Republican Mark Cole from Virginia filed a petition for a bill this week that would require schools in the state to examine each of their student’s genitals. Cole believes that this examination will ensure that all students are using the appropriate assigned bathrooms based on their “anatomical sex.”
The bill states that, if implemented, all local school boards will need to develop and carry out a plan that will ensure that every restroom or locker room facility on their campus is only being used by children whose sex organs match those of the gender the bathroom is designated for.
According to the bill, these policies can include exceptions to the rule. For instance, a student with a reasonable circumstance could be accommodated by being granted access to a specific stall in a restroom, a unisex bathroom, or monitored use of their desired restroom or locker facility.
The bill also states that any student who knowingly breaks these rules will be held liable for civil penalties. The amount of these penalties will not exceed $50 and will be paid directly to the Literary Fund. All law enforcement officials are able to issue summons regarding violation of these policies.
Cole did not give details about how these examinations would be carried out. Additionally, in June, the Department of Justice ruled that isolating children who are transgender to a single person restroom is a violation of their rights.
Many school officials are also unsure of how to determine a way to examine each child that does not involve an adult inspecting their private parts, which would be a violation of the child’s privacy.