Transgender students at the University of Texas at Austin and GLAAD are speaking out against SB6, the anti-trans bathroom bill that is currently moving through the Texas senate.
If passed at the Texas House level, SB6 will require individuals in Texas to use public restrooms based on the sex listed on their birth certificate, not their gender identity. Anyone found in violation of the law would be issued a civil penalty between $1,000 and $1,500 for a first offence and between $10,000 and $10,500 for each every repeated attempt.
"When you label a certain group as unwanted, you are opening the door to allow a citizen the right to be violent towards another citizen," graduate student, Thatcher Combs explained. "That is the danger that is SB6."
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Tahlia G., an undergraduate student featured in the video, also sat down for an interview with Teen Vogue: "SB6 takes people's private fears and prejudices and enacts them into law. I know that there is a lot of fear and confusion around trans people, mostly just from misinformation or lack of information. This bill represents the worst of these misguided fears."
"The possibility of someone drawing a gun on me because they think I'm in the wrong bathroom is extremely terrifying," says Tahlia.
Watch the powerful testimonials below and sign GLAAD's petition to let Texas legislators know that SB6 is unacceptable.