Tennessee’s anti-transgender bill has been making headlines for its potential to have significant consequences for the state. The proposed legislation defines “sex” as “biological anatomy at birth,” which has led to a warning from the state fiscal review committee that the bill could cost the state up to $2 billion in lost revenue.
The bill has sparked debate about the rights of transgender individuals and the financial impact of anti-transgender laws. Advocates for the bill argue that it will protect women and girls, while opponents say it will discriminate against transgender people and cost the state significant amounts of money.
The Tennessee anti-trans bill is not the first of its kind in the state. In recent years, Tennessee has passed several laws that are hostile to LGBTQ+ individuals. In 2021, a law was passed that prohibited school students from learning about LGBTQ+ topics without parental consent. Governor Bill Lee has also supported anti-transgender and anti-drag legislation in the state.
The proposed anti-transgender bill has been met with widespread opposition from both within and outside of the state. Critics of the legislation argue that it is discriminatory and will harm transgender individuals in the state. The state fiscal review committee has warned that the bill could have significant financial consequences for the state.
The state fiscal review committee’s report warned that the bill could result in increased state and local spending to be in compliance with the new law. It also stated that the bill could lead to potential civil litigation and jeopardize federal funding. The Federal Department of Education has warned that the bill could jeopardize the funding that the state’s schools receive through the Individuals with Disabilities Act and Title 1, intended to give financial assistance to low-income children.
The state health department also stands to lose $750 million in federal grant money if the bill passes because it could be out of compliance with Title X, which allows for alternate definitions of “sex,” according to the report.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect women and girls. Republican state Rep. Gino Bulso, who filed the bill, told WREG that he disagrees with the state fiscal review committee’s report because “the term ‘sex’ is already used repeatedly in the code.” Bulso argued that his bill is only intended to clarify what lawmakers meant when they used the word “sex” in previous state General Assemblies.
“We already have the term in the code. Our General Assembly has already meant what it has meant by use of the term in the code,” Bulso told the outlet. “The General Assembly, when it has used the term ‘sex,’ has always meant to refer to one’s biological sex.”
Critics of the bill, however, argue that it is unnecessary and discriminatory. The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund has spoken out against the bill, arguing that it would harm transgender individuals in the state.
“The Tennessee bill is discriminatory and runs counter to the growing body of legal precedent holding that transgender people are protected under federal law from discrimination in employment, education, and other areas,” the organization said in a statement.
Brian Sullivan, director of the Trans Equality Project, told WREG that the bill “sends the message that LGBTQ Tennesseans are not wanted.”
“The proposed law is one more attempt to deny transgender Tennesseans basic human dignity and respect,” Sullivan said. “It’s a sad day when we have to fight to protect the rights of our fellow Tennesseans.”
The debate over the Tennessee anti-transgender bill is not unique to the state. Across the country, there is a growing debate about the rights of transgender individuals and the role of government in protecting those rights.
In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases involving transgender individuals and their rights. In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civi
