Fox News Gins Up "Bathroom Bill" Fears To Dismiss Protections For Transgender Students
CARLOS MAZA, August 9, 2013 2:37 PM EDT
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/08/09/fox-news-gins-up-bathroom-bill-fears-to-dismiss/195320
Fox News attacked a bill in California to allow transgender students equal access to school facilities and programs, inappropriately calling the measure a "bathroom bill" and interviewing a notorious anti-LGBT activist to suggest that students will use the law to take advantage of members of the opposite sex.
During the August 9 edition of Happening Now, Fox News reporter Adam Housley discussed a California bill that would require public schools to allow transgender students to choose which school teams they wish to join based on their gender identity. The bill would also allow transgender students to use restrooms and facilities that match their gender identity...
The segment also featured a statement from Brad Dacus - the president of the notoriously anti-LGBT Pacific Justice Institute - who warned that the bill "grotesquely violates the privacy rights and security interests and needs of students."
Fox's framing of the measure as a "bathroom bill" is a shameless attempt to prop up the right-wing myth that transgender protections will be exploited by sex offenders who want to infiltrate opposite sex bathrooms.
Video-clip does not work.
Related story:
Bill to allow transgender students to choose bathrooms moves to California governor's desk (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/09/bill-to-allow-transgender-students-to-choose-bathrooms-on-california-governor/)
A bill that would let school kids use whatever bathroom or play on whichever sports team they believe matches their gender identity – and not necessarily their anatomy – is on the desk of [Democrat] California Gov. Jerry Brown.
Brown won't say what he plans to do, but the measure passed easily in the two legislative chambers despite criticism from conservative groups who want biology to dictate bathroom use...
The law would cover the state's 6.2 million elementary and high school kids in public schools. The measure passed the state Assembly, 46-25, on May 9, and the Senate, 21-9, on July3....
Brown, a 75-year-old Democrat who served as the state's governor in the 1970s, has not said what he will do, though he has about a week to make up his mind. In 2011, he signed a bill requiring California schools to highlight the history and achievements of gay individuals in civic lessons....
Full article at the link
Same story HERE (http://equalitymatters.org/blog/201308090003), with working video
Report begins with comments by a Democrat State Senator Mark Leno (15 seconds), prior to going to Mr. Dacus (11 seconds). The video appears to be balanced and offers both sides of the issue.
"Gin up" implies creating something from nothing with an intent to create action.
Text from AB1266:
(f) A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated
school programs, activities, and facilities, including athletic teams
and competitions, consistent with his or her gender identity,
irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records.