Wyoming Governor Signs Law Banning Trans Males from Women’s Spaces

Wyoming Enacts New Law Affecting Transgender Access to Public Facilities

In a move reflecting ongoing national discussions about privacy and safety, Wyoming has introduced a new law that restricts access for trans-identified males to female-designated spaces in government buildings. This decision highlights the state’s commitment to addressing these concerns within its public facilities.

The law, known as House Bill 72, was signed into action by Wyoming’s Republican Governor Mark Gordon. It was backed by the state’s Republican-majority legislature, with the House passing it by a 52-8 margin on February 7, and the Senate approving it 25-6 shortly after. Notably, a few Republican legislators joined Democrats in opposing the bill.

Effective July 1, the legislation introduces specific definitions for “male” and “female,” aligning them with biological sex. It mandates that public amenities such as multi-occupancy restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters be designated exclusively for males or females based on these definitions. The law does allow for “reasonable accommodations,” but explicitly notes that these do not include access to sex-segregated spaces opposite one’s biological sex.

Under this new statute, individuals encountering someone of the opposite sex in designated spaces within public facilities have the right to take legal action. This applies if the facility either permitted the opposite-sex entry or failed to prevent it. Similar rights are granted in correctional and educational facilities concerning shared sleeping arrangements.

Praise for the law’s passage came from Sara Beth Nelson, legal counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, who stated, “States have a duty to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women and girls. Letting men intrude on women’s spaces is an invasion of privacy, a threat to their safety, and a denial of the real biological differences between the two sexes.” She further commended Governor Gordon for protecting Wyoming women and girls.

Wyoming is now the 16th state to enact such legislation, joining others like Florida and Utah, where similar laws apply to all government-owned facilities, including educational institutions. In contrast, states such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Ohio focus their laws on K-12 schools and some government facilities. Other states enforce these rules primarily in schools.

Concerns over safety and privacy have been at the forefront of these legislative efforts. For instance, a University of Wyoming sorority faced discomfort from members when a trans-identified male was accepted, leading to a lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed. Similarly, female athletes at the University of Pennsylvania expressed “extreme discomfort” sharing locker rooms with Lia Thomas, a trans-identified male swimmer.

Further complicating the issue, a Colorado school district is embroiled in a lawsuit after a female student had to share a bed with a trans-identified male during a school trip. In Virginia, a policy allowing use of facilities based on gender identity was defended despite a registered sex offender accessing a girls’ locker room.

Amie Ichikawa, an advocate for incarcerated women, highlighted serious implications of these policies at a Christian Post event, noting that “44 male-born individuals” had transferred into women’s prisons, resulting in pregnancies among inmates.

As these debates continue across the country, Wyoming’s legislation marks a significant moment in the broader conversation about gender identity and public facility access.