Texas City Places $10,000 “Bathroom Bounty” on Trans People
Texas Tribune.The ordinance also allows individuals to sue those who enter the “wrong” restroom for at least $10,000, as well as additional damages for “harm” and all court costs and attorneys’ fees associated with bringing such a lawsuit.The ban applies to “any building, facility, or space owned, leased, or controlled by, or leased to, the city of Odessa.”These include community centers, libraries, airports, park facilities, and administrative office buildings.
It contains exceptions for parents of the opposite sex who are accompanying minors under age 12, maintenance and custodial workers, law enforcement officials, and medical emergency staff.
However, there is no exception for caretakers of the opposite sex who wish to accompany disabled people into the restrooms.Those in favor of the ordinance argued that it was necessary to protect the safety of women and children in intimate spaces.
Opponents argued the measure was unnecessarily divisive and amounted to placing a “bounty” on transgender individuals who use gender-affirming facilities.“It is not only unnecessary but also a complete waste of the city’s time, money and resources,” Alexander Ermeels, the president of PFLAG’s Midland and Odessa chapter and a transgender man, said during public testimony. “It’s not addressing any real problem in our community.
