By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail

A bill similar to North Carolina's controversial "bathroom" law was proposed Wednesday in the South Carolina Senate.

The measure, which would require transgender people to use public bathrooms matching their birth gender, was quickly criticized by a legal advocate.

"We should not jump on this bandwagon," South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center director Sue Berkowitz wrote in an email.

She described the bill as "divisive and discriminatory legislation that could result in the loss of business to our state."

Sen. Lee Bright, a Spartanburg County Republican, said his measure is based on a bill that North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed into law last month.

"Men and women sharing the same bathroom is just beyond me," said Bright, adding that he wants "to stand with North Carolina" in promoting "common decency and common sense."

Critics say the North Carolina law is the "most extreme anti-LGBT measure in the country." Citing its opposition to the law, PayPal canceled plans for a facility in Charlotte that would have resulted in 400 new jobs.

Under Bright's bill, local governments in South Carolina could not enact rules governing the use of bathrooms at private businesses. His bill also would require people to use "multiple occupancy" bathrooms in schools and other public buildings that correspond with their birth gender. Schools could provide "single occupancy bathrooms" in special circumstances.

City of Anderson-based Anderson School District 5 does not have a policy "that deals with bathroom privileges," spokesman Kyle Newton said.

"Upon request, in the past we have allowed students to use a unisex bathroom," Newton said.

Because it deals only with bathrooms, Bright's bill is more narrowly drawn than the North Carolina law, which also bars local governments from setting rules about minimum wages, employment discrimination or other discriminatory practices.

Two Upstate senators — Republicans Larry Martin of Pickens and Kevin Bryant of Anderson — are co-sponsoring Bright's bill.

Martin, who has a 20-month-old granddaughter, said he doesn't want local governments to impose rules that would allow "cross-dressing men to be in the bathroom with her when she get a few years older."

The bill was sent to the Senate General Committee for further consideration. Bryant, chairman of that committee, said he intends to schedule a public hearing about the measure.

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