Lawmaker wants birth-gender ID for restroom use

Minutes after the meeting started, State Rep. John Kavanagh said he would delay the debate on his bill because of a paperwork error.

Arizona's measure - and the response it received - reflects a growing national debate over what kind of restroom can be accessed by men and women presenting as a gender other than what they were born as.

With more people identifying as transgender, state and local governments are increasingly banning gender-identity discrimination to ward off legal battles, but opponents and proponents alike complain the laws don't explicitly demand businesses provide equal access for transgender people, creating confusion over how governments, restaurants, clothing stores and other establishments must act.

One local TV station has dubbed Arizona's legislation the "Show Me Your Papers Before You Go Potty" bill, a reference to the state legislature's sweeping 2010 immigration law.

Among those waiting to speak out against the bill on Wednesday was Phoenix resident Erica Keppler. She was born a man, but doesn't feel comfortable in men's bathrooms or locker rooms with her earrings, long hair and feminine clothing.

"Most transgender people try to slip through public places without being noticed," Keppler said. "This will turn us into criminals."