Utah's legislature has passed a bill that restricts transgender people's access to bathrooms and bans diversity programs in government and on campuses.

The bill, which received wide support in both the Republican controlled state House and Senate, is now awaiting the signature of Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican known for his conservative stance. Cox has previously shown a shift to the right on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, signaling his likely support for this bill.

This legislation comes on the heels of previous actions by Cox, including his veto of a ban on transgender students participating in girls' sports, which was subsequently overridden by the legislature.

The Utah legislature just passed a bill to ban boys from the girl’s bathroom and to eliminate DEI in public education. Democrats react by deciding to wear all black as a sign of mourning.

Cox has also signed a bill regulating discussions of race and religion in public schools, aiming to prevent the teaching that anyone can be racist solely based on their race.

The Utah bill not only restricts transgender individuals' access to public restrooms and locker rooms but also extends to sex-segregated facilities in public buildings and K-12 schools, requiring that individuals use facilities that align with their gender identity as stated on their birth certificate. Additionally, the bill mandates the inclusion of single-occupant restrooms and locker rooms in new government buildings.

While proponents of the bill argue that it aims to protect women, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams has clarified that the bill has "very little to do with the trans community" and is instead focused on safeguarding women.

Critics, including Utah Democrats and LGBTQ+ advocates, assert that the bill unjustly targets transgender individuals and undermines their rights.

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The bill also prohibits universities and government entities from having offices dedicated to promoting diversity and from requiring employees to submit statements of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This provision has sparked further debate about the limits on free speech and the suppression of differing viewpoints.

Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have proposed around three dozen bills this year that seek to restrict or disclose DEI initiatives. Meanwhile, Democrats have introduced approximately 20 bills in nine states that aim to require or promote DEI initiatives, highlighting the deep divide on these issues across the nation.