South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on
Friday hinted that she might veto a proposed bill that targets
transgender people.
Republican Senator Lee Bright on
Wednesday introduced Senate Bill 1203, which seeks to prohibit
transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with
their gender identity.
Bright defended his bill as “common
sense,” saying that it was necessary to protect women and children.
“There's a segment of the population
that believes that you ought to be able to use whatever restroom you
identify yourself as being,” Bright
said. “So they think it's okay for a man to use a woman's
bathroom if he thinks he's a woman. From a safety issue, we don't
need men going into women's bathrooms.”
Haley, also a Republican, told
reporters that she hasn't heard of any such complaints.
“I don't believe it's necessary,”
Haley
said. “When I look at South Carolina, we look at our
situation, we're not hearing of anybody's religious liberties that
are being violated, and we're again not hearing any citizens that
feel like they're being violated in terms of freedoms.”
“You're talking about religious
liberty or are you talking about a transgender bathroom issue?” a
female reporter asked.
“Either,” Haley answered. “Like
it or not, South Carolina's doing really well when it comes to
respect. When it comes to kindness. And when it comes to
acceptance.”
The legislation is being considered
even as pressure mounts to repeal similar bills in Mississippi and
North Carolina. Corporations, politicians and celebrities have
criticized such laws as discriminatory.
(Related: Bruce
Springsteen cancels North Carolina show over anti-gay law.)