Advocates for transgender Texans hold rally against private spaces ban bill
'Women and survivors of violence have been repeatedly used as justification to exclude trans women from public restrooms. Now, women from all walks of life are coming together to say, 'not in my name,'' reads a Tuesday press release from liberal advocacy group Equality Texas.
Previous: Texas' special session on floods, taxes, THC, redistricting could also spend time targeting transgender life
The rally included speakers from Texas AFL-CIO, Black Freedom Factory, Austin LGBTQ Chamber, Human Rights Campaign, Democrasexy, the Transgender Education Network of Texas, Texas Freedom Network and Equality Texas. Former candidate for Texas governor Wendy Davis is also scheduled to speak.
'We know that trans women are four times more likely than cisgender women to be the victims of violent crimes,' the release reads. 'There is no way to police bathrooms without subjecting women and girls to invasive investigations demanding 'proof' of gender.'
The press conference was livestreamed.
What's in the bill
House Bill 32, filed by Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, is titled the 'Texas Women's Privacy Act.'
It would require the state's political subdivisions to prevent people from using sex-segregated 'multiple-occupancy private spaces' that don't align with their sex assigned at birth. The law would apply to restrooms in government buildings and public schools, as well as jails and prisons.
Gender definition bill passes in Texas Senate, heads to governor
'A political subdivision or state agency shall ensure each multiple-occupancy private space in a building the political subdivision or state agency owns, operates, or controls is designated for and used only by individuals of the same biological sex,' HB 32 reads. 'A political subdivision or state agency shall take every reasonable step to ensure an individual whose biological sex isopposite to the biological sex designated … does not enter the private space.'
The bill would allow Texas's Attorney General to investigate and fine any political subdivision for violations. As introduced, HB 32 wouldn't allow for fines or legal actions against individual persons.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced this week that Senate Bill 7, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, will be his chamber's companion to the bill.
'This is about safety,' Middleton said. 'This is about privacy.'
It hasn't been filed yet. Both bills fall under Gov. Greg Abbott's special session topic of 'legislation protecting women's privacy in sex-segregated spaces.'
'It's ridiculous, [opponents of this type of legislation] are literally arguing that we need to put the rights of men pretending to be women above those of women themselves,' Middleton said. 'It's not right. It's not common sense.'
HB 32 was one of the first bills filed ahead of the session.
Prior attempts ended in failure, lacked evidence
The text is near-identical to SB 240, which Middleton filed during the regular session of the legislature. It passed in the Texas Senate but died in the Texas House.
During floor debate, Democratic senators asked for evidence supporting his bill's necessity. Middleton didn't provide any and instead repeatedly called it 'common sense.' He also pushed back against the idea of commissioning a study related to the topic.
State Sen. Mayes Middleton running for Texas Attorney General
Back in the 2017 regular session of the state legislature, bill with a similar goal failed. Abbott called a special session in 2017 that included the topic; it also failed to pass.
2017 | Transgender veteran fears for safety if forced to use men's bathroom
The 2017 bill was filed by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. It was also met with requests for her to provide data or evidence of a problem.
'In the crimes that I've looked at, in the most intimate settings, none have identified as a transgender,' Kolkorst said during a 2017 committee hearing on her bill.
A more narrowed focus during special legislative sessions
Research and data nonpartisan nonprofit Texas 2036 said it's not uncommon for similar legislation to be filed.
'There are a number of reasons why a bill may not pass during a regular session,' Jordan Wat, director of government affairs at Texas 2036 said. 'Maybe time ran out on that bill while it was being considered in one of the chambers. Perhaps there were some procedural issues related to it. Maybe the political winds were just not there.'
Watt said similar legislation filed that previously failed, can be more successful in special sessions, depending on the topic.
'Because there's a bit more focus,' Wat said. 'In comparison to 140 day regular session, [Abbott] has laid out an 18-item agenda for members to consider and cover over the course of these next 28 days.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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'We know that trans women are four times more likely than cisgender women to be the victims of violent crimes,' the release reads. 'There is no way to police bathrooms without subjecting women and girls to invasive investigations demanding 'proof' of gender.' The press conference was livestreamed. What's in the bill House Bill 32, filed by Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, is titled the 'Texas Women's Privacy Act.' It would require the state's political subdivisions to prevent people from using sex-segregated 'multiple-occupancy private spaces' that don't align with their sex assigned at birth. The law would apply to restrooms in government buildings and public schools, as well as jails and prisons. Gender definition bill passes in Texas Senate, heads to governor 'A political subdivision or state agency shall ensure each multiple-occupancy private space in a building the political subdivision or state agency owns, operates, or controls is designated for and used only by individuals of the same biological sex,' HB 32 reads. 'A political subdivision or state agency shall take every reasonable step to ensure an individual whose biological sex isopposite to the biological sex designated … does not enter the private space.' The bill would allow Texas's Attorney General to investigate and fine any political subdivision for violations. As introduced, HB 32 wouldn't allow for fines or legal actions against individual persons. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced this week that Senate Bill 7, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, will be his chamber's companion to the bill. 'This is about safety,' Middleton said. 'This is about privacy.' It hasn't been filed yet. Both bills fall under Gov. Greg Abbott's special session topic of 'legislation protecting women's privacy in sex-segregated spaces.' 'It's ridiculous, [opponents of this type of legislation] are literally arguing that we need to put the rights of men pretending to be women above those of women themselves,' Middleton said. 'It's not right. It's not common sense.' HB 32 was one of the first bills filed ahead of the session. Prior attempts ended in failure, lacked evidence The text is near-identical to SB 240, which Middleton filed during the regular session of the legislature. It passed in the Texas Senate but died in the Texas House. During floor debate, Democratic senators asked for evidence supporting his bill's necessity. Middleton didn't provide any and instead repeatedly called it 'common sense.' He also pushed back against the idea of commissioning a study related to the topic. State Sen. Mayes Middleton running for Texas Attorney General Back in the 2017 regular session of the state legislature, bill with a similar goal failed. Abbott called a special session in 2017 that included the topic; it also failed to pass. 2017 | Transgender veteran fears for safety if forced to use men's bathroom The 2017 bill was filed by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. It was also met with requests for her to provide data or evidence of a problem. 'In the crimes that I've looked at, in the most intimate settings, none have identified as a transgender,' Kolkorst said during a 2017 committee hearing on her bill. A more narrowed focus during special legislative sessions Research and data nonpartisan nonprofit Texas 2036 said it's not uncommon for similar legislation to be filed. 'There are a number of reasons why a bill may not pass during a regular session,' Jordan Wat, director of government affairs at Texas 2036 said. 'Maybe time ran out on that bill while it was being considered in one of the chambers. Perhaps there were some procedural issues related to it. Maybe the political winds were just not there.' Watt said similar legislation filed that previously failed, can be more successful in special sessions, depending on the topic. 'Because there's a bit more focus,' Wat said. 'In comparison to 140 day regular session, [Abbott] has laid out an 18-item agenda for members to consider and cover over the course of these next 28 days.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
