Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed into law Monday a bill that would ban transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in the state’s public schools.
Legislation called the Effective and Responsible Safe Spaces for Women Act, or the SAFER Act, requires single-sex restrooms, locker rooms and dormitories in the state’s schools. Her text describes someone’s gender as “‘determined only by birth’ regardless of how someone behaves or feels.
Reeves, Republican, X wrote in his statement said the law, which takes effect immediately, is designed to “keep the girls of Mississippi safe.”
“It’s mind-blowing that Joe Biden’s America has come to this,” he said. “A few years ago, it was unthinkable to adopt a common-sense policy that protects women’s spaces. But here we are…we have to pass laws to protect women in bathrooms, sororities, locker rooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, etc.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rob Hill, Mississippi state director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, called the new law “an attempt to deny basic rights to LGBTQ+ people in our state.”
“This bill does nothing more than try to push us further away from politicians at the expense of LGBTQ+ people who deserve the freedom to be free and use bathrooms and locker rooms,” Hill said. “Shame on the governor and MAGA’s hate agenda.”
Because lawmakers in North Carolina sparked national outrage by passing a similar measure into law in 2016 it was partially canceled the following year – There are also in 10 other states passed restrictive measures against trans people from using restrooms that match their gender identity, according to the LGBTQ advocacy group Movement Development Project. Mississippi now joins their ranks.
MPs in January Utah has passed a law banning trans people from using bathrooms in schools and government buildings. Earlier this month transgender activists flooded the Utah state line was created to notify the state about violations of the law. Thousands of fake news stories aimed to subvert authorities and drown out legitimate complaints from residents about which bathrooms trans people get to use.
Mississippi’s legislation to restrict transgender people’s access to public restrooms is among hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills proposed by conservative lawmakers in recent years. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in legislatures across the country this year. According to the American Civil Liberties Union.
In 2021, Reeves passed legislation restricting transgender students from participating in gender-identified sports. It also passed a law barring the entry of transgender minors to access certain care related to the transition last year.
Mississippi is one of many 20 Republican-led states are challenging Title IX governs the Education Department, which was granted last month. Among several provisions, the rules expressly prohibit transgender students from using bathrooms and changing facilities that match their gender identity at federally funded schools.
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