House to consider bill requiring separate bathrooms by sex, unisex

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A second House committee passed a bill that requires private businesses and public entities provide separate bathrooms and changing facilities for females and males, or provide a unisex facility.

The House Commerce Committee passed the bill. It was carried by Rachel Lora Saunders Plakon, R-Lake Mary. A similar bill is being carried in the Senate by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce.

“This bill is about safety and common decency standards for all Floridians,” Plakon said.

“When I first saw this bill and the text form of it, I did my own research and there have been dozens of cases across the U.S. and overseas where people have been assaulted in the restroom and most of the time, it is a heterosexual male assaulting a female in the women’s restroom,” Plakon continued.

It would prohibit someone 18 years or older from entering a restroom designated for the opposite sex. If that person refused to “immediately depart” when asked by another person in the restroom or changing facility, the person could face a second degree misdemeanor, according to the bill.

With regards to schools, the district would establish disciplinary procedures for those younger than 18 years old who enters a restroom for the opposite sex, according to the bill.

The bill sponsor clarified and said businesses and other covered entities are not required to “police this in any way.”

“The only thing they have to do is show compliance with the infrastructure,” Plakon said.

Many members of the public spoke during public comment during the meeting.

“This bill is nothing more than the extension of mass genocidal bills that are being pushed forth for the benefit of Ron DeSantis’ 2024 campaign, this is genocide,” one speaker said, who was against the bill.

“I won’t get into the details but my daughter was in a changing room and experienced someone dressed as a woman but it was a male saying some very vile things to her and then did say some things to her in front of me and the employees in the store,” a mother said who spoke in support of the bill.

During debate, Rep. Jennifer Harris, D-Orlando, said “laws like this” create “a lot of hostility.”

“There’s so many layers to why I think this bill should end at this stop, and not go forward. Cruelty, just the implementation of it, and the impact it will have on our tourism industry, I feel like would be catastrophic,” Harris said.

Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, supported the bill and said the intent is not to harm anyone but to protect children. 

“The reality is the intent of this, of this legislation, not to harm anyone. Intent is to protect children, period. So I just want to simply, you know, in my mind, there is there is no debate here. I can’t believe we’re even having the discussion,” Tramont said.

Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Orange City, supported the bill and said he is not afraid to address the “dysphoria.”

“I’m looking at society today and it’s like, I’m watching an X-Men movie with people that when you watch the X-Men movies, for Marvel comics, it’s like we have mutants living among us on planet Earth,” Barnaby said.

Barnaby said he is “offended that people can come before this committee and try to intimidate us.”

“The Lord rebuke you satan and all of your demons and all of you imps,” Barnaby continued.

“Since 1887 it’s just been common sense that we have separate facilities, and that privacy should be respected. This is about common decency standards and private spaces and I encourage you all to vote up on this important bill to ensure safety for all especially women and girls,” Plakon said in closing.