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News
Media Release
Monday April 26, 2010 - 03:16 AM
Lawmakers Secretly Move Bathroom Bill into Budget Amendment, Compromising Safety, Privacy and Modesty for Citizens in all Public Facilities
April 26, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Barstow (617) 480-1719 | lisa@barstowcom.com
Lawmakers Secretly Move Bathroom Bill into Budget Amendment
Compromising Safety, Privacy and Modesty for Citizens in all Public Facilities
Woburn, MA – After months of opposition from the public and with new revelations of alarm expressed by public school officials in Maine and Vermont due to similar laws, Massachusetts lawmakers have secretly filed a budget amendment to pass the “Bathroom Bill” through back-door tactics.
“Once again, lawmakers are making back-room deals to pass a bill that the people have clearly stated they don’t want,” said Kris Mineau, president, Massachusetts Family Institute.
MFI supports human and civil rights for all persons, however the Bathroom Bill and proposed amendment is a far-reaching measure that:
Makes it legal for any man to enter a woman’s bathroom or locker room,
Creates a chaotic environment for students using bathrooms and locker rooms at school,
Single-sex school sports teams would be forced to accept student athletes of any gender despite safety concerns expressed by school districts,
Does not include a conscience or religious exemption which is standard practice in legislation of this type.
“We oppose this back-door maneuver, and call on the legislature to preserve the safety, privacy and modesty of all people, especially children in school, by stopping this amendment.” Mineau added.
Public school officials in Maine, having already endured a related lawsuit, recognize that bathroom bill measures turn public school restrooms and locker rooms into battlegrounds. Students spend up to eight hours per day in school and require frequent access to these facilities. The measure advanced by the Maine Human Right Commission is now stalled for further study.
“The unintended consequences of this bill will hit women and children the hardest, which is why legislators are trying to pass it with impunity. The budget process is no place to pass sweeping social policy in secret,” Mineau concluded.
For more information, visit www.nobathroombill.com.
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