Credit for all photos: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
House Bill 64 (HB0064), requiring that all residential educational programs in Tennessee segregate their restrooms, changing areas, and showers according to “immutable biological sex” if the program allows minors to participate or to access residential facilities passed along party lines in the House Education Committee by a 13-3 vote on Tuesday.
The legislation was filed by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) on behalf of some of his constituents who shared concerns after sending their underage daughter to a month-long summer program offered by a private university in Nashville.
HB0064 aims to prevent minors from ending up in situations like what his constituents’ daughter experienced this past summer.
Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15) asked how this legislation would impact residential schools with older campuses like the Tennessee School for the Deaf which is in his district.
“It may not affect them at all,” said Rep. Bulso. “This applies to multi-occupant bathrooms. So, if your school in Knoxville representative, simply had single-user restrooms and changing areas and showers, it would have no effect on them.”
“In this case, they’re not as fortunate,” responded Rep. McKenzie. “They also have dormitories that are, you know, for our children who are hearing impaired as they learn in their environment. So with that being the case, that there are dormitory type facilities, how would this bill affect them?”
“It would affect them in the same way that it would affect every other private or public institution that had a residential educational program that included minors,” said Rep. Bulso. “They would have to make sure that when young ladies went to the restroom, to the changing areas, or to the showers that those facilities were segregated by biological sex.”
Republican Representatives Jody Barrett, Charlie Baum, Gino Bulso, Scott Cepicky, Tim Hicks, Renea Jones, Aron Maberry, Jay Reedy, Lee Reeves, William Slater, Robert Stevens, and Mark White voted in favor of HB0064.
Democrat Representatives Ronnie Glynn, Yusuf Hakeem, and Sam McKenzie voted against it.
HB0064 has been sent to the House Calendar and Rules Committee where it will be scheduled for a vote on the House floor.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
