Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Trans Rights Activists, ACLU Ask (WA) Secretary of State to Investigate and Reject I-1552 Petitions
Just Want Privacy, the group behind a proposed initiative that would repeal state human rights protections for transgender adults and students, has just two weeks to submit the petition signatures it needs to get I-1552 on the ballot. But trans rights and civil liberties activists fighting the initiative say Just Want Privacy's signature-gathering tactics have run afoul of the law and deserve a closer look.
Today, Washington Won't Discriminate (the trans rights group), Legal Voice, and the ACLU submitted a letter to Secretary of State Kim Wyman asking the state to investigate Just Want Privacy's practices. The groups contend that Just Want Privacy has incorrectly stated the court-approved ballot title and summary on two of its petitions, as well as omitted the full text of the measure on the back of the sheets. The groups have asked that Wyman reject petitions with those flaws, and the same letter alleges that anti-trans activists have used false and misleading tactics to get people to sign their names in the first place.
<snip>
But one other thrust of the letter's argument deals with behavior that hasn't allegedly crossed the line of legality. In the letter, the trans rights groups say that Just Want Privacy has presented its argument as advocating for "Safe Spaces for Women and Children" and that it's claimed I-1552 would reject an "open-bathroom rule" from the state Human Rights Commission.
"None of those assertions are true," the letter reads. "There is no so-called 'open-bathroom' rule in Washington, nor are businesses or schools prohibited under existing laws and rules from maintaining 'gender specific facilities.' As the ballot title itself correctly reflects, I-1552 seeks to 'override state/local protections against gender-identity discrimination in certain public-accommodation facilities.' Those anti-discrimination protections allow transgender people to use bathrooms and other facilities that are consistent with their gender identity."
Today, Washington Won't Discriminate (the trans rights group), Legal Voice, and the ACLU submitted a letter to Secretary of State Kim Wyman asking the state to investigate Just Want Privacy's practices. The groups contend that Just Want Privacy has incorrectly stated the court-approved ballot title and summary on two of its petitions, as well as omitted the full text of the measure on the back of the sheets. The groups have asked that Wyman reject petitions with those flaws, and the same letter alleges that anti-trans activists have used false and misleading tactics to get people to sign their names in the first place.
<snip>
But one other thrust of the letter's argument deals with behavior that hasn't allegedly crossed the line of legality. In the letter, the trans rights groups say that Just Want Privacy has presented its argument as advocating for "Safe Spaces for Women and Children" and that it's claimed I-1552 would reject an "open-bathroom rule" from the state Human Rights Commission.
"None of those assertions are true," the letter reads. "There is no so-called 'open-bathroom' rule in Washington, nor are businesses or schools prohibited under existing laws and rules from maintaining 'gender specific facilities.' As the ballot title itself correctly reflects, I-1552 seeks to 'override state/local protections against gender-identity discrimination in certain public-accommodation facilities.' Those anti-discrimination protections allow transgender people to use bathrooms and other facilities that are consistent with their gender identity."
http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2017/06/23/25238310/trans-rights-activists-aclu-ask-secretary-of-state-to-investigate-and-reject-i-1552-petitions?utm_source=The+Stranger&utm_campaign=cd4807473c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_06_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f02129603b-cd4807473c-133143849&mc_cid=cd4807473c&mc_eid=8915d78ecb
