Arkansas Law Requires Students To Use Facility Aligning With Their Biological Sex

Arkansas State Capitol — Little Rock, Arkansas
“Arkansas isn’t going to rewrite the rules of biology just to please a handful of far-left advocates.”
Alexa Henning spokesperson for Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed a law requiring public and charter school students to use the restroom or locker room facility that correlates with their biological sex, not their gender identity. The law, which has sparked controversy across the state, aims to protect the privacy and safety of all students rather than cater to a small group of outliers.
The law makes Arkansas the fourth state to restrict which restrooms students can use while at school, applying to pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students.
While supporters of the legislation argue that it is a common-sense measure to protect children, those opposed have expressed concerns that it will lead to discrimination against transgender students.
The law stipulates that transgender-identifying students must be given access to single-stall gender-neutral facilities while at school, as well as the multi-person restroom or locker room which aligns with their biological sex. This prevents students from being subjected to the opposite sex while in an intimate or private setting, where sexual abuse, harm, or harassment could easily ensue. CBS writes, “Superintendents, principals and teachers who violate the prohibition could face fines of at least $1,000 from a state panel, and parents could also file private lawsuits to enforce the measure.”
“They’re singling out transgender people for no other reason than dislike, disapproval and misunderstanding of who transgender youth are.”
Paul Castillo Senior Counsel and Students’ Rights Strategist for Lambda Legal
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called similar laws in the state unconstitutional and will likely challenge the newest legislation in court. Earlier this month, Arkansas passed SB199 giving individuals who received so-called gender-affirming care as minors a 15-year window to bring a lawsuit against the physician who provided the treatments.
The ACLU called this law, which does not place any restrictions on “gender-affirming care” or penalize medical professionals who provide such treatments, “anti-LGBTQ legislation.” The group also stated, “SB199 imposes severe consequences aimed solely at healthcare professionals” which is in direct conflict with what the bill effectively does. Lawmakers simply expanded the statute of limitations for malpractice suits, giving detransitioners the ability to seek compensation for any psychological or physical damages.
Governor Sanders has defended both laws, calling them consistent with Arkansas’ values. Those opposing the law conveniently ignore instances in which females have been abused or harassed by males entering their restrooms, “identifying” as females, and using the progressive ideology to their advantage and victimizing their classmates in the process. And what are LGBTQ+ activists’ answers to these girls who are harmed by this radical agenda? Go to counseling — become more inclusive.
Critics of the Arkansas legislation argue that transgender students will be subjected to dreaded “marginalization” or worse, someone might “misgender” them, leading to a full-fledged mental breakdown. Ironically, LGBTQ+ activists use bullying and harassment to shut down dialogue and silence their opposition. It is the activists who want to redefine biological realities and societal norms which humans have accepted and lived by for all of history. It is the activists who will then harshly condemn anyone who does not take kindly to this blitzkrieg-style ideological takeover.
As the debate over transgender rights continues to unfold in Arkansas and across the country, it remains to be seen if the new law will have the chance to become enacted, or if it will be held up in lengthy court battles.