SC Gov. Nikki Haley Says ‘Bathroom Bill’ Isn’t Necessary

Gov. Nikki Haley, R- S.C., delivers a speech on "Lessons from the New South" during a luncheon at the National Press Club, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Gov. Nikki Haley, R- S.C., delivers a speech on "Lessons from the New South" during a luncheon at the National Press Club, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) on Thursday indicated that she would not support a bill introduced on Wednesday that would require public restrooms to direct people to use the bathroom that aligns with their birth sex and would keep local governments from letting transgender individuals choose which bathroom to use.

Haley told reporters in South Carolina that she doesn’t believe the bill is “necessary” and that her office hasn’t received any complaints about the issue, according to The State.

“This is not a battle that we’ve seen is needed in South Carolina,” she said. “It’s not something that we see that citizens are asking for.”

“When we look at our situation, we’re not hearing of anybody’s religious liberties that are being violated, and we’re again not hearing any citizens that are being violated in terms of freedoms,” she added, according to The State. “Like it or not, South Carolina is doing really well when it comes to respect and when it comes to kindness and when it comes to acceptance. For people to imply it’s not, I beg to differ.”

Proponents of the bill have said that the bill addresses a public safety issue, arguing that predators would be allowed to go into the restroom designated for the opposite gender.

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