State lawmakers hear testimony on controversial “Transgender Bathroom Rule”

State lawmakers that make up the Joint Administration Rule Review Committee heard testimony on the controversial "Transgender Bathroom Rule" adopted by the state's Human Rights Commission.

Last December, the Washington State Human Rights Commission tweaked a rule that allows transgender people to use facilities in line with the gender they identify with, not necessarily their physical gender. The move touched off a fire storm from the public, pushing for both sides of the issue.

“There is no credible evidence of increase risk, if transgender individuals are allowed to use the sex-segregated facility that they identify with,” says Commission Policy Analyst Laura Lindstrand.

Plenty of public testimony followed, most against the rule, including Rhonda Shepherd.

“We’re taking a very small percentage of the population and accommodating them, and I agree they need to be accommodated, but we are doing that in exchange for, particularly women and children, their privacy and their safety,” says Shepheard.

The Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee will make a decision later whether or not the rule within the intent of the legislature as expressed by the statute.