Rockwall Council Rejects Proposed Bathroom Ordinance

The Rockwall City Council rejected its mayor's proposed "bathroom ordinance" on Monday in front of a standing-room only crowd.

The ordinance, proposed by Mayor Jim Pruitt, would require all people to use restrooms based on the gender listed on their birth certificate.

"We're making decisions based solely on fear that, at best, will establish us as one of the more bigoted cities in the country," Jon Bennett told the city council, voicing his opposition to the ordinance.

A similar law was passed earlier this year in North Carolina, where there have been protests and companies have spoken out against the bill. The state has lost nearly $40 million in revenue as a result of the protests.

"There's a lot of talk that we're hating LGBT people, and that couldn't be further from the truth," John White said at Monday night's Rockwall City Council meeting. "This is an expression of love for our women and children."

Mayor Pruitt argued an ordinance was necessary to prevent predators from hiding in opposite-gender bathrooms. But opponents said the proposal is unnecessary and discriminatory.

"It will take away safety from transgender people, who are your neighbors," Karen Roggenkamp told council members. She is the mother of a transgender child. "My child is not a boy dressed up in girls clothing, meant to prey on unsuspecting innocence."

The bill ultimately was rejected after Pruitt's request for a vote failed to receive a second. The other five members of the council on Monday night questioned the need for the ordinance. Some council members called it "well-intended, but unenforceable."

"I don't know that this will come back in another form," Pruitt said. "But it will come back in another form in the way we build our facilities in the city, which will be to have individual-type restrooms."