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Tennessee Transgender Bathroom Bill Dead for Session

Nattayanee Darath, 123rf

A Tennessee transgender bathroom bill has failed after a sponsor pulled the measure until next year. 

The move Monday comes after intense opposition from businesses and gay, lesbian and transgender rights' organizations that called the measure discriminatory and amid questions of whether the state would lose more than $1 billion in federal education funds.

The bill would have required students in public schools and universities to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth. The proposal is part of a wave of legislation across the country that opponents say is discriminatory and stemmed from the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling last year that effectively legalized same-sex marriage.

Supporters of the measure maintained they were only trying to protect student privacy.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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