A Non-Political Hearing on the Human Rights Commission’s Transgender Rulemaking Yielded “Nastiest” Testimony Yet, Trans Advocate Says

"I used to enjoy looking at rainbows," concerned citizen Robert West told legislators on Thursday. TVW

A Thursday meeting of state legislators in Yakima wasn’t supposed to address the pros and cons of protecting trans people using the bathrooms in which they feel the safest. Instead, the meeting of the Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee (JARRC) chaired by state senator Mike Padden (R-Spokane), was supposed to address two questions, and two questions alone: whether or not the state Human Rights Commission’s rule clarifying protections for transgender people followed “legislative intent” and whether the proper process was followed in adopting the rule.

Instead, public comments during the meeting turned into some of the “nastiest” and “most mean-spirited” testimony yet, according to Gender Justice League director Danni Askini.

“It's also the first time I felt unsafe leaving a hearing and asked for a deputy to walk Elayne [Wylie] and I to my car,” Askini said. “People gave me the finger on my way out.”

Padden told meeting attendees that they ought to stick to the subject of the meeting, not the proposed ballot measure attempting to reverse the rule. The committee is prohibited from supporting or opposing an initiative using state resources, he added. Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) added that the meeting had the potential to generate an ethics complaint—particularly because she witnessed initiative signature gatherers nearby.

Nevertheless, several meeting attendees asked legislators to reverse the Human Rights Commission’s ruling because of their feelings about transgender people.

“I am really tired of having this gay/trans stuff getting shoved down the majority’s throat,” one meeting attendee named Robert West told the legislators. “I used to enjoy looking at rainbows but now it reminds me of looking at stuff that’s being shoved down my throat,” he added later.

“These people would have access to a live entertainment show with our women and children,” Rhonda Shepard said.

After Shepard’s testimony, Rep. Jinkins asked to shut down the meeting if “political commentary” continued. But Sen. Padden kept the public testimony running.

“My question is, has society gone mad?” asked Yakima resident Mike Martin. “Did I miss something in the birthing process? Didn’t God create Adam and Eve? I’m asking everyone in this room to check your equipment.”

Martin continued: “I’m a man, but I could identify myself as a bird. But no matter how hard I flap my arms, I’m not going to fly.”

The vote on the motion to find the Human Rights Commission’s rule making unlawful split 4-4, and did not pass. Now, however, Askini says that her organization is considering filing an ethics complaint.