Now Tennessee is considering an anti-trans bathroom bill

North Carolina is already in the midst of a full-blown culture war over its discriminatory bathroom law, HB2.

Now, Tennessee lawmakers are considering their own anti-trans bathroom bill.

HB 2414 would require public school students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with the gender that’s listed on their birth certificate.

“For students, it could …. result in depression, a drop in their academic performance, dropping out from school, or even suicide,” Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition lobbyist Marisa Richmond told The Guardian. “Before that, it could mean increased levels of substance abuse, as people will try to numb the emotional pain by turning to drugs or alcohol.”

State attorney general Herbert Slatery said that among other things, the bill if passed would likely strip state schools of Title IX funding.

“The fact that the attorney general has recognized that this will result in significantly reduced federal funds for the state of Tennessee should put an end to the discussion about this bill,” State Rep. Mike Stewart said at a news conference Monday according to The Tennessean.

Gov. Bill Haslam has not said whether he would veto the measure. A subcommittee is expected to vote on the bill as early as today before it goes to the full state house floor.

Executives of Dow Chemical Co., Hewlett-Packard, Alcoa Inc. and Choice Hotels International, as well as a host of celebrities, have come out against the bill.

“As a friend and a dad … I’ve witnessed this fight from the very beginning,” Billy Ray Cyrus, father of Miley, said according to The Tennessean. “I think everyone should be treated equal. We’ve come too far; we can’t mess this up.”

Rob covers business, economics and the environment for Fusion. He previously worked at Business Insider. He grew up in Chicago.