Judiciary Committee- House

Going to take up will be house bill fifteen twenty one which is representative winning. Represent when you're recognized to come to the end of the table representing have some amendments to his bill and he's going to be passing those. The middle of those bill amendments are being passed out members we heard this bill. Fairly extensively right before spring break. And there had been some questions on it I believe representative wing his listen to those questions and that's why you are now seeing these amendments I believe everybody has the amendments if you can pull that bill up so you can see where those amendments go and at this time representative wing I recognize you to explain your amendments so the Committee will have that in mind all right but basically these amendments to accomplish two things we had a few more co sponsors and we also have taken out that section see about was the presumption clause that was because a little bit of heartburn and so we have taken that out completely as suggested I've spoken to several members of the committee and would appreciate a good vote on the amendment. Membership of the explanation of the amendments with the will of the committee motion to adopt the amendment any discussion on that motion all in favor of the motion please say aye. Any opposed say no the ayes have it your bill is Senate amendments have been adopted you're now recognized to present your bill as amended. Committee the bill now remains the same minus that section C. clause if there are any additional questions I'm happy to attempt to answer them all also got lieutenant Scott here with me as well. Members are there any questions. Seeing no questions. Are you signed that solved you. Well we have created a miracle. It is the Easter season. Members to hang on a second while I look to see if we have anyone else who's signed up. I believe you were the only one who had signed up on this bill we have no one else who signed up to speak for against the bill the bill do I have a motion I have a motion to do pass as amended in the discussion on the motion. All in favor of the motion please say aye. Any opposed say no the ayes have it congratulations you've passed your bill as amended thank you madam chair thank you Committee. Members I want to take up representative flowers next but we're waiting for Buddy Johnson are parliamentarian so hang hang tight for just a second because I think that may go very quickly. Members just so you'll know. What we have on tap. As I've indicated to you in my text messages. I'm anticipating we will get through the Special order of business today then we're going to take up representative Gazaway has a number of bills that are not related to the crime bill that was filed yesterday better just regular bills that are on here we're going to take those up because what will we take those up that'll get rid of a lot of things come Thursday of this week we will be doing House bills on Thursday next Tuesday we will be taking up Senate bills only next Tuesday. Because that's been given time far bills get down there will take up all the Senate bills will take up any types of concurrence is that will leave us next Thursday to handle any concurrence in amendments that may happen to our bills that we send down there and will be done so that that is my plan unless something else comes up and I have shared that with the Speaker so he is in agreement with that plan. Members we're going to take a ten minute recess so we'll be in recess at this time. All right members. Members we now have our answers so if you'll come back to the table members then we're gonna take up represent the flowers. All right members. Judiciary is now back in session for my recess we have got an answer of it represent the flowers if you'll come to the end of the table. Members as you recall we heard represent the flowers and I'm sorry this is house bill ten thirteen that we're discussing how yes madam chair thank you house bill ten thirteen we had the I don't know couple hour meeting on on your bill back in two hours yes February second February second and at that point in time February seventh and at that point in time represent the flowers had presented some amendments to house bill ten thirteen and we adopted those amendments and then we heard the bill also represent flowers at this point in time if you will identify yourself for the record in. Make your case as to what you're wanting to do today thank you so much madam chair on that date we filed I presented an amendment before we went into the bill to adopt and I think I even described it is in part the Tosh amendment and you all voted to adopt the amendment and of course we went over the substance of the bill with witnesses and everything and that day though the Bill failed with the motion to adopt this amendment amended and because it failed the it wasn't engrossed and I wasn't aware that I was to provide the amendment in the House to ask them to engrossed it so when I went later to add some of the amendments for some of the work I've been doing that was a lot of confusion because I couldn't add the amendment that I had without the other one being engrossed in so the fix was to To all of the amending I needed to do including the amendment from that day so what you see in amendment two is really what was The Amendment to you pass plus other substance and I did that as a member's own and have since done another one to add Senator system members own and so what I ask that you do today is to expunge the vote by which Amendment to. Passed on the in February. All right members you for the explanation from a representative flowers what she is requesting of the committee is for us to expunge the vote of the amendments that we adopted on February the seventh of this year and then at that point in time it's my understanding that you will then be doing members and you will then come back to that but we will not be hearing your bill today correct and I am not affect admin chair yes that since we met I have approached like to think represents Cindy Crawford and represent Gazaway because we have met represent profit attended a meeting with me yesterday where we met with the Attorney General the Attorney General's office has agreed to work with us on language that we think will be amenable to that office and hopefully the governor's office I feel confident that we will be able to get there with the language and we've also even met with Secretary Hagar so we've been doing our due diligence and again I've I thank you for your patience madam chair and committee and we will be back members do we have a motion to expunge the February the seventh we have a motion is there any discussion on the motion all in favor of the motion please say aye All opposed say no the ayes have it we have exposed to vote in representative flowers you know how I operate let me know and we'll we'll get back to you I will see you later today thank you well we won't be hearing your bill today no no no right I think you said let me know so I'll let you know yeah I just wanna make sure you didn't show back up expecting to. So members that we of taking care of a special order on house bill ten thirteen this morning so that when anybody who is here for house bill ten thirteen feel free to leave the room because we will not be taking that bill back up today now members let's turn our attention to Senate bill two seventy I see senator Payton being patient back there in the corner represent means skews me it's hard hard to break old habits of the senator Payton you're recognized if you'll identify yourself representative Crawford his S. Code into the into the table she certainly is the House sponsors she's recognized to do that if you have been identified yourself for the record members we are turning to Senate bill two seventy you're recognized. Thank you madam chair thank you members good to see most of you know again it's been a busy session and I don't mind being called representative Payton at all so don't worry about that Senate bill two seventy there's been a lot of. Emails I know that I received I assume mostly all probably received the likewise by like to draw your attention for just a minute to the bill itself so I can explain it. Number one. on page two in section for its bay it basically gets to the meat of what we're trying to do so being eighteen years of age or older the person knowingly enters into and remains in a public changing facility that is assigned to persons of the opposite sex while knowing amount of the opposite sex is present in a public changing facility I tried to stress their the two levels of knowingly and I know being on the Judiciary Committee All a public familiar some of this other very high standards to try to prove so this bill is not broad and and just throwing a blanket over everything I mean this is going to be special circumstances where somebody has knowingly entered and remained knowing that the child is present. The reason that's important is because before I would expect any prosecution for prosecuting this up there's the call pretty much have to have been an incident where somebody was asked to leave demanded the leave and said Hey get out of here you're in the wrong bathroom this is there's children present I mean that's about the only way to meet the knowingly standard twice now many of the emails that I received is has accused this bill of being an attack on transgender people this bill applies to all people eighteen years and older okay. Now I've also had emails is say the transport not a threat to minors like middle aged white straight Baptist men are which I'm one of and I've got good news this bill applies to me emphasize the all of you if you choose to enter the bathroom opposite of your sex and that's what's called indecency bill. And it doesn't just cover bathrooms if you look again on page two. well that's Children their children president. I grew up in a house with two sisters my mom three women. And one bathroom. And we had to take turns many times I have stopped on the side of the road to the gas station or something it's a single use bathroom anyway yes take turns all I'm saying is if you have a changing facility where multiple people are present in there at the same time. The adults sorry this bill then help you but if there's children present we need to respect the privacy we need to allow them to be modest and. You know the bill that this has been described as being is one that I would probably vote for but this bill before you today in my opinion is a tremendous compromise from that bill. That would be of a go the right bathroom all the time bill I mean that's not what this bill is this bill in my opinion is a huge compromise and it's just. A tool. For somebody that it's. Trying to abuse the current state of affairs and yes there are heterosexual middle aged white Baptist men they would like to take advantage of the current societal conditions. And hang out the girls locker room or dressing room or something like that. Hello folks that's been going on for centuries that's why we have bathrooms marked male and female. That's you know there's that. There's nothing new about. The fact that the. Men are usually the aggressors anytime there's some sort of Sexual assault. The vast majority of those are men. And we don't need to give those people the opportunity or the excuse. To take advantage of an accommodation that were making for for people who the only in in modern years we've made accommodation for people who are. Transitioning or whatever you wanna call it agenda selection. We we've tried make accommodation for that but we have to draw the line somewhere I think this bill is a tremendous compromise. L. turned over to. Yes the representative Crawford. If you have anything additional to add please identify yourself for the record a representative Cindy Crawford District fifty one. what I would like to say is this is not against trans people just want to reiterate that. This is not asking you not to go into a bathroom this is asking you to wait if there is a child in the back there and that's all this is doing if you walk in if you're a trans woman and you walk into. A female bathroom and there is a girl there under seven years of age this bill would say leave the restroom until at minor comes out and then you can go in it's just asking you to wait not telling you can't so that's all I have to say for now thank you. Members are there any questions. Seeing no questions will we have a number of people I'm sorry representative and the call you're recognized for a question I have a motion. Let's hear your motion motion for immediate consideration. We've got. Three pages of individuals who have come to. The bill well we have a motion on the floor any discussion on the motion. You saying no discussion of. One is not debatable sorry about that all right we have a motion for for immediate consideration all in favor please say aye. Any opposed say no no. The nose have it broke off. Okay C. two handfuls Caldwell. Representative seven X.. Representative necks. Representative to Richmond yes represent the rich man yes. What. Which. Yes what's your question yes every voting on the motion or voting on the motion FOR immediate consideration there's been a roll call on the motion for immediate consideration so that's what we're voting on I apologize if I did explain that. Red represent the Richmond yes represent the Richmond yes. Representative Gazaway. Representative Gazaway. Represented the Watson represent the Watson yes. Representative Crawford no representa Crawford no. Representative Scott representative Scott yes. Representative Clowney representative Clowney yes. President of Cooper. Representative Cooper. Representative director so representative Richardson yes. Point of order madam chair. Yes what is the motion on the floor the motion is permitted consideration of what motion. FOR immediate consideration of what motion. Well you do have a point let me double check I think. Fifty four this bill if somebody make a do pass motion or a table motion Yeah you're right thank you. You are correct. With that and I appreciate that sometimes we get busy shuffling papers up here so I appreciate that senator for calling that out we can't take them motion for immediate consideration until there's a motion on the floor I'd like to make a motion to table. Well it really making me go back to the sheet and look. Here we go. Right members we have a motion to table it is non debatable. All in favor of the motion to table say aye. I'll All opposed say no. The nose habit. May your Wheaties this morning didn't you all right here we go. Now this is on the motion to table. Call the roll. Representative mix. The representative Nicks. You represent the Richmond no representa Richmond no. Representative Gazaway. Representative Gazaway. Representative Watson represent the Watson no. Representative Crawford. No representa Crawford no. Representative Scott. Representative Scott. Yes. Representative Clowney. But in the county yes. Representative Cooper. Representative Cooper. Representative Richardson representative Richardson yes. Representative Collins representative Collins yes representative McCollum represent McCollum yes representative Hudson yeah represent the Hudson yes. Represent the Milligan. Representa Milliken NO. Representative under what representative I do what now. Represented more. Representative more. Representative DeFeo. Representative Duffield. Representative under. No representative Pearce. Representative Pearce. Representative very. No representative very well. It takes a majority of a quorum we do not have a majority of a quorum to tape. Right now that we're back to questions do we have any questions represent Clowney recognized for a question thank you madam chair senator Payton you made a lot of reference to Baptist adult white men I'm going in the bathrooms and taking advantage of children or wanting to can you tell me where that's coming from is that I know that many men want to do this where is that coming from any basing that on of what I was referring to is the volume of emails that I receive set up all this bill making that claim. And I what I said when when it's true that men are the multitude of the aggressors in for centuries are from human history okay I think that I think that's easy to approve I think that's evidence most of us would probably stipulate to follow the. Thank you finish your answer senator yes and also on the corrected to Introduce loop with family council that wanted to Speaker and help answer questions so that's one question that's appropriate then you'll be allowed to identify yourself and answer the question so that's not a problem president Clinton you're recognized for a follow up thank you madam chair at and I appreciate it and I hope that you understand that as a woman I am well aware with that the A sexual assault and and is. All of the gender dynamics the media talking about but but what I'm still not hearing and your answer is what any of that has to do with bathroom specifically I'm not asking about whether you've heard from people who are nervous about it happening I'm really asking about if you have heard from people who are saying this is a problem in Arkansas. this is something that has been happening the assaults or the sitting around and watching of little girls that you were talking about and if that is happening I certainly haven't heard about it have you. So yes of. Going back. Thirty five years to when I was a teenager. There was a teacher and a male teacher in the school that I attended. The. Made it. I have been to attend the girls locker room. While the girls were in there and there was complaints that he shouldn't be in there and there was an argument made that he had a reason to be in there and a couple years later. They have evidence came out and he was found to. Been inappropriate while he was in there so my personal experiences yes I mean there are there are men that will take advantage of any excuse they can. Two. The president one young ladies are state of undress I don't think that should be shocking news to anybody I'm not gonna recognized thank you madam chair and just it is your testimony that under this story you just told me there were other laws that took care of that scenario that already exist in IT on the books is that correct. After the fact that. At least one young lady was violated yes thank you. Representative Hudson you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair and. How is this not and at present what bathroom bill given that it is verbatim the bill from North Carolina and I've got them both pulled out that is verbatim the bill from North Carolina love never read the bill from North Carolina but I don't know how it could be verbatim. all right let me explain real quick to the audience I run a tight ship we don't. We don't little laugh which will laugh at my jokes but otherwise we don't laugh we don't clap we don't give thumbs up we don't give thumbs down I think anybody that comes to my committee knows that I'm consistent all the way across so let's try to have a quorum about us that is professional and respectful to all people and I'm sorry to interrupt your answer you're now recognized measure right all right that's quite alright It would be Divine intervention in my opinion of both those bills lined up for paid because I've never heard or seen the the bill that they they do I mean maybe where did follow up after you're recognized for a question where did the bill come from did it come from someone who may have had the North Carolina bill. No of. Six years ago or thereabouts. governor Aissa Hutchinson called a special session. And in the call there was this section a code. And the call left the language of the call was broad enough. That we were able to. Dreamed up this idea there was about five of this state in over there mac a when the idea came to us that we might could follow bill under this section a code to deal with what was a hot topic in that day and time and We had a bill drafted this very similar to this and that would be five or six years ago maybe even longer I ended up with a copy of that in a brown. Gator had looking briefcase that I could at the time. It's been sitting in my garage gathering dust for five or six years and shortly before the session started. I decided to open up to see what I've left in there and I found a copy of this bill that left in there from several years ago so if that said if that doesn't satisfy your curiosity for the origins of this bill I don't know what would. You're recognized for one more follow up and I think that given the fact that that North Carolina bill was was filed around that same time probably answers my questions but did looking forward we know that in twenty twenty one the Supreme Court heard the Bostock that case and liberal firebrand we'll Gorsuch wrote the opinion in which he talked about how discrimination in the workplace against trans employees is sex discrimination so how is this bill not going to fall into the same issue that box that had in that the fact that the only people who are going to be disproportionately affected by the fact that they are required even if they have a disability or nursing need to use the restroom to step out of the bathroom if a child comes in transport for be disproportionately affected by that requirement because obviously if you're in there to do on toward things that's a different situation only trans people will be affected when they have to use the restroom. So how is this not a sex discrimination issue. Well in my opinion they would have the same opportunity to use the correct bathroom that they would do use incorrect bathroom I've had to use the wrong bathroom because I stopped on the side of the road and it was urgent and get in there in the men's room its single occupancy million somebody's in there and I've had to use the ladies room and ask somebody to guard the door lock the door if its single occupancy you don't have a problem of if a trans person. Has gone to the bathroom of their present preference and it's occupied by a minor they can go to the other bathroom. Just like I would do. It was urgent. Members represent the call you're recognized for a question. Senator Payton I had sexual indecency with a child to a serious charge that. Could really. Read or heard a person's life. And I mean is it my understanding that just for existing in the bathroom not for any action or anything like that just being in there. That that that's that's what. I'm gonna be charged with sexual indecency so if you look at the bill there's several sections where it's just adding the line if the offense is a felony or class A. misdemeanor Some of the lines you know Class C. misdemeanor under subdivision eighty six this section you're correct on the sexual indecency with a minor has always been a felony until this bill passes and if this bill passes it creates a misdemeanor so it's not as serious as not being listed on the on the sexual predator list and things like that if and we had to that has to amend several other sections or code to make allowance for the fact that it could be a misdemeanor so when this bill started was first filed. The third offense would be a felony but we amended that out of the bill it it's just a misdemeanor stays a misdemeanor follow up please recognized thank you madam chair Okay I think I understand that but it still sexual indecency with a child and it's it's you may have just gone in the stall going to the bathroom come right out now it says knowingly enter and remain knowing the child present. If somebody's one need to. I ask you to leave inform you that there's child present away I understand the. You know the perception is or the argument that maybe this could accidentally happened but specifically it cannot accidentally happen when the has two levels of knowingly written into the to the code there. Collins you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair So what what would happen if somebody's in a bathroom that a you know say it's men's bathroom and they present a woman that looks a woman their identification cards all say their woman but someone says that they're not how does that get in Porsche has actually get checked. Well. At this at some point somebody would have to follow a complete a criminal complaint and the prosecutor would have to make the choice whether or not to investigate and and try to prove one or the other so I can't imagine that that would be a case unless there had been some grievous other than just being present in the bathroom that happen. I mean the way I see this. You know I've I've got a wife. She's old enough that this is not gonna help her I've got a daughter she's old enough it's not going to help but I've got to cut the several granddaughters the diviners and you know if if I see a dude follow them into the girls bathroom I want to be able to tell them to leave. Follow up and follow up but I think that's kind of what I'm getting is that how do you know if it's the dude in every case some case law in my nose so I can't tell I was not going to care. Okay. You're recognized for a question thank you madam chair centre Payton are you aware that if this bill passes what you will see is do the following your granddaughters into the bathroom. that is a concern I will admit it has crossed my mind yes. Try that you're recognized. And you would rather have men big bearded man in the bathroom with your granddaughters because it says on my birth certificate. They were born as girls you would rather have that scenario than the current state of the law no I would probably challenge that person and say you know what you doing going going in the girls bathroom and they'd. Published a well I was born a woman and we say okay we'll give me five minutes let me give a granddaughter of their. Follow up thank you I'm I'm I guess I'm hearing a lot in your testimony about. sort of how you read this law how you imagined it would play out if it were you in that scenario but you know I talked about the committee to look at what the writer of the ras says that's before us and while knowingly is present in this and I appreciate that you keep talking about somebody being asked to leave you keep kind of bringing up the situations where somebody asks a person to leave but that's actually not required under the language of this bill in order for a person to be found guilty of sexual indecency with a child I don't have to be asked and then refused to leave all they have to do is know that there's a child in the bathroom and they are immediately guilty of sexual indecency with a child so I guess kind of harkening back to representative Collins question can you please just walk us through under the law what a confrontation how you see this playing out in real time in real life. Well I mean that's all hypothetical scenarios that I guess we could dream up on both sides of the argument yeah all day long. There didn't used to be a problem I grew up in a world where boys use the boys bathroom girls use the girls bathroom and for the most part of but it looks the part. Because we've tried to make accommodations in recent years to allow people to transition from one six to the other that we created this problem. And I'm trying to mitigate it to the very least of mild ability here with with a bill. It sets the highest standard if anybody can dream up for prosecution the your own businesses I have employees I have customers employees of course or their day to day that customers are there repeatedly if they frequent my business and I yes I do have some trains and now will sexual customers that come to my businesses we get along great. I need to have the ability as a private property business owner. The police my restrooms to some extent now if I don't want to police my name up assigned this is the Hasm male and female image on it and put it on both restrooms and say it's a free for all go have fun but. If all if I want on my property they have a men's room in the women's room and to be able to requirement ploys and customers to respect each other's privacy when they use it up I'm trying to follow a bill that gives us a very. Gentle nudge. Toward respecting each other's privacy. Collins you're recognized for a question. Some you said earlier in response to represent planning if you saw someone who presented as you know the wrong. The agenda going into the bathroom you might confront them and they even if they were following the law don't you think we're gonna see more confrontations like this under this law and I mean are you concerned at all about the rest for confrontations becoming hostile or violent the very least make people very you know uncomfortable to use any bathroom but quite often I would imagine they would be hostile confrontations what do you think about that. I think this gives the ability to Bring it before a prosecutor for. A reasonable judgment as to whether you know which party may be at fault follow up you're recognized to be clear I'm talking about when you're using the right bathroom when a under the law when using the bathroom that they were signed to you know the of the sex they were they were born with but even if they do it right under your law there's gonna be people who were you know confronting someone because I don't think they look like they should be there so I've I've I've had some pretty. shocking images sent to me in my email recently claiming that this person was born a man and. Barely has any clothes on and definitely doesn't present as a man anymore you know but If that person. I will find you can get the question right in my head but if somebody who looks like. A woman is going in the women's bathroom. And stand in there Blake a man. How this will raise some eyebrows there's no doubt. I don't know how gore your deep in the region I want to get with the same. But. If you go if you present which is a term used as one sex or the other and you obviously show no signs of being the other sex and you go into a bathroom that aligns with what you look like and what you present as I can see that this bill whatever going to play that that anybody would. Would argue. Let's go raise an eyebrow is when. You go in the one that you don't look like. Or yeah act wrong. If you go in there behave yourself I don't see remedies will prosecute you for anything. Yes those that do not behave their self. Need me to have accountability. The president has said you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair and and I think that that's the part that we're struggling with because there's nothing in the bill that requires that that the that the person DO something in the bathroom other than use the restroom knowing that there's a child in it there's there's also known requirement that someone asked the person using the restroom to leave the restaurant although you've mentioned several times that this would only affect somebody if they were asked to leave that's not in the bill simply knowing that it was in the bill so the question shall have been asking of the management my question go ahead thank you. You have assumed a bunch of language that is not in the bill and when as attorneys we look at a law we are confined to the words on the page there's nothing in there that says that someone has to ask the person to leave there is nothing in the bill it says that the person has to be doing anything untoward. There is there's nothing in that addressing a lot of the issues that you seem to think will come into play with this bill in action but they're not on the page so how eight how do you how do we assume that this will work as you say it's going to work given the fact that you have said several things that are not in the plain language of your bill okay if I could direct your attention to page three line ten. This bill is about public changing facilities not just bathrooms. This is a public changing facility means a public or private facility that is held out as open to the public and designated to be used at a time during which a person may be in the state of undress in the presence of other persons public changing facility includes without limitation a restroom the bathroom a locker room or shower room. I would argue that they are being of the wrong sex in a shower room. Just being present would be toward. You need to follow up I do okay you're recognized follow up. But again you're talking about someone merely existing you're not talking about even an option where someone would use a stall I mean that the way this is written someone could be in a shower with the curtain shot and because someone else came in and knew that person was trans they can seek to prosecute them. For simply being in a shower privately by themselves or being in a bathroom stall privately by themselves if the private Lee by themselves are not violate this bill anyway. To follow up we're not gonna get into a sorry argument back and forth it last eight engine and answer so ask your questions Indian that's where I'm struggling because your bill doesn't say that. Your bill defines a public changing facility but it doesn't say if they're in the stall it doesn't count or if they're in a shower by themselves it doesn't count it says that if they're just physically present that they're subject to prosecution so can you show me where we can find some assurance that it's not just a matter of being physically present that triggers prosecution. Well to answer that last question I don't think I can show you in a way that you would accept it so. Members any other questions. Seeing no further questions members we have three pages of folks who signed up to speak for against We have a limited amount of time. some people have traveled a long distance I am not one to say we're not going to hear everybody but I suspect we're going to hear a lot of redundancy so I'm going to caution the people who have signed up if you are saying the same thing they're basically the same thing that somebody else is said would you please yield your time this committee wants to hear from folks and we're real good about that but at the same time you do lose all committee members interest. When it becomes repetitive so if we can you know kind of have that agreement but if you see that what you're saying is just Maryland you you're more than welcome to stand up and just state that I agree with the person who has just testified and what that noted and we will certainly knows that but I don't want to. I don't want to see my committee members eyes glaze over because they've taken a vacation in their mind waiting for three pages of folks to testify so let's let's have that agreement I think we can work through this fairly. responsibilities so the first person who signed up to speak against the bill Jill Murphy Iverson hopefully I have pronounced it correctly and once I call your name you're welcome to come to the end of the table agenda fire so. And you're recognized to make your statement. But. Got it okay hi I'm Joe Murphy Alderson and yes I'm here to speak against this bill today I didn't expect to go first but hearing Okay. I'm anything struck me during your testimony Sir and so this isn't so I'd just. Sorry this content this particular bill is extremely personal to me as is it is to most people here my wife is trans and she can't be here today because she's on a neurosurgical conference she is a a she's a medical resident at UAMS in the neurosurgery department and she's able to do that she's able to. Care for the people of Arkansas because she has been able to transition before her transition I was losing her. She was the parent of my child and I slowly saw her slipping away because she was so fundamentally uncomfortable with who she saw in the mirror. Someone that I've loved for ten years told me that when they looked in the mirror thing wanted to cry. And I knew some day that she was I was going to come home and she would be gone but I didn't know why until finally she told me that she was trans and she needed to transition and ever since then I have seen her flourish and grow and enjoy being a parent and enjoy being a doctor and give the men and your term Vasquez to the people of the state and and we appreciate that and appreciate your story but let's see in the bill. Yeah keep the bill. Of course. I'm so sorry this is my first time doing this I know that I'm no problem we understand that folks are nervous when you can have all these folks looking at you just take a breath and when we want to hear your thoughts on this bill thank you I appreciate that on this bill. I find this Deeply deeply troubling. That the call of this bill. That the owners of this bill puts it on the trans person I mean on the person entering the bathroom that they must knowingly go like knowingly whether check there's a child and there knowingly remain if there is a child there and the point that the honor to serve the pointer of anything that you put on them in this situation it's not designed to protect the children it is designed to make the person feel uncomfortable and afraid we know this we can see this this is the result of the exact same bill that's been passed in other states it is a shame that this could that our government is actively working to make Americans afraid. That is a shame. Your job is to protect and to help and to take care of us and our roads and our schools. And we watch those things come under fire and fall into disarray while more and more legislation comes out to control. And to suppress into cause people pain this is in the this is part of the bill because it will make people uncomfortable to be in that changing facility the firm I know many people have joked about how they'll have to like walk into about can be like Hey there any kids in here before they use the facilities. Is that a situation anyone in here feels comfortable with this is designed to protect children and. That's all for it but there are many and decent things that can be done to a child like having to work enough chicken factory instead of going to school. Having the school be bankrupt having to drive on roads that are broken and falling apart these are things that are also going to send for a child and these are the things that this government is being called to address and this. Is it in this these rules are designed to distract distract us from the fact that no one's doing that no one. I'm sorry that was a particularly organized and I suppose it wasn't particularly in regards the bill but I'm not a legislator I'm a citizen and I'm terrified that I'm not going to be able to live here with my family without fear. Thank you for being here today next we have speak for the bill Tony road is road. You're welcome to go the in the table state your name and then you may make your statement. My name is Tony rose I represent American speaks. And I'm gonna drop point the study real quick. This is just from a study by a woman means something and it's just a little over a year and it's right it's focused on the target bathroom bill. And it has. Two hundred and twenty incidents. Of us some sort of assault. And target bathrooms. None of these were perpetrated by females there all by males. And thirty four percent of those total incidents involve children. You know I know this feels personal to the transgender community. But this bill and others like it are not necessarily because of transgenders. There because our inability refusal whatever it is. To determine the predators. From the truly gender dysphoric. These represent not necessarily transgender assaults. They represent the predators among us who are meant. And who are taking advantage of they've verbalize this you can't kick me out the laws have changed. We're trying to protect. Children. And women against these predators we have not separated the wheat from the chaff. We have not separated the true transgender woman. From the predator mail. And that's a really hard thing to do probably maybe that's why we haven't done it but I would hope the transgender community. Would have conversations with their legislators and let's figure this out folks. This isn't gonna go away y'all I'm going to go away I'm not going to go away you know but we've got to figure this out for the sake of our children. Because men who aren't even trying to look like women are going into showers places of When women disrobe and they're taking advantage of us they're taking advantage of you they're taking advantage of our children this is why we have these laws. So if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer. Seeing the questions thank you Mr rose for testimony today next we have speak I'm sorry representative Richardson high apologize didn't see you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair so I'm a little with this data that you just got from woman means something is that the correct yes what was that data located because I'm looking on the site and I can't find you okay look under our it's ten X. values dot org. So it's not woman follows so as not under woman won something the Texas values study is referred reporting on this particular study references the study it gives a crap in there. Okay. All right members any other questions seeing no other questions thank you mistress next we have speak against the bill Braylon Smith. Point of order what you can't you can't make a point of order I'm sorry you're not a member what if you're asking how we go about we have sheets that people signed up I'm going down the sheet that's all we're doing it there. Okay. Remove replace all right next person up is Brian Smith. Please state your name and you're recognized to make your statement. My name is Brandon Smith and I'm here with queer collective. And for myself I'm speaking in opposition to SB two seventy and there are many reasons that I oppose this bill. Including health accessibility. And safety including non transgender women who are regular Uncommon for non transgender women to be confronted in women's restrooms being accused of being a man. But all of those things other people can speak to more eloquently than I can. So for me personally I'm a transgender man I was assigned female at birth and most people don't assume that when they see me they assume that I was assigned male at birth. This bill forces me in a situation of choosing either. To use the main question restroom probably not having an issue but potentially facing severe consequences if I do have an issue. Conviction of sexual indecency with a minor would affect my ability to get a job and find housing. Four I could use the women's room. And probably have a problem. Possibly even arrest and go to be arrested and go to court. When not. Cover. With that would be emotionally and and time and. The fact is is I don't want to use the women's rooms I am not comfortable using women's bathrooms and changing rooms and frankly I don't think proponents of this bill are comfortable with me using women's bathrooms and changing rooms. In fact the sponsor of this bill said that he would ask me to wait until his granddaughter left because I was following the law. How is that a quality. I ask you to vote no on SB two seventy nine open questions. Members any questions. Seeing the questions thank you for being here today thank you next we have speak against the bill Christian's soul or sal so. The end of the table identify yourself and then you may make your statement. Hello my name is Kristen soul it is heartening My has released short I am appreciate being able to speak at this building and also appreciate that we don't have it set limited time so to keep it short. I'm a lifelong Kansan mom of three I am master's level social worker in problem but at the LGBT community in Arkansas. A work primarily with people on the gender spectrum and I think you can already see from what people have said is our committee is really hurting right now and this bill even though the sponsor said it's not to hurt anyone in the transgender community it is One of the things I thought about it is since our sponsor has said this is primarily to maybe did her. Man from assaulting kids sexually maybe it System nurserymen need their own restaurant Your children in their own restroom because it doesn't really make sense to me. I don't think anything of this bill makes sense. Except for that is. Making me feel. So much pain. And I don't think that this bill is about protecting children thank you. Next we have speak against the bill. Casper settle I okay hopefully I have that correct. If you come to the in the table and state your name you're recognized. Hello I am Casper so it'll ask me to pull up my. I will be cutting off some parts because it was stated by the representatives. But. One thing I would like to mention is the transgender mother and her baby let's say this female that she did have in fact the rightful custody over. If that baby had an accident and they needed to change their diaper. Most men's restrooms don't contain changing tables despite the mandates. If you want to go into the women's restroom she would have her baby taken from our and filed as a. Sex offender this it's. Not right. Imagine if you went into a restaurant with your child and you have your child taken away simply to. Help that kid because sitting in its own feces as well as I do have a quote. Even though he I do understand he explicitly stated that it is against transgenders. It. Isn't exactly because the amount compared to. Sister is going to the opposite restroom as transgenders is. Quite the large difference. And I quote transgender people over four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent victimization including rape sexual assault and aggravated or simple assault according to a study by the Williams institute at UCLA school of law which. Means it's putting people in danger just so they can use the restroom or change to vote say go to a pool have fallen simply just don't exist. It's. Messed up. Blake. If I wanted if I wanted to and I wanted to go into the restroom so that I. Could use its facilities. But I have to go into the female restroom not only am I a outing myself as transgender I'm outing myself to anybody who wishes to inflict harm on me meaning I could be part of any of those assaults I can be raped I can be sexually assaulted. I could be injured I could die I could be beat to death it's not something that doesn't happen it is in fact something that happens and I would very much like you all to consider that the effects that are happening with this law thank you. Thank you for being here today next we have to speak against the bill Reverend every Maynard o'connell. Health identify yourself you're recognized make your statement. Hi. My name is Reverend Marie Maynard o'connell and I'm a pastor here in Little Rock and I'm speaking to an issue that I do not think has yet been addressed and it's the issue that this bill potentially infringes upon the free expression of religion and I'll explain. In my understanding and experience here in Arkansas The Presbyterian church USA the discounters United Methodist cooperative and American Baptists the old an ecumenical Catholic churches. All of these organizations already have members who are themselves trans or non binary or clear. Here on the third page the definition of public changing facility says a public or private facility that is held out as open to the public and designed to be used at a time when the person may be in a state of undress in the presence of other persons unfortunately this accurately describes church bathrooms and many church bathrooms especially in small ones are only one or two styles for the entire church including children. This would mean that a church was being asked to not recognize the rights of their members who are trans non binary et cetera and to treat them differently than they had previously and if it is a deeply held religious beliefs of the institutions that they should have equal access then the government is infringing upon our rights. This I think is a huge red flag. That this bill is overreaching and needs to be considered again the previous idea to table it or to withdraw it would certainly get my encouragement because I have some knowledge in this I am willing to take questions if there are any. Members are there any questions. Seeing the questions thank you for your testimony today thank you. Next we have speak against the bill Evolent ray host Stafford. You'll come to the end of the table identify yourself you'll be recognized. Thank you members of the committee my name is Evelyn L. Stafford I am a justice of the peace in Washington County Arkansas representing downtown Fayetteville amounts Korea and South Fayetteville and I have heard from many of my constituents were very concerned about this bill I've heard from zero people who are in favor of it and I see some of my questions County constituents here I know some of them are signed up to speak I will not speak for them but you're gonna hear their stories I wanted to tell you my perspective as well because I also in in twenty twenty I became the first openly trans elected official in the state of Arkansas. I. I have brought up a little bit of showing tell here so hang on. We don't allow anybody to hold up pictures are the staff at it's just rule of the committee I didn't let represent Crawford did ask for a handout not sure about her so just call with that I'll describe what's in the folder that's fine but you cannot hold that nor can you pass out absolutely thank you very much in this folder that I have in front of me I have my U. S. passport which designates my gender is female I have my Arkansas driver's license which designates my gender is female and I have a court order from two thousand nine from a judge stating that that at that time I had met all of the physical psychological and legal requirements to have my agenda officially designated as female. so I have been using the women's restroom for twenty years I have been using I've been going to the gym I've been using locker rooms since the court order for almost fifteen years without any incident and I am I am by far not the first trans person and to transition in the State of Arkansas I've known people who transitioned back in the eighties and nineties and many people even before that but this bill is such an over reach that would have an individual whose legal documentation end. Physical anatomy who matches the sign on the door. Would be. Would be barred from from entering that restaurant. This is the third time the bathroom bill has come before you all since twenty seventeen and this bill. Is much more of an over reach the most previous bills the SP seven forty four and twenty seventeen. H. B. eighteen eighty two and twenty twenty one. Both of those bills only applied to public buildings. This bill which is way beyond that and mandates to private businesses how they should conduct their business it takes away the rights of private businesses to set policy as they see fit. In addition H. the eighty two. ideas such as I have in my folder would have sufficed the twenty twenty one bill this bill doesn't even mention IT it doesn't mention any idea at all. And the legislature has already passed a bathroom bill that relates to those eighteen and under it has a different definition of sex then this bill would so someone who is both eighteen and a student would be simultaneously subject to two different definitions of sex under the two different kinds of documentation. so I want you all to stick to consider some of the legal ramifications of this. I've been the victim of sexual assault. Having me use. The men's restroom. Would put me at risk. This would this bill would do nothing to protect me. I'm sorry. I move on to another point This bill also has the ability to harm the state's economy we saw what happened with North Carolina the bathroom bill in twenty sixteen. In Northwest Arkansas we are a major driver of the state's economy there's a lot of folks who work really hard to recruit the best and brightest from around the country to come to our state to live here to work here to say that this is a place where it no matter who you are you can come and thrive and work and if and if the filling career And this bill what I see is this bill works against that I'm hearing from people who were Not just concerned it taking a second look about whether they may want to move to Arkansas the folks who are here who are concerned about whether they will need to leave the state and you know some people may be okay with that I'm certainly not everyone can lose talented people. What those talented people. it's gonna hurt tourism it's going to hurt at. Job recruitment. And I would like to see raw Senate bill office to get an economic impact study to see. What the impact of this bill would have on our economy. Because North Carolina bill passed they estimated that that that state would lose billions of dollars because the bill. Thank you I'm open for questions members are there any questions. Seeing no questions thank you for your testimony today next we have Robert Stafford speaking against the bill. Just identify yourself you're recognized to speak I'm Robert Stafford fable Arkansas washing council you just heard from my wife. Sh my release my wife she's the smart one on the emotional. That I can give you facts and figures. At. I try not to give the anger but you have to understand that what you have in front of you. Causing your causes grief causes fear you're telling half the people in this room that they are not welcome in the state of Arkansas. My wife. We met in San Francisco there for twenty five years I was raised in favor of my family's favorite Bill per families in Texas. She is. Source margins got to in the sitting on our shelves from the times news producer and writer. And I convinced her to quit her six figure job come to Arkansas. So we can be closer to our families. So that we can build a business and we built a business we have a successful business. And we have friends in my my eighty eight year old mother. And if this bill passes. And then when my wife goes to Washington County courthouse in his last use the men's room. The syrupy wiring men's room next to. I don't. That makes me angry. But if it passes then what is our choice we're basically being told we're not welcome in the state of Arkansas we must leave she's talented she works for her community when she was re elected she got eighty percent of the vote that means that Republicans will voting for my wife why because when I'm person because she does her job. And speaking of job your job is to uphold the constitution of the United States and sworn of Bible that you would do that. It under the United States constitution will all afforded equal treatment under the law. You are singling out a population populations maybe one or two percent. Of Arkansas Kansas and you're saying in this a bowling. It is it's a it's a polling move. Why I don't know maybe to roll up your base maybe get more votes I have no idea who the I know it's not good but. Doesn't say a single thing about it. But for some unknown reason state after state. Has been passing these cookie cutter laws interfere with nothing. But when you're not here to be a bully. Here to make sure roads get paid to make sure kids learn and this is about protecting kids is going to hurt kids. there were some leaked emails recently. From some of your colleagues and and some of these anti trans groups. In one of your colleagues stated in the email it is out there for anyone to find I'm not gonna name names you just Google you know how to do it. And she says. There. These laws to pass. The thank because some kids to commit suicide. Enter based colleagues was late not like what you would have a decent human person would think it wasn't too Hey maybe that's reconsider this maybe that's not these children. Face was like Hey you might wanna figure out how to cover your time parks. And use different languages I did. I I I don't know what to tell you I can't know what's in your hearts. But this is paid for look at the room you're telling your telling have these people are not equal to you that they don't have the same rights as you. You want protected doing anything decent in the bathroom as far as I know already legal you can't do it being in the bathroom is a legal we go to the bathroom to go to the bathroom. People go to the bathroom people have dignity and respect twenty people with dignity and respect. In fact I'm sitting here talking to a bunch of lawmakers saying treat people with dignity and respect is is ridiculous. Bait and but it's really all I have to say. It is so this garbage out thank you. Thank you Sir mix we have to speak against the bill by rum running the and I'm sorry I cannot read the last name. Identify yourself for the record and you're recognized to make your statement thank you hi my name is remember I'm the executive director of in transit and what's your last and we just couldn't I'm sorry we is is Sam samba genital could you spell that please we have to keep a record up here why a and B. you. Y. eight Y. M. B. Y. A. M. B. U. R. K. Y. A. M. B.. All right you're recognized thank you my name is Ron brown I'm the executive director of intransitive is a trance organization here in Arkansas. I'm here to ask you to vote no to as B. two seventy. I'm a transgender person that whenever I was born my parents were told that I was a girl. But as you can see I. a as other folks have mentioned like you probably would in call me a Grove you saw me somewhere under SB two seventy I would be forced to use the women's bathroom. I know that. Senator Payton said that this wasn't a bill targeting trans people but then he was examples only of trans people in presenting the bill. when we're talking about protecting children in bathrooms. What makes it clear that this bill is against trans people is the registered sex offenders can still going to the bathroom and be next to children under this bill they don't have to stand in the door and asked I their children inside you know you can have I I'm I'm male who is registered as a sex offender and he wouldn't have to stand at the door and asked by the children inside before he goes in he can still go in as the next. To a urinal to a child and not have to be put under this same like guidelines that this bill is trying to create. And that shows that this is against trans people. Because if he was protecting children you would ensure that people who are already. Who are already convicted of crimes against children. Would have less access to children. Representative of does feel and representative Scott under SB two seventy the people you're trying to protect with H. B. thirteen thirty four would also be at risk of being arrested and charged with sexual indecency with a minor. As the co sponsors of H. B. thirteen thirty four I'm sure that you are well aware of the challenges in accessing bathrooms for people with chronic disease and other inflammatory bowel conditions. Does the reason why you sponsor those bills right. Because people can't just be iced Hey hold off until I child can get out because somebody told you whenever you have certain conditions it's just not possible to do so and that's the reason why you sponsor those bills and so under this bill. Folks who have those conditions. Would be at risk of this or. Hi the the things that they don't want to have happen to them because they couldn't access about the. Senate berry I know that you care deeply about people with eyes Alzheimer's and and hang on just just a moment let's talk about the bill and not call out individual representatives you're certainly welcome to speak to what possibly you senator Payton said a representative Crawford said in your statement but let's not bring in other bills that are not germane to this that or not this bill thank you. Under SB two seventy people with those conditions would also face violence. There are so many unintended consequences of this bill they're going to harm a lot of people that you care about whether you care about trans people are not. Is there a poorly written bill. And if SB two seventy passes all although senator. Payton said that if somebody like me was too isn't into the women's bathroom he would ask me to stop until children get out under SB two seventy I have every right to go into the women's bathroom. And she could ask me to wait but I would have to wait. Because at birth. My parents were told that I was a female right and so I under SB two seventy I have that right and so a lot of transgender people who look like me will also have that right. Please go known as B. two seventy. Thank you for your testimony today next we have to speak against the bill Allison Guthrie. Sorry if you speak. The student if I yourself for the record you're recognized absolutely thank you my name is Allison Guthrie and I am a concern or Kansan. I am also a cisgender heterosexual woman and I am strongly against this bill. SP two seventy violates the privacy of all our Kansans and sends the message that you are right to basic Human Services is dependent upon how a stranger with the child happens to perceive your gender. Passing laws about restroom access personal medical medical care pronouns and books you don't like are not the actions of a limited government. I do not need protection from trans people children do not need protection from trans people we need protect protection from cisgender men who make up between ninety three and ninety eight percent of all sexual violence against women and men. Additionally we must let go of the idea that sexual assault is happening with strangers in the restroom seventy eight percent of all sexual assault is perpetrated by someone that the victim knows. Twenty below are not committing sexual assault says gender men are. And we don't just need to protect women and children we need to educate our boys and men but those books have been banned so. I don't know what to say about that. Men also don't need to dress up like a woman to assault someone they'll do it in plain sight at schools churches dormitories origins. They do it even if they know they'll get caught because the way that men are allowed to behave in this country is to take to dominate and to walk out of all over whoever doesn't fit into their idea of working that is the culture of toxic masculinity in this country and that is what is happening with this bill. Senator Payton mentioned simply going into another restaurant going into the right restaurant but that to me. Is a privilege because he has likely never felt the fear that you fear that you experience other women walking into a restaurant while walking into a gym or walking into any room including rooms like this and facing the possibility of sexual harassment or assault we saw that in another committee and it was never addressed excuse me I apologize for that. This is not a culture war. These are people's lives futures and well being your fear of trans people is unfounded and standards pharmacist gender men not transport at what point are we going to stop blaming others and educate our children about consent kindness acceptance and love transport a threat but your transphobia is please vote against this bill thank you thank you for your being here today are there any questions say no questions thank you next we have to speak against the bill John. Ran Cohen ring kind. I apologize if I mispronounce your last name if you'll state your name for the record you're recognized to make your statement. Yeah my name is John Rankin and I'm a resident of the request for ings Arkansas. I had I had emailed up a poster that I had given to all of the representatives. Since I can't show it here I'm going to have to describe it and it was basically twelve friends of mine pose for some photo ops six of them were trans gender and the other sex versus gender. And. Basically it was to prove my point that are you. The there's not really any difference here of what's going on These twelve brave people friends of mine put themselves out there because they feel very very targeted right now. And they are willing to risk putting their names and or their faces out in public and to receptacles they are up against a wall here I don't think I think. The twelve people I think you would could never identify which ones were transgender and which ones were cisgender and I think the meme says Sarah Huckabee how would you feel if any one of these men entered your Legislative bathroom and how she would react I mean these men. Our. Our men that's all there is to it so. Anyway And how would any mother feel having to explain to her young daughter why there is a man in the women's bathroom so correct me if I'm wrong but is there an epidemic of transgender people molesting and abusing children in public restrooms or anywhere actually that I'm not aware of I just don't think there is and how will this bill protect children. And how will this bill be enforced will they be checking birth certificate that the door or looking to see what's in it in our pants are upper skirts this is not the first nor the last bill targeting the LGBTQ community. We got it. Many of you don't like us and we are not asking you to accept or approve of us we are just asking to be left alone so we don't have to come before you time and time again begging for our basic civil rights. Can all of you good Christians supporting this bill. Just find comfort knowing we are all going to burn in hell without trying to make our lives here on earth a living hell thank you. Thank you for your testimony today next we have speak against the bill Samuel as miss. Hello my name is Samuel a smis and I am from Eureka springs Arkansas. And I'm fifteen I'm here to speak out against this bill any bill that would put trans our Kansans in harm's way. This bill will not come this bill will only cause negative impacts on the not protect the children know what will the adults. Transgendered dots only into the bathroom for the same reason session adults due to use the bathroom and leave. If you want to truly protect the children of Arkansas this bill is not the answer this would conduct because people simply using a bathroom to be charges sexual indecency on a minor when they're entering the bathroom to use it like everyone else. They're simply using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Which would cause harassment or even individuals to be attacked what do you expect when you make a fully transitioned trans women use the men's bathroom and fully transition trans men use the women's bathroom. Protecting the children of Arkansas is also protecting the transient in of Arkansas ninety one percent of trans and non binary used in America have said that they have worried about changing the people being denied access to the bathroom due to state or local laws. And I look. Why we are here. Look what is happening here now using a bathroom or changing room is a human right this will only cause more harm and potential danger transport predators we are just existing probably is our true selves fifty nine percent of your trans our Kansans that our youth seriously considered attempting suicide last year and twenty two percent of your transactions in youth and non binary you've attempted suicide last year these bills horribly affect people's lives and they cause some people to in their lives so taking consideration what you choose to do here and vote no on this bill lives may be lost this is past lives may be ruined lives may be threatened and attacked and lives may be labeled as a registered sex offender for simply entering a bathroom I myself almost lost more than one change in different a suicide just in this year these bills are withholding people peacefully living their lives and are causing serious damage or the and the wives the transgender Kansans to be value just as much as your session I Kansans chains people are not a threat to the state of Arkansas or any other state get the state issues in to attack our existence down to the simplest you mean right of using a bathroom. To any of my trans brothers sisters and siblings listening or watching stay alive I value and I love you no questions thank you. Thank you for being here today next week has speak against the bill terror and smis. I'm here a few months I'm Sam's mom who you just heard speak. I am by mereka Springs and I'm here to oppose this bill in any bill that discriminates against or trans friends and family these bills hurt people. I am curious how if this is passes it will be enforced. If this passes I wonder who will be checking the genitalia in the bathrooms and who and what decides who to check. I am fearful of more death suicides and attacks on transgender folks. I cannot fathom making anyone. Any human being. A sex offender for using a bathroom. Sorry. I feel as though our time spent trying to protect children could be spent in other ways. Thank you for trying to stop school shootings or foster care reform or free lunches or access for children to mental health care exedra. I wish you all could talk to my son for about ten minutes and you would see his most loving kind smart well rounded and quote unquote normal kid he knows who he is and he knows which bathroom needs to go to. If I was a kid I would want to be his friend and if I was a teacher I would want him as a student and if I was a preacher I would want him in my church. Please don't path if. Please quit making and passing senseless loss that hurt people. Please stop making my kid and people like him feel that their existence is wrong. Thank you for your attention and hopefully compassion for our trans brothers and sisters and to our trans brothers and sisters I love you. I will be your mom if you need one stay alive and stay as strong as you can and we will not stop fighting ever. Thank you thank you for your testimony today next we have speak against the bill William king. William king. My name is William king S. B. twenty to seventy it's just another I needed bill that serves no purpose other than to marginalize and harm transgender people that seems to be a primary objective of this legislative session. Well I believe the bill is hateful I know others will more eloquently addressed the harm it the marginalization of trans people causes among those eloquent speakers are the two brave teens I drove here today you just heard from one of them and I how can you out to that I hope you can find some empathy and compassion in your hearts to hear them. I'd like to address address enforcement and reality. What exactly is the plan for enforcement of this bathroom locker room bill with the attendance to check person to fix a certificate and compare genitalia will be will be peering over sauce to see what's between a person's legs will be an Adam's apple test. How women react with that press full bearded man transmitted walks into the washroom and how dangerous would be for that beautiful trans woman which she hikes up her skirt at the urinal next to a transfer that's the reality of what you're contemplating passing here it is senseless harmful and hateful. You say that this is to protect children but children don't live in a bubble you're not going to keep them from awareness of issues of gender and sexuality and that's a good thing. When they are aware of of different orientations they are more likely to feel comfortable with the identity that that fits them and less likely to feel isolated to the point of taking their lives. So much of this feels like I need to Bryant two point oh fifty years later saving children was the basis excuse for homophobia then and it's used as the rationale for today the children need only be safe from misinformation hate marginalization and bigotry thank you. Thank you next we have to speak against the bill Christina Taggart. Christina Taggart. Hi I'm Christine Tucker and I'm here today because I have a lot of friends and loved ones in this community that will be affected by this bill just because someone doesn't match your ideology of what a man or woman should look like or be doesn't mean they should be discriminated against that's judging a book by a cover we all know what they say about that don't do it so I ask you to vote no on SB two seventy. Thank you. Next we have to speak against the bill Stephanie gray Stephanie gray. Thank you madam chair my name is Stephanie gray I'm a resident of Conway and I use the them pronouns I have been working with youth in sexual abuse and domestic violence for the last decade I worked in rape crisis centers child advocacy centers shelters I currently work for an organization working to prevent sexual abuse and religious communities the proponents of this bill have claimed that this bill is necessary both for public safety and to prevent sexual violence against women but particularly children and that is what I would like to speak to you today as someone who's worked each and every day over the last decade to meet the needs of survivors and to reduce sexual assault I can tell from my ex both from my experience and my expertise that this is completely untrue. It is natural to be concerned about privacy and safety I know the thought of sexual assault is very real and pervasive as previous speakers have spoken personally about those two years I have heard stories that can last me a lifetime of listening to children who have been victims of sexual assault. The safety fears that many have especially those that are survivors of sexual assault not baseless or rational and they shouldn't be dismissed however this bill does nothing to decrease the risk of sexual assault hundreds organizations in the United States have come out against bills like this and those that work in violence prevention favor laws to protect transgender people from discrimination including accessing bathrooms and changing rooms that match their gender transgender people as other speakers have already said experience unconsciously high rates of sexual assault. So that we can actually prevent sexual assault with children it can be done and there are policies that I can recommend to every committee member in this room of how to actually do that I highly encourage senator Payton as he mentioned earlier to create guidelines and codes of conduct that ensure privacy and bodily autonomy for those coming into this business but all this bill does is push a political agenda does nothing to serve and protect victims and potential victims none of this is about protecting children it is about demonizing difference instead of pretending that this is a reasonable debate about two sides where where should we go to the bathroom or how to protect children this is nothing more than a hate campaign do we often do we want to discuss who abuses children as a previous Speaker says statistically is always somebody that the child knows is a parent a sibling and neighbour a religious leader in eighty five percent of cases it is somebody that the child already knows it is not strangers and bathrooms. As a survivor of child sexual assault it wasn't a trans person that molested me it was a neighbor it was a family friend when I was five years old I wasn't afraid of trans people attacking me in a public bathroom it was when I was playing in my backyard and I saw that you're coming into the background. And the eight years that I was sexually molested I never feared a trans person or somebody that was coming into a bathroom. If we really want to address the root causes of sexual abuse this bill does everything to detriment that process this bill since it is as a distraction for the real work that needs to be done this bill makes no one safer and only targets it already at risk community if you do care about children do not pass this bill and you your my time and answer any questions are there any questions seeing the questions thank you for your time today next we have speak against the bill sure Ron Williams. Hello my name is Karen we're getting transitive identify as a transgender person in Arkansas and I'm here today to speak against as B. two seventy. This bill will open the door to more discrimination towards the appearance of another individual not everyone looks the same and not everyone has the same balance of chemicals in their body that adequately distinguishes them from one gender to the other I have never taken anything to medically alter the chemical balance in my body. I was assigned female at birth. I have a beard in a deeper voice. And even if I didn't identify as a transition to a person I would still look like this. This bill will essentially allow the general public the power to just a person like me based solely on their parents creating more unsafe spaces work instance. It will also empower the general public to police public spaces themselves based on personal opinion and profiling which can create even more dangerous situations for candidates I ask that you vote no on this bill thank you for your time. Thank you I apologize for mispronouncing your name but next we have. Thai in Thai tea industrial. Hello my name is T. N. S. though and I am the advocacy coordinator for intransitive. And I'm here to speak against SB two seventy clearly I'm a trans our Kansan who gets harassed in bathrooms regardless of which one I choose to use and this bill would legitimize and legalize the hostility that myself and other trans people already face in our daily lives any time we just try to go to the bathroom. I was at a library last year and I needed to use the bathroom I have real issues real health issues that greatly affect the frequency of my need to use restrooms. But I still had to stop and I had a deliberate which bathroom will be safe is for me as a trans person to use. I'm also I hate crime survivors I survived attempted murder that was targeted because of my queerness. So I'm really cautious when I'm in public because I have to be I know what it's like. For violence to turned into almost losing my life so with that caution in mind as well I try to decide which which restaurant is going to be safest permanent. So that day when I was considering in deliberating my safest option by a decided to go with the bathroom that matches the gender I was assigned at birth which is what two seventy is saying that I should do right so I went in and as soon as I entered someone's voice got louder as I rushed into the stop I try to block them out even thought maybe they're not talking to me but they were they were yelling at me the whole time I was trying to urinate I exited the stall and the person said did you hear me telling you to get out of here. And I said. Yes but I was I was just trying to pay. They said you don't belong in here. Where am I supposed to go. Supposed to go to the bathroom if I happen to be in public which I am a lot. So as to go back to the bathroom and this time I was scared this fear. I was not in Little Rock in my home city I was in another city from my job. And again I was trying to figure out what we need to do here I'm terrified. So again I chose the bathroom that matches the gender I was assigned at birth this time adding it yelled out but on my way out three people standing outside the door they stopped they steered me up and down the door they looked at me they looked at each other and they started laughing. So I just went back to doing what I was supposed to do and and. Wondered if I would have to make this decision again for third time that day so that's B. two seventy passes the people yelling at me in bathrooms and glaring as I exit will have a right to call the police and have me charged as a sexual predator if the child happens to be in the bathroom. How will this legislature protect me and other trans our Kansans this bill is bowling this bill is a rat Smit S. B. two seventy is wrong on every level and I implore you to please vote no on SB two seventy. Thank you but you want to entertain a question I will represent Collins you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair and so it you know it sounds like a bad situation currently. Would this bill how will this bill make things worse when you're having to decide which one to go into I mean how would it change from what it currently is that already. Well because now it has to do something with that the two seventy passes the people yelling at me would have the relief right to call police to have me removed from the bathroom say I'm in the stall I'm urinating and I can't get out immediately when someone yells Hey get out of here okay so that happens if you call the police but also what am I supposed to do at that point am I supposed to slide a driver's license it has like a junior marker on that I was assigned at birth underneath the stall door. Increases the fear factor. It increases the legitimacy and the legalities of people brought me another transmittal in bathrooms and perpetuates the notion that we don't have a right to use public bathrooms. So the fear of bill having police called on as just for using a public restroom and then we know how that works out after that. That is your question thank you thank you for your testimony thank next we have Mike hello. Mike hello. Senator Payne Stoneham. I don't know but let's just kind of stick with the I do not know if he's still in the room right now or not he got up out of trying my best to stick with the great the shape that thank you First I'd like to start that that this is a this is about this bathroom ban as B. two seventy my personal experiences also about this bill as well as the first speakers personal experience was about this bill and I do feel like you probably owe them an apology for stopping them from saying what I felt and many of this bill is necessary for them to be heard well let me hang on just a moment sure. If you'll notice in anyone who may be watching sure anyone in this room at the bottom of the page the fact that you sign up does not guarantee that you will speak in fact the chair has the option not to allow anyone to speak okay and so no one and if you've ever been in this committee knows that I do not tolerate an outburst from either side. The issue and so it if you want to address the bill I'm good with it if you don't want to address the bill I will ask that you leave okay I made myself clear yes thank you you're recognized to speak to the bill thank you I will so I'd I don't believe that I am too you need because I am a an angry white male and that's one of the problems I believe but I do believe that my life experiences unique and I believe it is applicables to to explaining why I'm against this bill. So I'm against this bill because of a victim of sexual assault I never said that publicly only my therapist or doctor no Staten till just now. and I was H. for and I was at an unlicensed unregulated Preschool. And to grow men took me into upon a rape me. And. I feel that I've I've had medical issues since then as a result of that as well as also have medical issues that some of the people of mentioned one because me the need to go to the restaurant quite often I got here about ten minutes before this started nobody had to walk all the way to the other end of the building three times to use the bathroom during that time I was able to think about a lot of things especially the sign on the bathroom that shows handicap access in the the figure of a man next to it S. as access and those those are the two people that can use the restroom the the strange thing to me is for the very first time in my entire life and I'm fifty years old I was actually in the room. With someone who is handicapped. That's a first for me. fifty years I've been to countless restrooms that seems changing stations I've never seen one child. Having his diaper changed by an adult. No one. As as well as the Medical issues mentioned earlier I have another medical issue which makes it really difficult for me to feel comfortable taking my shirt off. And I know other people that suffer from this and. I also know that through my fifty years of using public restrooms locker rooms gyms swimming facilities I've never taken that showed off not once in fact the only person who's ever seen me since I was a teenager without a shirt on is my doctor. Because it's embarrassing and I don't feel comfortable having my shirt off in public So I'm I'm just I'm sure because I've never seen anyone changing clothes in a public restroom that is transgender of either sort. but I do know so many transgender people and I'm so grateful to the ones that are here in this in this room today especially the ones that are very public about it because their strength inspires me and I am grateful to share their stories as I have often but there's so many others and I don't share the from the the comes by to visit that's but struggling to even pay their bills as transgender the other friend of mine is currently employed each way who is struggling with a psychotic issues does result of of their transitioning and a friend out of state that is currently dealing with us being sex trafficked as a result of his unfortunate circumstances today I'm sorry it is new they recently just came out to me I make that mistake as well as I just made a mistake last week with transgender friend that works next door by same man and apologize to Alison else it is understanding I. I know that I've got children that are trans gender and the thing is is although all of these things might make me unique I don't think it's unique to anyone's experience in this room I think that so many of us many of you sitting at this very table of people in here your friends group your family that are trans gender that this will affect this will deeply affect it will cause them to live in fear and and it will give people. A law that empowers them. With their ignorance of how to use that correctly and make them the bullies that we've all feared our whole lives that have been. The problem and I believe that many of these problems could be and should have been addressed over the past fifty years where I really haven't seen much legislation come through this building that really protects kids what I have seen is a lot of people holding these kids up. In saying it's for the kids. And I would just like to say that I mean is in the best possible way it's just science but I I am grateful that many of the people that are speaking for this bill won't be with this very long. Because generations pass and they will take their turn and and they will go away. And their voices will go away with them and that's why they're screaming so loudly now. Is because they think that their religion they think that their position they think that their experience allows them to harm others. And this harm. Is something that must be stopped like this bill. I'm open for questions I doubt you have a. Thank you for your testimony today next we have to speak against the bill Courtney fire send for your son for our sins. Hello again. Corning fire sign I am a master's level social worker I have a long speech prepared in our speech is not limited but I'm gonna do you all solid and go with my very short speech. I know legislators officially said this bill is not about transgender people but the impact of this bill certainly harms trans people and target them for doing what all us humans do use the bathroom privately to perform a natural bodily function. I have so many questions. The first line of enforcement of this bill will be citizens challenging the agenda of fellow bathroom goers knows your Kansans already but I believe harassed and stare at other people in the bathroom questioning as if they're in the right one this law would that embolden the citizens to take the step to call police on residence. And what happens here is the system supposed to detain the person and tell the police get there this bill harms all our Kansans and high in citizens mistrust of others. So in theory police arrived to arrest the person using law enforcement resources doing nothing to do with protecting and serving. Who will train the police on how to check and verify sex and must also doesn't now carry the papers with them to prepare for this this bill harms all our Kansans and it is a abuse of police power. The person is now arrested and charged with a misdemeanor sexual indecency what resources does this take away from the eighteen thousand five hundred sex offenders on the Arkansas registry. And what about those fifty seven thousand reports made to the child abuse hotline just last year in the state as it was testified in another committee meeting this bill harms all our Kansans and distracts from actual child abuse. Months later when the prosecutor pursues these charges who was responsible for the burden of proof and do you actually believe that the Karen who called the police for a bathroom violation is going to show up and testify in court and with no evidence how will the state prosecute how could a defendant prove their agenda proving their innocence without violating privacy this bill harms all Arkansans And clogs an already burdened court system. And before this case is tried there will be a lawsuit against the state challenging the constitutionality of this bill the Fourth Amendment protects all Americans right against unreasonable search and seizure the fifth amendment justifies the protection of privacy. This bill violates both. This bill harms all our Kansans and will cost the state money defending the constitutionality. When North Carolina passed bill to their bathroom bill in twenty sixteen it was repealed by twenty seventeen Forbes magazine estimates that that state for that single year of having a bill lost six hundred and thirty million dollars in revenue when the NC double a the NBA Bruce Springsteen other acts pay pal poll projects from the state. This bill harms all our Kansans and across the state revenue. If you believe in a limited government so small you don't even know it's there I urge you to vote no on SB two seventy if you believe in fiscal responsibility vote now if you believe our justice system is already inefficient vote no if you're a constitutionalist vote no and if you want to protect and serve all our Kansans vote no on SB two seventy I am open to questions. Seeing no questions thank you for your testimony today next we have speak against the bill Kathy brown Nichols. Good morning everyone I'm Cathy brown Nichols long time resident of little rock or Arkansas I live in hot springs now. I am a recently retired federal special agent so a black woman with a gun and a badge in the state of Arkansas in the south. I am speaking out against this bill simply because I already get. Harassed for going into the females bathroom and I am female. Since I've been retired I do work as per as a private investigator and I travel all around the state of Arkansas. And I'm fifty eight years old I have to use the restroom as just the way it is. I'm harassed at least once a month. Once a month someone will usually be behind me or be looking at me in my face and say Hey you're in the wrong restaurant. And I politely. Ever so gently. Show them that I am female. And I go about my business. I'm like everyone else in this room. I go to the bathroom. I mind my business and I go about my day. If this bill is passed. I don't know it it it seems like an unintended consequence. For people that are like me. And that and I'm not even I don't even want to address the transgender issue because I'm sure that or I hope that you all of listened and learned. Are some things that you may have new mayor may not have known. I don't know what else to say it if you're trying to protect children. Yesterday in Colorado is a prime example of what needs to be done. The children need to be protected from guns. Not from people that are going to do. Not for people that are not going to do me any kind of harm. But as a law enforcement officer I always believe that legislatures look at records they look at the numbers to see where what what kind of laws we need to build and. My. Way of thinking on this bill I don't see it. So that's all I have to ask that's all I have to add if you have any questions I'm open for questions any questions. Seeing the questions thank you for being here today next we have to speak against the bill cash actually. Members as cash actually is coming to the table at twelve thirty we're going to go into recess so you'll have time for lunch before we go into session and at the conclusion of the House we will come back here ten minutes after we adjourned in session today so that cat you are welcome now to identify yourself and make your statement thank you very much. My name is cash actually I was born and raised here in Little Rock attended grade school high school and college here. On the head chef it would do no brick oven and barroom on main street in downtown little rock and I am also a trans man. The released few dozen things that are terribly problematic about this bill I've chosen my time today to speak on how will affect me namely the enforcement aspect. If this bill passes in order for me to act lawfully I would be required to use the women's restroom every single time I'm in public whether being for work of which Iran many or perhaps the rare times I do it for enjoyment I'll be forced by the state to make a choice between doing what is comfortable both for me and for others in the restroom or breaking the law. All other something which we are born to do which is to be. I have to live in fear of the consequences of my actions. If I choose to follow the law and someone who acidemia best or worse someone inevitably because of security the police on me within with the check my ID well my niece is a male which I am by the way then what number certificate but also this is a male then what will I be forced to expose my generals to an officer. Just to not be arrested for sexual indecency with a minor. Let me be crystal clear when I say with my full chest and body and heart and soul absolutely not never not once ever will that be allowed to happen you can take me to jail and review their sitting in a cell fully closed. Before I will do that. As far as I'm concerned that would be sexual assault against me violence against me. All because I had to be. If you the state choose to be the perpetrator of violence you cannot then be surprised when I fight when we fight kicking and screaming in response to your tax. When you incite violence how was it that you want us to respond leave hi I'd stay in fights. I've already seen heard many trans and non binary folks making plans to leave the state do you transition for safety or worst of all talk about ending their own lives. Well I cash cannon will stay and fight I also fully realize the reason I can even see from make that decision is because I'm white and I'm right as male. The threat of violence against my trans siblings is far far far more grave than it is to me any interaction I've had with the police regarding being trans well being damaged me emotionally has always been and will always be better than the experience of my black and brown transfer brings especially my trans sisters. We should never be forced to choose between being able to P. and violence and harassment this simply put is absolutely insane to me and. Already harassed on a daily basis if you pass my if you pass this bill mark my words the uptick in violence against trans people will be extreme in market. People will be hurt people will be killed and it will be your fault. Not even one single child not everyone will be made safer while all non binary entrance folks will be made less safe. I also want to say something to the queer youth out there which is arguably more important than anything I can say to some of the people here especially since I don't think many minds will be changed. Whether my concern for myself I am gravely concerned for how do you feel process this information this discourse about their validity. How will they tend of themselves in the face of all these adults and they're told to trust you should be watching after them and taking care of them but have instead chosen hate and fear how can we expect them to bear that weight. When I was young I certainly couldn't I tried in my life twice in high school because I believe so fully that there was something wrong with me because the adults told me so. So please hear me when I say this the truth is the truth whether or not these legislators believe it I repeat these legislators do not have to believe something for it to be true adults are not always right please no one believed that the truth which has always been and will continue to be is that trans people are holding you are good you are right you are loved and you are love love is more powerful than fear in these adults are afraid of you and of us the most true beautiful thing in the world you can be is yourself legislators. If you want to protect children this is not the way transport not the perpetrators the actual perpetrators are out there everywhere unfortunately the honorable excuse me there are innumerable cases of men assaulting women and children coaches clergy uncles dad's granddad's except your regarding sexual assault for me personally it was not only my grandfather and my cousins my father and his friends no one was protecting them no one is protecting me now. This wouldn't have protected me then and this bill actively put me in harm's way now. He's due to turn your focus toward actual perpetrators of sexual assault violence is there are numerous concrete ways to protect them from us I beg you to vote no on SB two seventy thank you. Three questions of the committee Mr. Mr Ashley Ashley Hudson here thanks so that from your testimony I just want to highlight this point because I'm not sure that everyone on the committee is where you have a birth certificate that reflects that you are male but even under that that this bill it appears to me that that would be sufficient for you to use the men's restroom is that how you read it that is correct and that is my understanding because I was assigned female at birth none of my paperwork would matter and that I would be forced to use do you know in order to follow the law I would have to use the women's restroom which I think would cause a lot more issues than using men's restroom. Or any further questions from the committee. If not we thank you for your testimony. And. Looks like the next person on our list is to speak against the bill as Warren fox. You'll have a seat in the table of identify yourself and you money per se. Hi my name is Lauren fox M. and or Kansan and I'm a transgender woman. There are a lot of things that I plan to speak on today that other people have addressed including the North Carolina coast North Carolina and many other things so just be brief and and talk about something that I haven't heard anyone say at Is that. If I take a good faith the argument that this bill is supposed to be about. Protecting cis women and service girls from sexual assault if I send out Hey are you in good faith what I will say to you. Is that. As a transgender woman. There is nothing more sacred to me. Then the bond of sisterhood with other women. And everyone in here knows what I'm talking about. But you can meet a stranger. An inherently have a certain level of intimacy and trust with them and there's a reason for that. So when I walk into women's bathroom. I bend over backwards. To make sure. That I don't make anyone uncomfortable to the absolute best of my ability. I even on I would love to be at a point in my transition work I can have a day where I don't feel like putting on make up on putting make up on our getting dressed up. But even on days that I don't feel like about I do anyway not only just for the basic human respect and I get from people that I don't otherwise in public. But because I know the difference in how I will be read in the women's restroom. I don't have been painted today that's very rare I almost always have my nails painted almost always wear long hearings I have these little bitty things that I have noticed through experience that help women feel safe around me that that don't trip that this person is a threat alarm. And let me tell you as you wouldn't notice with me walking up here but as a person with multiple physical disabilities and also a stiff breeze could blow me over I am even in the women's restroom very much at a physical disadvantage. If any person tried to commit violence against me. That that's just the way it is I. Purpose we use a lot of extra one thing by language I smile. And let me say specifically represented thank you brother he's here still or not. Representative Payton said something to the effect of. What if we have transgender women standing up and peeing in the stall. That that's going to that the sound about is going to make everyone comfortable. We'll believe you me I don't even do that among the privacy of my own home. But again I certainly wouldn't do that in a public women's restroom because I know that there is a sounds difference. And I don't want to scare anyone and I want to give anyone a reason to be alarmed. Because women would like to feel safe and women's restroom there's a reason for that. I also say that as regards to children being present in the restroom. What about ball games airports barge Walmart's is there places that they're well statistically almost always be a multitude of children in the restroom. As far as. Looking and dressing and behaving in a way to make extra care the people don't perceive me as a threat I assure you that standing outside of the restaurant. And calling in asking if there are little girls in the restroom presently. Is going to allow a lot of people. A lot more than if I just went in and handle my business and smiled and wash my hands and left like every other woman wants to do. That's all I have to say I'm open to questions if anyone has been. Any questions seeing the questions thank you for being here today. Next we have to speak against the Bill Murray McConnell. Okay. Next we have Ethan. All those C. no. Madam chair and representatives my name is Ethan eleven you know and I'm here representing myself. So I bring a solution to the push the perspective received regarding this bill and I guarantee you that there be discussion and disagreements but I would like for you to give me a chance let me share with you a little about who I am where I come from and I thought on this bill. In the question for you is not whether you agree or disagree with me. It's what do you think that I am a threat to humanity. And that's the question I want to answer. Section four six A. uses opposite sex language that has been identified as problematic for and by transgender people. However immediately following in that section section four six B. there is language that says six a does not apply to a person entering into or remaining in a public changing facility and then this various scenarios and situations when the bill would not apply such as an emergency or when assisting someone with medical needs. So if this bill is not in fact about transgender people like some of said then add an amendment to the subdivisions that reads subdivision six a of this section does not apply to a person entering into or remaining in a public training facility who is transgender or gender nonconforming as defined by individual being consistent insistent and persistent about their gender identity. This address the concern you have about men entering women's spaces on a whim the example given by one of the senators what if they wanted to go into a women's changing facility and say they were transgender would be invalid because their off the cuff statement of being transgender would not be consistent insistence not persistent. That's your solution. Have I may I like to share a little about myself I am a small business owner a son a brother a husband and I am transgender. It is confusing anyway. Those last three son brother and husband used to be daughter sister and wife. In my mid twenties I came to a point my wife record no longer continue wearing a facade designated to me by a doctor at birth before I can speak for myself. I was raised that faith was the truth and I knew the truth to me was not a woman they treated me was and is a man. In order to be closer to the truth and more from my faith I had to live and express that truth. This bill will affect me. This bill will require me to use the changing facilities associated with the quote immunity immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of my birth. Which will mean a man me in women's spaces. By local law that you have written and approved and I do not want that. You've heard stories of women's experiences with men committing crimes against them and I don't want my presence to be a trigger to that. I also don't want to be perceived as a predator. Using the facilities of his new I would legally require me to use how would you react to me exiting a gendered facility with your wife or your daughter. We all know that that's absurd. Where is my right to privacy. I do not believe in breaking the law just because I can get away with it because who's gonna know I'm trans when I entered men's changing facility that's not how the law works doing things you know you can get away with at least that's how it should work. No I'm not asking you to give anything about yourself I just want you to know that you have to figure out how you can exist on my story and the stories have other transgender and marginalized people. In other words coexist with humans who are different than you. Matthew twenty five forty. Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me. What you do to and how you treat the lease of us transactions and you do to your savior. So let me ask you. When I exit the room today before I had I will stop to use the facilities here in the state capital should this bill be law I ask you to think which woman on this committee would be willing to go with me to the women's restroom and to be there to explain to other women and their daughters why am there in order to prevent violence against me. And who have you on the Committee will be there and it be able to protect me when I exit. I ask that you vote no on this bill and if you choose to pass this bill an amendment must be added to say this bill does not apply to transgender or gender nonconforming people. I welcome any questions that you have I thank you madam chair and committee for your time. Members are there any questions. Seeing no questions thank you for being here today thank you members we are at the point that we need to stop the next person who will be speaking at when we reconvene will be David. Eleven soon though will be the next person who will speak when we come back members with that we are a recess until ten minutes after session.