Our Voice: Transgender issue shows public must be involved early

New state rules asserting that transgender people have the right to use bathrooms that match their gender identity has caused the most passionate, public outcry of any other issue during this short legislative session.

Lawmakers have received hundreds of phone calls and emails from angry constituents who were caught off guard, as well as from those in the transgender community who now feel they must defend themselves.

The situation is frustrating and unfortunate and is an example of what happens when the public is not involved early on in emotionally charged policy issues.

How this rule change managed to fly under the radar has been a hot topic.

In December, the state Human Rights Commission enacted new rules that affirmed that transgender people have access to locker rooms and bathrooms that are consistent with their gender identity.

The announcement seemed to come out of nowhere, but in reality the commission had been discussing the issue for years.

Laura Lindstrand, policy analyst for the commission, said that emails and fliers were sent out in 2012 on four statewide work sessions But attendance was dismal. In Kennewick, five people showed up; in Olympia, four; in Seattle, eight and in Spokane, nine.

Fast-forward to last Jun, when a public hearing in Tacoma brought in 35 people, said Lindstrand.

That seems like nothing compared with the interest generated now.

Lindstrand emphasized that transgender people have been protected since an anti-discrimination case in 2006, and the new rules simply clarified those protections. But when the rules were made official in December, the public apparently didn’t see it that way.

Now there are bills floating in the Legislature that would remove the rule changes. One hearing Wednesday attracted 300 people, with the crowd split on both sides. In a 4-3 vote, the proposal to eliminate the new rules passed out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

But it has little hope of becoming law.

One key lawmaker with the power to block any legislation regarding the changing of transgender rights has said she won’t allow a hearing on the issue in her committee.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the Crosscut news organization that bills trying to reverse the new transgender rules would not have the votes to pass in a Democrat-controled House, so it does not make sense to give them time in committee during a short session. She also has said she personally does not agree with attempts to reverse the rules.

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick, has proposed a House bill that says bathrooms should be divided according to anatomy and DNA, and another bill sponsored by Rep. Graham Hunt, R-Orting, tries to dismantle the rule change. Neither one is likely to gain traction thanks to Jinkins’ position.

So here we are with angry citizens, frustrated lawmakers and misunderstood people in the transgender community dealing with a backlash they never should have had to endure. And nobody feels good about it.

It should not have come to this. A review is in order, and government officials need to figure out a way so this kind of situation does not happen again.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Our Voice: Transgender issue shows public must be involved early."