SALT LAKE CITY — A bill requiring students living in Utah public university dormitories to only stay in areas assigned to their sex at birth easily advanced in the House on Tuesday in a 59-13 vote.
Sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Gricius (R-Eagle Mountain), H.B. 269 will change the guidelines for those who identify as transgender on campus and was a much-debated topic in the days ahead of the House vote.
"Dorms are a place where people are particularly vulnerable. This is a place where these students are living. They are sleeping. By providing clear guidance and expectations from the onset, it’ll help ensure the rights of all people are protected," Gricius said.
The bill states it "requires degree-granting institutions to comply with sex designations in assigning 22 students to dwelling units within the institution's sex-designated student housing."
An emotional debate occurred before the vote, with some lawmakers accusing the House of targeting the LGBTQ community.
"This is the fourth year in a row that this body has deliberately singled out transgender students for exclusionary practices," said Rep. Sahara Hayes (R-Millcreek). "I have to tell you the LGBTQ community is so tired. We are so tired of being scared every year when this body because we don’t know how we’re going to be targeted."
During a House committee meeting last week, many spoke out for and against the proposed bill.
Among those at the meeting was a woman who claimed her daughter felt uncomfortable with a Utah State University dormitory RA who was transgender.
"I didn't think it was something that could happen," said Cheryl Saltzman. "I didn't think that the university would just put a biological male into a woman's space."
Gricius herself acknowledged that there had been no criminal incidents that led to her sponsoring the bill.
The bill now heads to the Utah Senate for a vote.
