Tuesday some San Antonio civic leaders will testify in Austin against Senate Bill 6, the so-called bathroom bill. It would require individuals to use public bathrooms based on their birth certificate gender.
Michael Sawaya is the director of the convention and sports facilities department for the city. He says the NCAA and other organizations may refuse to come to San Antonio if the bill passes.
“Just the Final Four for example—the economic impact of the Final Four is over $200 million dollars,” says Sawaya. “And that’s impact to both the city and to the state, so we know just in that one event that that is the potential that we would lose an opportunity in the future.”
City Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran says there’s no need for the bill because people using bathrooms that match their gender identity have caused no harm.
“This is a false narrative,” Viagran says. “San Antonio has a lot to lose if this bathroom bill moves forward. Especially economically, but also the perception of San Antonio is being a very welcoming and diverse and warm and friendly city. This could be damaging to that.”
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus says he knows of no incidents where transgender people have been involved in sexual assaults in public restrooms.