RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Republicans in the North Carolina Senate introduced a new bill that would restrict which bathrooms transgender individuals can use. Senate Bill 516, called the Women's Safety and Protection Act, aims to protect women against sexual assault, harassment and violence in priv ate settings like bathrooms. Democrats are blasting the bill. "People want to just live their lives, and they don’t want to be attacked in this way," said Rep. Julie von Haefen, who represents parts of southern Wake County. Part of the legislation includes the use by one biological sex rule, requiring bathrooms, changing rooms and other private areas to "only be used by one designated biological sex at a time." Its introduction comes nearly eight years to the day that former Governor Roy Cooper repealed the controversial House Bill 2, which similarly designated bathroom use by sex at birth. "That’s just an example of, didn’t we learn our lesson when HB 2 was originally in the state and how much damage it caused? Now we’re just bringing it up again, rehashing it again just to attack people for no reason," von Haefen said. The bill also restricts transgender individuals from requesting to change their sex on their birth certificates. Equality North Carolina, which rallied with state lawmakers for reproductive freedoms and LGBTQ+ protection, said in part, "While we gathered in solidarity, we were disheartened to learn of yet another attack on our transgender community—this time in the form of SB 516." The North Carolina Values Coalition, meanwhile, is applauding the bill, in part, "North Carolina must return to the common sense understanding that men are men, women are women, and men should not be allowed to rob women of their safety and privacy by invading their private spaces." ...read more read less