FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Nell Gaither

Phone: 214-394-9835
Email: nell@tpride.org
Address: 501 Wynnewood Village, Dallas, Texas 75224
P.O. Box 3982, Dallas, Texas 75208

Trans Pride Initiative Public Awareness Action on

Rockwall Anti-Transgender Policy
DALLAS, May 1, 2016Trans Pride Initiative, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization working on social
justice issues important to the transgender community, learned a few days ago that City of Rockwall Mayor
Jim Pruitt has proposed an ordinance that if approved will make it a misdemeanor to use a restroom or
other gender-segregated space that is not in accord with ones birth certificate. The first reading will be on
May 2, with a second reading and final vote on May 16.
The proposed ordinance not only applies to persons with inconsistent gender markers on birth certificates,
but also to businesses that have nondiscrimination policies protecting the rights of trans persons to use
gender-segregated spaces that are in accord with their gender identity. The Mayor specifically mentioned
retail giant Target and gym operator Planet Fitness as targets of the proposal.
It shall be unlawful for the owner, operator, or any employee of any facility that contains a
single sex multiple occupancy restroom/bathroom or changing facility to knowingly allow a
person of the opposite biological sex to enter a single-sex multiple occupancy restroom/
bathroom or changing facility.
Trans Pride Initiative has contacted the Mayor and all members of the City Council asking that they meet
with us and reconsider this policy. Only one City Council member responded, stating that he will not
support the policy.

Trans Pride Initiative

P.O. Box 3982, Dallas, Texas 75208

Reducing Stigma, Building Confidence

tpride.org

The intent, regardless of misdirection from the strategy books of the likes of Alliance Defending Freedom, is
to discriminate against transgender and gender nonconforming persons. More broadly, however, the intent
is to increase administrative enforcement of stereotypical gender norms, particularly norms of femininity.
Anyonetransgender or notwhose gender expression or presentation doesnt align closely enough with
various stereotypes of what a man or woman should look like will be subjected to the scrutiny of public
gender defenders rushing to save innocent women and children from the hoards of men such legislation
implies are just waiting for opportunities to parade in public as women and invade womens spaces.
This myth persists despite the fact that over 200 domestic violence and sexual assault organizations across
the US recently signed a consensus statement opposing laws like Mayor Pruitt has proposed, undermining
the claims that these proposals are necessary for public safety and to prevent sexual violence against
women and children. The statement continues: As rape crisis centers, shelters, and other service providers
who work each and every day to meet the needs of all survivors and reduce sexual assault and domestic
violence throughout society, we speak from experience and expertise when we state that these claims are
false (http://4vawa.org/4vawa/2016/4/21/full-and-equal-access-for-the-transgender-community).
Instead, such laws will increase the already high incidence of violence against transgender persons. A
Williams Institute study on the impact of gendered restrooms on transgender persons found that seventy
percent of survey respondents reported being denied access, verbally harassed, or physically assaulted in
public restrooms. These experiences impacted respondents education, employment, health, and
participation in public life (http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Herman-GenderedRestrooms-and-Minority-Stress-June-2013.pdf).
To increase public knowledge of this issue, Trans Pride Initiative is organizing an awareness action about
this proposed ordinance starting at 5pm May 2, 2016, at the Rockwall City Hall. We will discuss problems
with the proposed ordinance, and call for the City of Rockwall to replace this ordinance with a
nondiscrimination policy inclusive of both sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. Following
will be testimony from attendees who have been or will be negatively impacted by policy like this and the

Trans Pride Initiative

P.O. Box 3982, Dallas, Texas 75208

Reducing Stigma, Building Confidence

tpride.org

policing of gender-segregated spaces. We will then march across accessible areas of the City Hall perimeter.
To close, Trans Pride Initiative will request that those attending in person and at a distance through media
consider the full impact such legislation has on the lives of not only transgender persons, but all persons
who do not adhere to gender stereotypes in presentation and expression. We will introduce the hashtag
#GenderJustice and begin posting a series of images from the event carrying the #GenderJustice hashtag.

###
Trans Pride Initiative is a Texas nonprofit corporation designated by the IRS as a public charity under
Section 501(c)(3) of the US Tax Code. Trans Pride Initiative works to provide advocacy and support for
trans* and gender nonconforming persons in areas of healthcare, housing, education, and employment in
the Dallas region.

Trans Pride Initiative

P.O. Box 3982, Dallas, Texas 75208

Reducing Stigma, Building Confidence

tpride.org