Utah Implements Controversial Transgender Bathroom Ban

Utah joins 10 other states in regulating bathroom access for transgender people with a new law requiring individuals to use facilities that match their sex assigned at birth, unless they have undergone gender-affirming surgery and changed their birth certificate. The legislation also mandates schools to create "privacy plans" for trans students and others uncomfortable using group bathrooms, while requiring new government buildings to include single-occupant bathrooms. Critics argue the law perpetuates discrimination and imposes unnecessary barriers, while supporters aim to increase privacy protections and address safety concerns.