The Florida House is going to vote on an anti-Transgender bill tomorrow.

[Baitball Blogger]

Just got a message on the recorder that sent me to the blog organized by Equality Florida. Posting this in GD for assistance in vetting the information since time is of the essence:



The Transgender Discrimination Bill (HB 583) has been scheduled for a vote in its next committee of reference TOMORROW - Tuesday, March 17. We need everyone's help to stop this dangerous bill. Please call the State Representatives below and tell them to vote NO on HB 583.

Right now we have dozens of volunteer lobbyists at the the Florida Capitol for our Annual Lobby Days, who will be speaking directly with Representatives and Senators over the next two days about this shameful bill.

Opponents of LGBT equality are also at the capitol today, mobilizing around this bill and delivering their message with force. So we need you to help us - and our volunteer pro-equality lobbyists - by making these quick calls to the Representatives in the subcommittee and by SHARING this information far and wide.

Members of the Government Operations Subcommittee:

Bileca, Michael (Chair) (R) - [phone]
Santiago, David (Vice Chair) (R) - [phone]
Brodeur, Jason T. (R) - [phone]
Fant, Jay (R) - [phone]
Ingoglia, Blaise (R) - [phone]
O'Toole, Marlene (R) - [phone]
Roberson , Kenneth L. (R) - [phone]
Smith (J), Jimmie T. - (R) - [phone]
Taylor, Dwayne (D) - [phone]
Workman, Ritch (R) - [phone]

Also call:

Speaker of the House Steve Crisafulli - [phone]
House Majority Leader Dana Young - [phone]

http://www.eqfl.org/takeaction/hb583

[madville]

1. Is this the bill that says a person

Can only use the bathroom of whatever gender is listed on their drivers license or passport?

[Baitball Blogger]

2. That's what it appears to say in the bill.

[longship]

3. For those not informed on this bill (like I was before I clicked through).

More info from the link:

This Transgender Discrimination Bill, HB 583, seeks to criminalize transgender people by making it illegal for them to enter sex segregated facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, or dressing rooms. HB 583 would also compel businesses to discriminate against their own employees and customers, and invalidate nondiscrimination policies that already exist on the local level.

The arguments for this bill are the same lies and scare tactics we have seen defeated time and again in cities across Florida and states across the country. Concerns raised about public safety in public facilities have absolutely no basis in fact. To date, 17 states and 28 municipalities in Florida have passed and successfully implemented human rights ordinances that provide protections to the transgender community with absolutely no increase in public safety incidents.

Instead, this bill hurts businesses and individuals by leaving them open to unnecessary litigation and hurts Florida's reputation nationwide. Please vote NO on HB 583."

[Baitball Blogger]

4. kick for the information.