Senate: PL against bathroom based on gender identity advances – 02/28/2024 – Education

The Senate Human Rights Commission approved this Wednesday (28) a bill that prohibits students from using bathrooms and changing rooms in their schools, whether public or private, according to the gender with which they identify.

The text was approved symbolically — without counting votes — and will now be evaluated by the Senate Education Committee. If approved, the rule could prevent a transgender woman, for example, from using the women’s bathroom.

The bill amends the ECA (Child and Adolescent Statute) to prohibit bathrooms and changing rooms from being used “by users whose sex at birth is different from the sex of the bathroom or changing room’s destination”.

The text also says that the person responsible for the educational establishment where the determination is disrespected will be subject to an administrative infraction and a fine of three to 20 minimum wages, which can reach double in the case of a repeat offense.

The text was presented by senator Magno Malta (PL-ES) and received a favorable opinion from fellow Bolsonarist Zequinha Marinho (Podemos-PA).

Even without scientific support, Malta states that “requiring students to share bathrooms and changing rooms with members, children and adults, of the opposite biological sex, generates potential embarrassment, shame and psychological harm to students, in addition to increasing the likelihood of the crime of sexual assault , molestation, rape, voyeurism and exhibitionism”.

Marinho was in the same vein: “What would a girl, say, ten years old, feel when she sees a boy getting ready to use the bathroom she is in? The mere imagination of the situation causes embarrassment. It is simply urgent that see such immoral practices.”