Danger! Man in Woman’s Bathroom, in TX Capitol!
Female Staffer Approached!
You hear many people say that something like this could not happen or is not happening in Texas, but it is actually happening in our Texas Capitol.
Recently, a young female staffer at the Texas Capitol went to the staff labeled women’s restroom at the Texas Capitol. As she was adjusting her clothes and preparing to leave the restroom, she heard a male voice compliment her hair. She turned around and noticed that the voice came from a known “transgender” staffer (who is male) at the Texas Capitol.
Even at the Texas Capitol, men are entering women’s restrooms!
The staffer alerted the Texas House of Representatives member she works for (Rep. Andy Hopper), who is now working hard to get answers on how this could have happened. Rep. Andy Hopper has addressed both the House Administration Committee and the State Preservation Board to get answers on how a man can be allowed in the women’s restroom at the Texas Capitol. Sadly, after making many formal requests and demands for answers, there has been no evidence of an official policy that can keep women safe in the restrooms at the Texas Capitol. Even worse, there have allegedly been more female staffers who have encountered the male in the restroom since the first incident!
This incident is a disturbing and recent example of why we need clear laws in the state of Texas to protect women and girls in their private sex- separated spaces! Texas House of Representatives member Valoree Swanson(HB 239) and Texas Senator Mayes Middleton (SB 240) have both filed bills that would make sure that women’s locker rooms, shelters, bathrooms, and other sex separated spaces are safe and private for women. These bills are known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act. Additionally, Texas House of Representatives member Ellen Troxclair has filed the “What is a Woman?” bill that would clearly define “male” and “female” in law, leaving no room for a male to claim they are a woman and gaining access to female sports, restrooms, locker rooms etc.
Texas Values will continue to monitor the situation. But in the meantime, we need you to tell your legislators to support legislation that will protect women’s spaces so that young women in the Capitol and anywhere can be safe! Texas Values has made the Texas Women’s Privacy Act and the “What is a Woman?” bill our top priorities because protecting women spaces has become an emergency that our state must resolve.