A legislative committee is advancing an ID card bill that critics say is unfairly targeting the transgender community.
The bill requires the sex listed on birth certificates and driver’s licenses to match the person’s biological sex assigned at birth.
It’s brought by Aberdeen Republican Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer. She said it “solves questions” on issues like bathroom use and sports participation.
“God gave us inherent dignity, male and female,” Schaefbauer said. “I believe we, as legislators, should protect both sexes, male and female, in their most vulnerable state.”
Opponents say it’s discriminatory toward the trans community.
Aberdeen resident Miranda Gohn spoke against the bill. She said in some states, bills like this have led to so-called “trans investigators” — who sometimes target both trans and cis women in their attempts to out people.
“Think about also, if it’s your daughter, or a relative, and she didn’t know about it, and there’s photos on the internet where somebody accused this person of being transgender — an invasion of privacy, and how hurtful that is,” Gohn said.
The House State Affairs Committee passed the bill in a nine to four vote Wednesday. It next heads to the House floor.
That same day, the committee advanced another bill tying bathroom use to biological sex assigned at birth.