LGBT anti-discrimination bill lives, barely, for another day

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A bill to enact LGBT anti-discrimination protections is still alive — but barely — after being considered by a Florida Senate committee that got caught up in a discussion about whether transgender women who have male genitalia could change in women's locker rooms.

The Senate Judiciary voted 5-5 Monday on the bill to give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people protection against discrimination. The tie would have killed the bill, but a procedural move was used to keep it alive. It will be considered again Tuesday.

For nearly half the meeting, Democratic bill sponsor Sen. Joseph Abruzzo had to address questions about transgender people's use of bathrooms and locker rooms. He expressed frustration afterward that debate wasn't focused more on discrimination in the workplace and economic benefits of the bill.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.