Utah officials say they have received more than 4,000 false complaints about transgender people using public restrooms, just 72 days after the state launched a program to report such cases. Stated.
“We didn’t see anything that seemed credible,” said Utah State Auditor John Dougal. told the Salt Lake City Tribune..
The Office of the Comptroller of the State has announced that the state’s controversialGender-based designations for privacy, anti-bullying, and women’s opportunities” The bill was signed in January and requires Utahns to only use restrooms that fit their genitals.
Under the law, which went into effect May 1, the state comptroller’s office is directed by the government to “establish a process for receiving and investigating alleged violations of this chapter.”
If a violation is not resolved, the auditor must refer the matter to the Utah Attorney General’s Office, which will issue up to “one violation per day” to the agency found at fault. A fine of $10,000 can be imposed.
“Congress probably didn’t consider what kind of public backlash there would be,” Dougal told the Tribune.
He said it was “very easy” to identify the false claims, adding: “For example, if my name is listed as the complainant, that would mean I’m not making the complaint.” Told.
“The alleged violation must have occurred at a publicly owned or controlled facility, program, or event,” the online tool tells those wishing to file a complaint. “If possible, citizens should make a good faith effort to address and resolve their concerns with the agency before filing a complaint with the State Auditor.”
Although it is not illegal to send a false report to the auditor’s office, repeatedly making false criminal reports to emergency authorities can result in misdemeanor charges.
The law affects Utah’s transgender community, which makes up less than 1% of the state’s population, according to the Tribune.
In addition to being restricted to toilets that correspond to their biological sex, they are also prohibited from using changing rooms and showers in public facilities that do not correspond to their biological sex.
People who undergo expensive gender reassignment surgery to change their gender on their birth certificate are exempt.
