Under a new bill proposed in the Michigan legislature, bathrooms in any publically owned building – including bathrooms in state and local government buildings as well colleges and community colleges – would only be open to people based on their biological sex.

House Bill 5717 goes further than another Senate bill – which limited the rule to bathrooms in K-12 schools.

It would still allow facilities to create “single occupancy bathrooms” for anyone to use, but with a few exceptions, the bill says “a governmental entity shall require each of its publicly owned or leased multiple occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities to be designated for and only used by individuals based on their biological sex.”

The bill already has 20 sponsors and co-sponsors.

Similar bills have caused controversy around the nation. And Equality Michigan, a group that represents the interests of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgendered people, says both bathroom bills ignore the pleas of parents, educators, faith leaders, business leaders, and fair-minded Michiganders from across our state – all who have spoken out strongly in opposition to anti-trans legislation.”

They’ve launched a petition to fight the new proposal.