A controversial bill targeting which bathrooms transgender students are allowed to use passed the Tennessee House on Monday, sparking continued protests.
House Bill 64, sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), would require any educational institutions housing minors overnight to segregate restrooms, changing areas and showers “by immutable biological sex.” Democrats and LGBTQ advocates have argued that the bill is a form of government overreach and will lead to harassment and violence against transgender people.
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No debate was allowed by lawmakers during the floor session Monday due to a prevailing motion made by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) that pushed the bill to an immediate vote. The bill passed 74-18; all the no votes were from Democrats.
Chris Sanders, executive director of Tennessee Equality Project, spoke to the Nashville Scene about his frustration with the lack of debate on the House floor.
“It is outrageous that there was no debate on such a far-reaching, controversial bill that attacks trans kids and is a massive takeover of private education in terms of what they can do with their facilities,” Sanders said. “They cut off debate completely, and that’s just undemocratic.”
Protester Aiden Pratt is arrested at the state Capitol by Tennessee State Troopers, March 17, 2025. Pratt was charged with disrupting a meeting.
The bill was met with opposition from dozens of protesters who spoke out against the legislation as lawmakers made their way into the chamber. One of the protesters opposing the bill, Aiden Pratt, shouted from the gallery. Pratt was removed from the building, arrested and charged with disrupting a meeting.
Dahron Johnson, co-chair of the Tennessee Equality Project Nashville, told the Scene the LGBTQ advocacy group is concerned about the bill's vague language and allowance for overreach.
“They’ve done a lot of artful dodging around what that specifically means,” Johnson said. “Our concern with this bill is that it’s really trying to grab a lot more real estate and regulate a lot of different spaces, more than its initial language would [lead you to] think. And on top of that, it’s private and public.”
State House Speaker Cameron Sexton passes protesters demonstrating against HB 64, March 17, 2025
Bulso said the bill aims to protect young girls in Tennessee. “In passing HB 64, the House continued its work to protect the privacy and security of girls and young ladies,” Bulso told the Scene. “HB 64 prudently requires that residential educational programs not allow biological boys to share showering facilities, changing areas and restrooms with girls and young ladies.”
The bill is waiting to be placed on the Senate calendar and comes as another piece of proposed legislation would declare that, according to state policy, there are only two sexes — biological male and biological female.
Rep. Gino Bulso votes aye on his HB 64, March 17, 2025
The legislation would require all local and state government entities to align with the definitions and prohibit the adoption of any future definitions that deviate. If local entities do not apply, they could face the loss of eligibility for state grants. State entities and public colleges and universities that do not comply could face financial penalties and the loss of general-fund revenue.
Additional reporting by Hamilton Matthew Masters.
