Oxford City Council Recalls Controversial Transgender Bathroom Law

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/05/Oxford-1.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:631;s:6:"height";i:416;s:4:"file";s:21:"2016/05/Oxford-1.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-336x222.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:222;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"Oxford-1-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-600x416.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:416;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-472x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:472;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-402x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:402;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-600x400.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-600x416.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:416;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"Oxford-1-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Esther Ciammachilli
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:179332;s:14:"optimized_size";i:93109;s:7:"percent";d:48.079999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:66040;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22272;s:7:"percent";d:66.269999999999996;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-140x140.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:5482;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4135;s:7:"percent";d:24.57;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-336x222.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:15106;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10204;s:7:"percent";d:32.450000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-600x338.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:28985;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16095;s:7:"percent";d:44.469999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-300x300.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:15527;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9674;s:7:"percent";d:37.700000000000003;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-472x311.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:23753;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14797;s:7:"percent";d:37.700000000000003;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-402x265.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:19636;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12353;s:7:"percent";d:37.090000000000003;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/05/Oxford-1-125x125.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:4803;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3579;s:7:"percent";d:25.48;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1662483852 
1462386595

Today the Oxford City Council recalled a controversial ordinance that would’ve forced people to use public bathrooms and changing facilities that correspond to their biological sex. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli was at the meeting and discusses it with WBHM Program Director Michael Krall. You can listen to their conversation above or read it below:

Refresh our memories, when did this all start?

Last week Oxford city council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance that would’ve forced transgender residents and visitors to use public restrooms and changing facilities that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.

Following the approval of this ordinance, there was quite a bit of backlash from LGBT advocates in both Alabama and nationally.

In response, the council president Steven Waits held a press conference basically explaining the council’s move.

He said the ordinance was about public safety, specifically protecting women and children from perverts, exhibitionists and sexual predators. He also said the law was a response to recent policy changes at major retailers like Target, that now allow transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice. And of course, Oxford does have Target store.

What happened today?

The city council called an emergency meeting today to specifically discuss this ordinance.

They received threats of legal action from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Sothern Poverty Law Center. These groups say the law violated federal anti-discrimination laws, one law in particular is Title IX.

Title IX is a federal law pertaining to education and outlines non-discrimination policies for any entities that receive government funding. Title IX does include a non-discrimination clause that protects transgender students. The U.S, Department of Education made this change in April of 2014. As a result, any public schools in Oxford that receive federal money and have public restrooms and facilities covered under the blanket of this ordinance, would be in violation of Title IX. And the city attorney did recommend recalling the law for this reason.

In response the Oxford city council voted today 3-2 in favor of a recall. The two dissenting votes came from pres Steven Waits and councilman Chris Spurlin who said the ordinance should be amended, NOT recalled.

What does this mean going forward?

One council member suggested talking to state legislators about possibly creating laws to protect against sexual predators. Again insinuating that transgender people are sexual predators, which advocates for that community find offensive and disheartening. But at this time, the law is recalled and that’s where the city of Oxford stands on that issue. Although they voted in favor of a recall, they did so begrudgingly.

 

 

Davey Johnson, who won 2 World Series with Orioles, managed Mets to title, dies at 82

Davey Johnson, an All-Star second baseman who won the World Series twice with the Baltimore Orioles as a player and managed the New York Mets to the title in 1986, died Friday.

Ken Dryden, Hall of Fame goalie for the Montreal Canadiens, dies at age 78

Dryden backstopped the NHL's most successful franchise to championships in six of his eight seasons in the league from 1970-71 to '78-79. He died after a fight with cancer.

‘Twinless’ is a dark comedy that doubles up on the twists

Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney craft a kind of chemistry that is equal parts funny and heart-wrenching.

As opposition to an Alabama medical waste treatment facility boils over, a  mysterious Facebook page weighs in

Dozens of residents opposed to Harvest Med Waste Disposal’s site in Remlap packed the Blount County courthouse to voice their concerns. Online, a paid campaign supporting the facility has been active, though its backers have remained anonymous.

Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates ‘100 years of appetizing’ and family

At Russ & Daughters, it takes three months to learn how to slice salmon. NPR's Scott Simon visits the 100 year-old appetizing store to try his hand at the fine art and talk about their new cookbook.

20 years later, is it time to quit ‘Brokeback Mountain’?

Back in 2005, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal captured lust shading into love, and love decaying into heartbreak. The movie got a lot of things right — but not everything.

More Front Page Coverage