Transgender activists in Utah have flooded a newly established tip line with numerous hoax reports to protect transgender individuals and their supporters from potential investigations under a recently enacted bathroom law.
The law mandates that individuals use facilities in government-owned buildings based on their birth sex, a provision that has sparked criticism for its enforcement approach.
Utah Auditor John Dougall, tasked with managing the tip line, expressed frustration at having to sift through the influx of fake complaints, stating, "No auditor anticipates monitoring bathrooms as part of their job." Despite receiving over 10,000 submissions since its launch, none have been deemed authentic.
Activists have utilized social media to widely circulate the tip line, mirroring similar efforts in other states, some of which have led to the closure of these reporting platforms. While lawmakers defend the law as a measure to protect women and girls, advocates for LGBTQ+ rights argue that it could lead to the harassment of transgender and non-transgender individuals in public spaces.
The sponsors of the law, Representative Kera Birkeland and Senator Dan McCay, maintain confidence in the tip line's effectiveness, despite the surge in false reports. Critics caution that the law could empower individuals to question anyone's gender in public, potentially resulting in discrimination against non-transgender individuals as well.