NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee lawmaker wants the state’s public indecency law to apply to bathrooms and changing rooms – a move that critics argue is designed to restrict the facilities that transgender people can use.
The bill, which was approved by a House subcommittee Wednesday, is still in the early stages of making its way through the GOP-dominant General Assembly. Still, it has already caught the attention of civil rights activists concerned about its possible similarity to the one North Carolina enacted before eventually repealing due to national backlash.
According to the proposal, Tennessee’s indecent exposure law would be changed from applying to a “public place” to specify that public places include public restrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms designated for single-sex, multi-person use. To be found guilty, the person would have to be a member of the opposite sex of that designated area and intentionally expose their genitals or “reasonably” expect that the act will be viewed and offend the viewer.
“This bill simply adds clarity to the definitions and otherwise leaves current law on indecent exposure unchanged,” said Rep. John Ragan, the Republican sponsoring the bill. “(It will) ensure that the definition of public space, as is already in law, is expanded to ensure clarity.”
Ragan’s proposal had initially specified that a “gender dysphoria, gender confusion, or similar conditions” diagnosis could not be allowed as a defense if charged with indecent exposure.