Initiative stands for privacy, religious rights

We recently filed, along with 14 other women, a proposed ballot measure called the Protect Our Privacy Initiative. Unfortunately, the municipal clerk has denied this request based on what the city claims is a violation of the "single subject" mandate that citizen-led initiatives are to follow. We filed the measure in response to a single piece of policy (AO 96) that was passed by the Anchorage Assembly. Apparently, the municipal attorney believes multiple initiatives are needed. We disagree but will let the attorneys address this.

[City attorneys reject initiative on bathroom law]

What does the Protect Our Privacy Initiative seek to accomplish?  We have two goals. First, we seek to protect the privacy, safety and dignity of Alaskans, particularly women and girls, in intimate settings like showers, locker rooms and restrooms. Second, we seek to protect the freedom of every Anchorage citizen to peacefully live and work in accord with their beliefs and core values.

What are the specific problems we seek to address? In September of last year, the Anchorage Assembly passed a tragically misguided law – Ordinance 96 – that gives men the right to enter women's intimate facilities such as locker rooms and restrooms simply by claiming a "gender identity" that is different from their biological sex.

This intrusive and dangerous policy forces everyone – even private businesses like athletic clubs and department stores – to open their showers, changing rooms and restrooms to members of both biological sexes. Similar laws in other states have led to a Pandora's box of problems.

For example, shortly after Washington state adopted a rule saying that people can use whatever intimate facility they like, regardless of biological sex, a man entered the women's locker room of a Seattle-area swimming pool. He proceeded to undress in front of a local girls swimming team. When employees asked him to leave, the man stated – correctly – that the new law gave him a legal right to be there.

Let's be clear: No one, especially the government, should expect young girls to undress and be exposed to a member of the opposite sex in intimate facilities such as showers and locker rooms. The Protect Our Privacy Initiative will repeal this intrusive part of the law by adding protective measures for women and girls. In municipal buildings, it will require all intimate facilities – except single-user accommodations – to be designated for use only by persons of the same biological sex determined at birth. It leaves the municipality free to accommodate those with special challenges. But it must do so in a way that respects the privacy of others.

[Finding room for religious rights and LGBT rights to co-exist in Anchorage]

What about the private sector? Our vision is that government power should be limited. Therefore, the Protect Our Privacy Initiative allows privately owned facilities to set whatever policy they wish – even if it's ill-advised. Companies such as Target should have the freedom to make reckless decisions. The flip side of the coin is that we customers should have the freedom to make prudent decisions – and patronize only those businesses that respect privacy and common sense.

Respecting people's ability to make decisions consistent with their values, even when unpopular, is true tolerance. Unfortunately, the same Ordinance 96 that allowed men to enter women's locker rooms also spawned another problem: It forces some citizens to engage in conduct that violates their core beliefs and convictions.

For example, under Ordinance 96, a Christian wedding photographer would be punished for declining an invitation to participate in a same-sex wedding – even if doing so would violate her deepest-held religious convictions regarding marriage. In a tolerant community, we wouldn't expect anyone to abandon their values just to operate a small business. Again, these are people who willingly serve, and often hire, people in the LGBTQ community.

The Protect Our Privacy Initiative ensures that government cannot punish Anchorage citizens for refusing to express ideas or celebrate events that violate their beliefs. This isn't just about protecting certain religious beliefs that might be unpopular. It's about protecting everyone's ability to follow their conscience. A photographer who is a strong animal rights advocate should not be forced, against her will, to take pictures at a Safari Club banquet. A gay print shop owner should not be forced to print fliers for an event advocating for traditional biblical marriage. An African-American owner of a T-shirt shop should not be coerced by the municipality to make T-shirts for a Ku Klux Klan rally.

Here's a relevant, national application. Those who abhor the policies and style of President Trump, including entertainers, dress designers and bed-and-breakfast owners, have been very vocal about not wanting to offer their services to Trump and his supporters during the inauguration. We believe they have the right to do so without government coercion but it should work both ways.

Our community is stronger, not weaker, when we allow people the space to live in accord with their deeply held convictions. Don't believe the lie that disagreement is the same thing as hate and bigotry.

The Protect Our Privacy Initiative will safeguard our dignity and safety when using intimate facilities. It also protects Anchorage citizens who willingly serve everyone but who don't want to be forced to promote messages or ideas, or participate in events that conflict with their beliefs. We hope you'll join us in expanding Ordinance 96 to protect the freedoms of every person in Anchorage, no matter who they are.

Kim Minnery and Kathyrn Wheeles are sponsors of the Protect Our Privacy Initiative. Both are mothers and live in Anchorage.

The views expressed here are the writers' and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com.