In the wake of allegations that a boy presenting himself as female harassed girls in a high school restroom, lawmakers in Colorado tried this week to walk back some of the damage done by the state’s controversial transgender bathroom law, which mandates that self-identified “transgender” individuals be allowed to use the bathroom and changing facilities of their choice, regardless of biological sex.

Rep. Kim Ransom, R-Littleton, introduced a bill that would have permitted facility operators to decide for themselves whether to permit cross-gender use of sex-segregated facilities, without putting themselves at risk of discrimination lawsuits. She argued that underage girls are at special risk of abuse and assault under the current law, which leaves no room for discretion on the part of the adults responsible for their health and safety.

“Locker rooms are vulnerable places,” Ransom told the committee. “If a group of high school boys wants to storm the girls locker room during shower time after gym class, there is nothing the principal can do to stop them if they say the right words.”

But the Democrat-led committee charged with evaluating Ransom’s proposal rejected it outright. They argued that allowing business owners to require self-identified “transgender” people to use the bathroom consistent with their biological sex is a violation of the privacy rights of transgender people, and a form of discrimination.

Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, compared Ransom’s bill to mid-20th century legislation barring Hispanics and blacks from using the same public restrooms as whites.