Controversy surrounding a bill requiring transgender K-12 students to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex has resurfaced after comments made by the bill’s author Wednesday.
State Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, issued a statement saying pro-LGBT activists have “unveiled their real war on women,” in pushing back against a similar bill in North Carolina.
“Progressive activists have finally blatantly, and unintentionally, unveiled their real war on women,” Kremer said in the release. “In an attempt to appease a few individuals, these extremists have overplayed their hand and we, as citizens, must stand up to their intolerance and bigotry.”
Kremer added that he would not let his daughters use a changing stall at Target after that company announced last week it would let shoppers use the dressing room corresponding to their gender identity.
His bill, which died in committee, was criticized as targeting transgender students.
“[The bill] singles out, isolates and stigmatizes transgender students, who often already face harassment and exclusion at school,” said Fair Wisconsin spokesperson Megin McDonell in a statement shortly after the bill was announced.
State Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee, said Kremer’s comments were offensive.
“Rep. Kremer needs to take the time to educate himself on transgender issues,” Sinicki said. “These aren’t perverts or pedophiles. These are kids we’re talking about.”
Sinicki, a member of the education committee which took up the bathroom bill, said she found the comments regarding a “war on women” especially provocative.
“The Republicans are so desperate to find a way to show people they’re strong on women’s issues they don’t know what to do anymore,” she said. “To call this a ‘war on women’ is disgraceful. As someone who has fought that war for 18 years I was taken aback.”
While cosponsors of the bathroom bill have not indicated if they will reintroduce it next session, Sinicki said its fate will likely depend upon the makeup of the Republican caucus after the next round of elections in November.
If the bill does resurface, Sinicki said Democrats will work to again kill it in committee.
