official meetings.

Who was St Joseph and what do we know about him?
Who was St Joseph and what do we know about him?

The 19th of March is St Joseph’s Day, which in some countries is known as Father’s Day, but who was St Joseph and what do we know about him? This is the story …

Calls for urgent policy reforms to address widening marriage gap between rich and poor
Calls for urgent policy reforms to address widening marriage gap between rich and poor

A new report released by the Marriage Foundation has called for urgent policy changes by the government to address what it describes as a "calamitous" marriage gap of 51 per cent between wealthy and low-income couples.