The city of Odessa, Texas, has instituted a $10,000 bounty on any transgender individual using restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. The controversial ordinance allows private citizens, excluding local and state government officials, to sue transgender individuals for using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The legal repercussions include payments for “injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating the provisions of this ordinance; nominal and compensatory damages if the plaintiff has suffered injury or harm from the defendant’s conduct; statutory damages in an amount of not less than $10,000 for each violation of this ordinance; and court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.” Additionally, the ordinance imposes criminal penalties, deeming such trans individuals as guilty of a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $500. Transgender individuals may also face misdemeanor trespassing charges if they refuse to vacate a restroom deemed inconsistent with their biological sex, as determined by their birth certificates. This ban defines biological sex based on birth certificates, stating that any updates to reflect a transgender individual’s gender identity would not protect them under the law. Notably, the ordinance lacks provisions for disabled individuals who may require assistance from a person of a different gender. Journalist Erin Reed draws parallels between this bounty and anti-abortion bounties seen in Texas, where private citizens can sue anyone assisting someone seeking an abortion. As the community grapples with this new law, advocates fear the implications for transgender rights and public safety in Odessa and beyond. #Trans Rights