By The Gay Report Staff
Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill to outlaw transgenders from using the appropriate restrooms by imposing fines, jail time. The Gay Report has tried numerous times to contact the lawmaker who drafted the bill without any success. Some on our staff are concerned because we are headquartered in Arizona, and a member of our staff is taking care of en elderly transgender person.
So we did reach out to the office of the House Majority leader Rep. David Gowner's office for comment. First the staffer by the name of Becka Farmel said that "It is already illegal for transgenders to use the restroom." After asking her why is then the bill needed if it is already illegal, Farmel whispered into the phone and said "Between you and me you know Transgender people, because I know one, have several severe sexual issues."
"Parents are worried about their children, and it is about that," she said. Gowner also wanted to know if we had children, implying that there was a danger posed to children.
"Statistics show that transgender people have sexual issues with children," Gowner continued. We asked her what she meant by that and if she was implying if transgenders are sexual predators.
"Well yeah, they have issues," she answers.
We then asked her to email us those statistics. Gowner refused saying she didn't have them on her.
By the end of the conversation Gowner was trying to backtrack when we try to again confirm that it is her's and Mr. Gowan's position that transgender people are indeed 'sexual predators.'
"Well, we just think that they have sexual issues, because everybody else says that's the case. It's what we hear at hearings. These people pose a threat to children," says Gowner.
Mr. Gowman was not available for comment.
The Democratic Party of Arizona has said that this bill is "just another example of the Republican party trying to pander to the extreme right wing instead of focusing on the issues like extending Medicaid and on the economy."
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