Transgender activists in Utah have flooded a tip line created to report violations of a new bathroom law with thousands of hoax reports. The law requires individuals to use bathrooms that correspond with their birth sex in government-owned buildings. The onslaught of fake complaints has overwhelmed the state official responsible for managing the tip line, Utah Auditor John Dougall. The form asks people to report public school employees who allow someone to use a facility designated for the opposite sex. Dougall expressed frustration with being tasked with filtering through fake complaints and facing backlash for enforcing a law he had no role in passing.
Despite the efforts of activists, the law remains in effect, and schools and agencies found not enforcing the restrictions can be fined up to $10,000 per day for each violation. The community has found success in interfering with the enforcement plans attached to similar laws in other states. Trans activists from across the U.S. quickly spread the Utah tip line on social media and encouraged others to submit spam reports. This tactic is part of a larger movement to shut down government tip lines that encourage residents to report on each other. Similar portals in other states have also been inundated with hoax reports, leading some officials to shut them down.
There is a collective understanding within the trans community that submitting hoax reports is a way to protest the laws and protect trans individuals from being targeted. Trans activist Erin Reed explained that flooding the tip line with fake reports makes it harder for the auditor’s office to find legitimate cases of trans people being reported for using a bathroom. The auditor’s office has encountered many reports that are deemed as “total nonsense” and others that appear credible at first glance, requiring more time to filter out. Despite the efforts to disrupt the enforcement tool outlined in the bill, the sponsors remain confident in the tip line’s effectiveness and the auditor’s ability to separate fake complaints.
The sponsors of the law, Rep. Kera Birkeland and Sen. Dan McCay, maintain their support for the legislation, viewing it as a measure to protect the privacy and safety of women and girls. Birkeland acknowledged that activists sending false reports may try to distract from the importance of the law. McCay, who did not initially realize activists were responsible for flooding the tip line, does not plan to change how the law is being enforced. LGBTQ+ rights advocates have raised concerns about the law and the tip line, warning that it could lead to people questioning anyone’s gender in community spaces. This concern was highlighted when a Utah school board member faced backlash for incorrectly assuming a high school basketball player was transgender.
In conclusion, the battle over the bathroom law in Utah reflects a larger debate surrounding transgender rights and legislation across the country. Activists are using creative methods to resist and disrupt enforcement efforts they view as discriminatory. While the lawmakers remain committed to the law’s objectives, they face criticism and challenges from those who believe the legislation could lead to harm and discrimination against trans individuals. The ongoing clash between advocacy groups and legislators underscores the complexity of navigating issues related to gender identity and equal rights.
