Let’s be clear, the new North Carolina transgender bathroom law is pure discrimination based on prejudice and fear cloaked in “privacy” concerns. Let’s step back a moment and analyze this issue dispassionately from a standpoint of reason and logic.
North Carolina’s “Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act” puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using single-sex, multiple occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities that don’t correspond to their biological sex as designated on their birth certificates. Proponents state that they are seeking to protect a reasonable expectation of privacy and safety in those facilities designated for a particular sex (“Women” – “Men”). What this law really does, however, is to sanction discrimination against transgender people.
This past year, the transition of Bruce Jenner, a famous male American Olympic athlete, into Caitlyn Jenner, a female, has been a media sensation. As Caitlyn was observed going through her transition, awareness was raised of challenges faced when one’s gender identity does not correspond with one’s biological gender. Stories were shared of others—even small children—struggling to cope with acceptance within themselves and by others. Many loving, caring, open-minded people have responded with compassion and kindness, seeking to understand and support the difficult process of transitioning:
North Carolina’s “Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act” puts in place a statewide policy that bans individuals from using single-sex, multiple occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities that don’t correspond to their biological sex as designated on their birth certificates. Proponents state that they are seeking to protect a reasonable expectation of privacy and safety in those facilities designated for a particular sex (“Women” – “Men”). What this law really does, however, is to sanction discrimination against transgender people.
This past year, the transition of Bruce Jenner, a famous male American Olympic athlete, into Caitlyn Jenner, a female, has been a media sensation. As Caitlyn was observed going through her transition, awareness was raised of challenges faced when one’s gender identity does not correspond with one’s biological gender. Stories were shared of others—even small children—struggling to cope with acceptance within themselves and by others. Many loving, caring, open-minded people have responded with compassion and kindness, seeking to understand and support the difficult process of transitioning:
- finding courage to claim one’s identity
- participating in psychological testing and counseling
- undergoing hormone therapy
- changing appearance and dress
- explaining the importance of transitioning to others
- facing possible negative responses, ostracism, and even cruelty
- undergoing sexual reorientation surgery
- living an open life within a true identity
As a loving response to the abhorrent legislation, one restaurant in Brevard, North Carolina, Pescado’s Burritos, made their bathrooms unisex. They should be applauded and other establishments should follow their example. If you find yourself in Brevard, you can find Pescado’s at 245 No. Broad Street. They get excellent reviews for their great menu and delicious food! And be sure to tell them how much you appreciate their stance on the important issue of LGBT rights. Check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pescadoburrito/?fref=nf
Now let’s look at some facts in contradiction to the hyped-up fear of transgender prejudice:
Unfortunately, and sadly, some, like the North Carolina legislators, have reacted to gender identification issues with confusion, fear, loathing, anger, spurious religious arguments, and occasionally even violence—the very antithesis of Love.
While we may not always understand or relate to the challenges of others, we must always act with compassion and love; we should never add to the burdens that others may be facing or do anything to make their lives more difficult. As the Bible admonishes, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (I John 4:7, 8)
Now let’s look at some facts in contradiction to the hyped-up fear of transgender prejudice:
- Men are generally not overly concerned about their privacy being invaded or being confronted by a transgender or homosexual male in bathrooms or locker rooms. While there may be some trepidation by young or teenage boys about using these facilities, they are more often worried about being harassed or accosted by bullies; transgender males are not even on the radar!
- Women and young or teenage girls feel much the same way. In women’s bathrooms, individual stalls are the rule, and in locker rooms there are usually privacy cubicles for changing if one desires. Women are much more concerned about being in remote or poorly monitored bathrooms and being attacked by a male rapist! There are no gatekeepers at the doors of traditional men’s/women’s bathrooms and anyone can walk into one at any time. I know this as I inadvertently walked into the men’s bathroom at O’Hare Airport when I was a brand new flight attendant—so embarrassing! The only assurance of safety in these facilities is high activity. I am always cautious when in a public bathroom—especially at rest stops on interstates at night.
- Homosexuals, transgender people, and cross dressers have been using the public bathrooms with which they are most comfortable for decades with few issues and no one paying much attention to them.
- There has never been any way to prevent a male voyeur or rapist from dressing up like a women to gain access to women’s bathrooms. But do you ever recall hearing of an incident like this? As stated before, most women’s bathrooms have private stalls with doors—not much to see! And as for locker rooms, they are mostly in clubs, gyms, and schools. Can you picture a teenage boy coming to school dressed like a girl so he can gain access to the girl’s locker room? And any young or teenage boy transitioning to female would do all she could to be as inconspicuous as possible as she is probably already enduring some discrimination and/or harassment.
Unfortunately, and sadly, some, like the North Carolina legislators, have reacted to gender identification issues with confusion, fear, loathing, anger, spurious religious arguments, and occasionally even violence—the very antithesis of Love.
While we may not always understand or relate to the challenges of others, we must always act with compassion and love; we should never add to the burdens that others may be facing or do anything to make their lives more difficult. As the Bible admonishes, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (I John 4:7, 8)
