Lawmaker Wants Correction Of Bathroom/Locker Rule

State Rep. Graham Hunt, R-Orting, wants to clarify language in a new rule in Washington state allowing transgender individuals to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Graham says he'll introduce a bill in Olympia on Monday that would reverse the rule and let businesses limit access to gender-specific facilities based on a person’s genitalia.

"Simply saying these are private intimate settings," Hunt explains. "You have an expectation of privacy and you have an expectation that if its segregated by gender than only that gender will be in there."

Hunt says only those who have undergone a sex reassignment surgery or those born a certain sex should use the specific gender's restroom. He says he and many other lawmakers have heard from voters concerned about the new rule and wanting lawmakers to do something about it.
He's hoping for a public hearing and support from Eastern and Central Washington.