Riding on the coattails of its sister state of North Carolina, South Carolina is now trying to prohibit transgender people from using public bathrooms, showers or changing rooms of their choice,
The State reports.
"Men should use the men's room, and women should use the women's room — that's just common sense. North Carolina is getting so much flak over what is common sense," State Sen. Lee Bright, a Republican who has introduced the bill, told the newspaper.
"If you allow people to identify themselves with a different gender in there, you're putting women in an unsafe situation."
If passed, the legislation would ban municipalities throughout The Palmetto State from forcing businesses to allow transgender customers or workers who want to choose which bathrooms they use.
Sen. Bright also wants bathrooms, showers and changing rooms in state parks, museums and schools to be used by people based on their biological gender at birth.
Activists who oppose the bill fear it would also allow businesses to turn their backs on serving gays and transgender people by claiming it would violate their civil rights.
North Carolina and Mississippi have passed similar laws, but are now facing the wrath of major corporations, sports franchises and liberal states who are threatening to stop doing business with them.