Idaho Transgender Group Sues Over Bathroom Law

0:00It's May 1st. From coast to coast, this is US News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. A group of transgender Idahoans just filed a federal lawsuit against the state's new bathroom law. It bans folks from using restrooms or changing rooms in government buildings and public spots that don't match their biological sex. The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Idaho, and Lambda Legal represent six plaintiffs, claiming it violates due process, equal protection, and privacy rights. The law, HB 752, passed the Republican-led legislature in March and got signed by Governor Brad Little. It kicks in July 1st, making a first offense a misdemeanor with up to one year in county jail. A second one within five years jumps to a felony, up to five years in state prison, though there are some exceptions. This marks the second such restriction in Idaho. Last year, a school bathroom rule got upheld by the Ninth Circuit, Court of Appeals, which backed the state's goal of protecting bodily privacy in, undressed spaces.

1:05Proponents say these laws safeguard women's and girls' privacy, safety, and dignity in sex-separated areas. But ACLU Legal Director Paul Carlo Southwick calls it an unconstitutional overreach, vague enough to spark stops and searches based on looks alone, invading personal privacy. Meanwhile, similar battles rage in other states, with mixed rulings, like a Montana block, and ongoing fights in South Carolina and Kansas. This Idaho Challenge test core rights head on, so stay tuned as courts weigh in on privacy versus policy.