Is Human Rights Commission ‘Dodging’ Public Input on Transgender Bathrooms?

The Washington State Human Rights Commission held a little-publicized, and last minute public hearing last week to 'allow' citizens who oppose their recent ruling on men's use of women's showers, and legislators are not happy.

March 24th, with very little publicity and at the last minute, the Commission held a meeting in Seattle, designed to take 'input' from citizens about the Commission's expansion of transgender bathrooms and locker rooms.

Just like they did the day after Christmas in 2015, the Commission has again used heavy-handed and sneaky tactics to enact controversial rules, pretty much without public input.

The meeting was held in the Seattle City Council Chambers, but was not widely advertised, and according to Senator Doug Ericksen (R) of Ferndale, a 'last-minute' event.

According to Ericksen, "this secretive meeting is part of a clear pattern by this agency of hiding it's actions from the public and making decisions in the dark."

He went on to say not even the people who file the petitions were notified the meeting was happening. He said the legislature was flooded with thousands of calls from furious citizens after the Commission adopted the transgender rules in secret after the holiday.

 As expected, according to Ericksen and sources, very few people attended the meeting because virtually nobody knew about it.

The rules now allow people who identify themselves as being transgender to use whichever public bathroom or locker room facilities they wish, provided the business or public entity employs ten or more people. It also DOES NOT allow businesses to provide a 'third' alternative bathroom or locker room for transgenders.

The rules also do NOT require such people to provide proof they are at least attempting to enter or participate in programs that will actively lead towards them changing their gender. The Commission claimed it was implementing the Consumer Protection Act of 2006 that forbids "discrimination" based upon gender or sex (the same law being used against Arlene's Flowers) but THAT law does not make any mention of same-sex bathrooms or locker room facilities.

Ericksen urges anyone with comments or input on these rules, or the tactics of the Human  Rights Commission, to submit their opinions to the commission.  You can do by way of a direct email link, by clicking here.  Ericksen urges citizens to be respectful in their comments, but to certainly share their opinions.