Federal Judge Strikes Down Bathroom Notification Law - Articles

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Federal Judge Strikes Down Bathroom Notification Law

Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on May 18, 2022

Yesterday afternoon U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger struck down a Tennessee law requiring businesses to post special signs if they allow transgender individuals to use a bathroom of their choice. The move comes after she issued a temporary halt to the law soon after it was signed. A challenge to the law was brought by the ACLU on behalf of Nashville business owner Bob Bernstein, who owns Nashville coffee shops Bongo Java and Fido. Trauger's decision rejected state arguments that the law does not target transgender individuals and does not prohibit anyone from using a restroom of their choice. Instead, she wrote: “Transgender Tennesseans are real. The businesses and establishments that wish to welcome them are real. And the viewpoints that those individuals and businesses hold are real, even if they differ from the view of some legislators or government officials. While those government officials have considerable power, they have no authority to wish those opposing viewpoints away.” WPLN has the story.