Prairie State Wire

The Illinois House has passed a bill that would require all bathrooms open to the public to be open to all genders.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Katie Stuart  (D-Edwardsville), passed on a 60-40 vote.

“Illinois House passes bill for multi-occupancy bathrooms to allow both men and women. The bill, which moves to the Senate, would apply to schools and public and private locations,” Beverly A. Pekala said on Twitter.

Pekala added that such bathrooms should be low on the General Assembly’s items of concern.

“There are real problems in the world to be addressed. Laws to make bathrooms for both genders is not one of them. Alas, here we are,” she said.

The bill’s synopsis provides calculations on “female-to-male ratio requirements” of such bathrooms.  

“Provides that when plumbing fixtures in a facility must meet female-to-male ratio requirements, each individual fixture in an all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom may be counted toward the required number of either female or male toilet stalls,” the bill’s synopsis reads.

“Provides that if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, and if a fixture is counted toward the minimum required fixtures for males, that same fixture shall not also be counted toward the minimum required fixtures for females. Provides that during any inspection of a facility by a health officer, health inspector, or building inspector, the health officer, health inspector, or building inspector may inspect the facility to determine whether it complies with the provisions.”

The bill – if it passes the Senate and is signed into law by the governor – would require public accommodation for all-gender, multi-occupancy restrooms with signage.

The restroom also must be located next to other restrooms which also must be designated for all genders.

“As the nation continues to be swept along by the godless, nonsensical transgender wave, parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens of all stripes must stand up and say, ‘no further,’” Illinois Family said in a post referencing the bill.

“Legislators may seek to advance laws that reflect the flavor of the moment, but as believers in a God who created man and woman in His own image and called them “good,” we can and must hold them accountable for anything that says otherwise.”

Illinois Family said the legislation has the potential to interfere with the religious rights contained in the First Amendment.

“Churches, synagogues, and mosques are not typically treated as places of public accommodation, however, if they rent their space for weddings or other events, they could run afoul of this legislation. For houses of worship that teach a view of gender that, until very recently, was not in question, freedom of speech and religion would come under threat. Churches, synagogues, and mosques could face having to decide between faithfulness to their religious texts and bowing to Springfield,” the group wrote.

Awake Illinois decried the legislation when it was being introduced in committee.

“CALL OF ACTION Please file a witness slip in opposition to HB1286. They vote on it on Wed. Filed by Rep. Katie Stewart, this bill allows men to enter the safety zone of women's bathrooms via multi-stall, multi-gender bathrooms. DEMAND A NO VOTE!” Awake Illinois posted on Facebook.