Raft of Arkansas 'bathroom bills' worry LGBTQ rights groups

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Critics say 11 bills targeting Arkansas' LGBTQ community were filed in the recently ended legislative session, calling that a worrisome number.

"It was an unprecedented attack on the LGBTQ community in Arkansas," said Kendra Johnson, director of Human Rights Campaign Arkansas. Even though the next session is two years away, groups like HRC Arkansas and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas said it's important to continue educating people about the LGBTQ community as part of efforts to combat potentially harmful legislation.

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson objected several times against so-called "bathroom bills" that seemingly target transgender people.

Republicans also control the House and the Senate in the Arkansas Legislature.

Among proposed bills was one from Republican Sen. Linda Collins-Smith that would have required every government building restroom or changing facility accessed simultaneously by multiple people to be designated for use by members of only one sex. It wouldn't have applied to private restrooms.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article143638124.html