Criminalizing use of public bathrooms
Lawmakers in the New Hampshire legislature passed a bill voting 181-164 to ban transgender people from using bathrooms that do not match their assigned gender at birth. Rest assured, 181 legislators have never known or have had any meaningful relationship with anyone who is transgender. I totally understand. Less than 0.5% of people in the state identify as transgender.
Many of us wouldn’t know if someone at the bank or behind the lunch counter is transgender. This is understandable. Most trans folks present the gender that they are.
As socialized and polite human beings, we don’t make it our business to check out other people’s genitalia let alone ask that others show proof. When I use a public bathroom, I do my business and leave.
Republican representatives think it’s OK to fine and possibly jail people who use the “incorrect” bathroom. They think it’s OK to let members of the public turn in “violators.” I heard one Representative state that he wanted to “protect cis females.”
This way of thinking must change. Saying things like this perpetuates the storyline of fear, suspicion and hate. Please call your senators and the governor and voice opposition to these bills. (HB 1442 is heading to the Senate) We must kill this bill!
As LGBTQ allies, we can start by talking to business owners about providing unisex facilities, family bathrooms and locker rooms. As a transgender ally, I am deeply concerned about efforts to restrict health care for transgender youth. Why has this become every else’s business? This is not understandable.