Oxford City Council Recalls Controversial Transgender Bathroom Law
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.
Birmingham Museum of Art’s silver exhibit tells a dazzling global story
Silver and Ceremony is made up of more than 150 suites of silver, sourced from India, and some of their designs.
Mentally ill people are stuck in jail because they can’t get treatment. Here’s what’s to know
Hundreds of people across Alabama await a spot in the state’s increasingly limited facilities, despite a consent decree requiring the state to address delays in providing care for people who are charged with crimes but deemed too mentally ill to stand trial. But seven years since the federal agreement, the problem has only worsened.
Ivey appoints Will Parker to Alabama Supreme Court
Parker fills the court seat vacated by Bill Lewis who was tapped by President Donald Trump for a federal judgeship. The U.S. Senate last month confirmed Lewis as a U.S. district judge.
How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country
In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.
No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS
The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.
Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue
Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.
