This bill restricts the use of single-sex facilities on federal property to individuals whose biological sex matches the facility's designation.
Nancy Mace
Representative
SC-1
The "Protecting Women’s Private Spaces Act" restricts access to single-sex facilities on federal property to individuals whose biological sex corresponds to the facility's designation. Biological sex is defined as the biological determination of male or female, based on reproductive systems. Exceptions are provided for emergency medical personnel and law enforcement officers in specific situations. "Single-sex facilities" are defined as restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms.
New Federal Bill Defines 'Biological Sex', Restricts Restroom Access on Federal Property
The "Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act" is a new bill that directly impacts anyone using single-sex facilities—think restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms—on federal property. This includes buildings and land owned or leased by U.S. departments, agencies, and even Washington D.C. itself (SEC. 2).
What's the Deal?
The core of the bill (SEC. 2) states that individuals can only use single-sex facilities that correspond to their "biological sex." And here's where it gets specific: "biological sex" is defined strictly by reproductive systems. "Female" means having a reproductive system that could produce ova, and "male" means having one that could produce sperm. There are exceptions, but only for emergency medical personnel responding to emergencies and law enforcement officers actively pursuing a suspect or investigation (SEC. 2).
Real-World Rollout
Imagine you're a contractor working on a federal building project, or a park ranger at a national park, or even just visiting a federal courthouse. If this bill becomes law, your access to restrooms and other single-sex facilities is now legally tied to this specific definition of "biological sex." For most people, this won't change a thing. But for transgender and intersex individuals, this could mean being barred from facilities that align with their gender identity.
The Bigger Picture
While the bill focuses on federal property, the definitions it lays out could have wider implications. The strict biological definition of sex could set a precedent, potentially influencing policies beyond just restrooms. It also raises practical questions: How will this be enforced? What does this mean for individuals whose bodies don't neatly fit into these binary categories?
It is important to note that the bill's narrow definition of "biological sex" could lead to real challenges and potential discrimination for transgender and intersex individuals in everyday situations on federal property.