UknowmeJan 19, 2023
Allison Chapman 🏳️‍⚧️

West Virginia is doubling down on their transgender bans. Today they introduced another bill, SB278. This bill, if passed, would fine trans people no less than $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail for just going out in public. Absolutely terrifying.

Bill text: https://legiscan.com/WV/text/SB278/id/2647262/West_Virginia-2023-SB278-Introduced.html

West Virginia-2023-SB278-Introduced

Jan 19, 2023 at 2:30amWeb
Show threadCatmama 🐈Jan 19, 2023

@Alli

Surely a bill like that would be unconstitutional. How will they be able to tell if it's a trans person? I see so many terrifying situations.

Show threadAshJan 19, 2023
@Catmama @Alli it being unconstitutional will not stop them from passing it and using it to harass people. an unconstitutional law can remain on the books and be enforced until struck down by the supreme court, and who wants to be the test case?
Show thread(((JaneinNJ)))Jan 19, 2023
@fraxinus @Catmama @Alli Especially with this SCOTUS, sad to say.
Show threadClaraJan 19, 2023
@Alli Can you point me to the part of the bill banning a trans person from going out in public? Thank you
Show threadZazzJan 19, 2023

@claraeroberts @Alli Maybe
§61-8-9. Indecent exposure.
> "A person is guilty of indecent exposure when such person intentionally engages in obscene matter or sexually explicit conduct as defined in §61-8A-1 of this code..."
§61-8A-1. Definitions.
> "...such prohibited displays shall include, but not be limited to, any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances, or display to any minor."

I think it's broad enough that just being in public can be interpreted as exposure. 😖

Show threadAllison Chapman 🏳️‍⚧️Jan 19, 2023
@zazz @claraeroberts exactly. The point is to make it broad enough. I think we can all agree that their end goal is to never see another trans person. This bill is written in a way to attempt to do that
Show threadCoach Pāṇini ®Jan 19, 2023
@Alli @ckaras “land of the free”
Show threadCharity FebJan 19, 2023
@Alli What the hell.
Show threadCarlos SolísJan 19, 2023
Has somebody raised a constitutional consultation on this bill to the Supreme Court? …never mind, thinking it better and considering the current composition of the Court, that’s actually a worse idea
Show threadDeb4+ aka Deborah DT 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Jan 19, 2023
@Alli Legislators have to stop being allowed to play doctor
Show threadKJBJan 19, 2023
@Alli
house arrest?
Show threadIan Hecht 🇨🇦Jan 19, 2023
@Alli I'm guessing this is the part that's the problem:
§61-8A-1.n.4 "[...]such prohibited displays shall include, but not be limited to, any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances, or display to any minor."
But then they don't define what exposure or display means... Leaving it open to all sorts of interpretation.