SAN ANTONIO – Lawmakers in North Carolina sparked a national debate when they passed legislation requiring people to use the restroom that corresponds with the gender of their birth. Could Texas follow suit?
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, said he would support passing laws similar to what North Carolina has done.
"I'm not interested in the reasons why a man wants to go into the ladies room. It's just not appropriate. There's no merit in this argument," Patrick said.
Texas state Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) said she's on the same page as Patrick.
"I fully support the lieutenant governor on this. If it's me, I most certainly will joint-author or sponsor legislation that protects Texans from political correctness run amok."
Campbell underscored that she feels attempts to be politically correct have gone too far. Patrick took that sentiment a step further.
"PC is choking off the thought process in America, and people (are) just not making logical, well-thought-out decisions. How disgusted I am at this whole movement," Patrick said.
Pastor Bart Roush said he tries to welcome everyone in his downtown San Antonio congregation at Madison Square Presbyterian Church. As a matter of fact, his church recently installed transgender restroom signs.
"I guarantee you that you have shared a bathroom before with someone who is transgendered," Roush said.
Robert Salcido, a spokesperson for Equality Texas, said the push to legislate transgender people out of their choice of restrooms is discriminatory.
"It's really not about bathrooms; it's not about restrooms. We really need to start addressing it for the issue that it really is. It's a clear way that they're trying to enact discrimination to the transgender community," Salcido said.
READ MORE: Behind the issue: Transgender students, parenting and approaching the topic
Some opposing viewpoints on the issue at least partially converged where business is concerned. Richard "Doc" Allen operates a San Antonio-based conservative Internet radio talk show. Allen, who is also a cybersecurity professor and a management consultant, said we're trying too hard to appease too few people, and that it makes no business sense whatsoever.
"There's 318.9 million people in the U.S. as of the 2014 census. We're talking about 0.3 percent," Allen said.
Democratic Texas Sen. Jose Mendez agreed, sort of. He wondered aloud how legislation for policing bathrooms usurps education, health care and road repairs. He said he feels this is a case where big government should back off.
"Small businesses around the state of Texas don't need Texas government telling them who can use the restroom and who can't," Menendez said.
