Hobaugh v. Montana

Now, individual Montanans and Montana cities, represented by the ACLU and the ACLU of Montana, have filed a law suit challenging the ballot initiative itself. If it becomes law, I-183 would deprive transgender people across the state of their rights under the Montana constitution, including the rights to privacy, dignity, and equality. It would also infringe on the ability of cities to protect the rights of their citizens, and subject cities to law suits if they failed the impossible, and unlawful, task of enforcement.

The ballot initiative is similar to efforts to exclude transgender people from public space that have been proposed by a number of state legislatures. If passed, the initiative would prevent transgender Montanans from using any public bathroom consistent with their gender identity, endangering them and forcing them out of public schools, jobs, parks, and libraries. According to the Montana Office of Budget and Program Planning, I-183 could also cost state and local government, including public universities, billions of dollars.

Victory! Because I-183 did not qualify for the ballot, this case has now ended.