I would like to start off by saying that I am a huge supporter of Human Rights and the LGBT community, however this recent issue with bathrooms has been in the back of my mind and I would like to express my subjective views on it.

For those of you who are confused on the meanings of some of these terms, let me explain. A person's sex is explicit and defined as their biological attributes or in Lehman's terms, their genitals. A person's gender is implicit. This can be described as their attitudes and belief's about their biological status in society. Therefore a transgender male, would be a person who was assigned female at birth but their gender doesn't align with their sex. The new transgender bathroom policy allows transgender people to use whichever bathroom their gender identity matches with.

This causes no personal problem for me because like most people, I go in to a restroom, do my business, WASH MY HANDS (please don't skip this step, folks) and go on my way. However I do see potential issues that this could cause. You're going to have many middle school and high school boys take on the title of a transgender female to be able to go into the girls' locker room. Now, this could have two outcomes. He would be getting high fives from his peers in the halls and then BOOM, law suit on his parents' hands. That, or it would have to be kept a secret. He would have to tell his parents, his school, everyone that he is actually a she. This young hormone-filled boy would be caught in a web of lies with a number of possible outcomes.

Another potential issue is that of sexual assault. Any man can now enter any women's restroom. I know you may be thinking, 'but Patrick, why would you assume someone is going to do that?' The fact that sexual assault is an issue in itself causes me to assume the worse in situations like this. We don't deserve the benefit of the doubt for issues like this. I also want to make it clear that I am not saying transgender people are dangerous nor that they will cause problems in restrooms. I'm saying this just opens the floor for a mentally disturbed person to do just that.

A question that crossed my mind when initially hearing of this issue is why do we not allow homosexual people to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice? I can't imagine having to change daily in front of a group of women, which I'm sure is a similar feeling that a homosexual man or woman may feel in their locker rooms.

So, what is the right answer and the right solution? I wish I could tell you. Maybe we eliminate separate bathrooms altogether and just have a bathroom for humans? Our bathrooms are identified and separated because of gender, so maybe instead of stick figures we have a stick penis and vagina on the door? This way bathrooms are separated by sex and not gender. Or maybe we could call one the bathroom for people who stand up when they pee, and the other for people who sit down when they pee? Make all bathrooms, single bathrooms so no one has to share a bathroom ever again?

Again, let me reiterate that I am a huge supporter of the LGBT community. I just think our energy should be more focused on other issues right now. Every person has those causes that are very important to them but we must remember that this is all relative. Although most if not all of these causes are of importance, they aren't of the same importance to all of us. For me, I am a huge supporter of the AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) and the many campaigns focused on fighting sexual assault, i.e. the White Ribbon Campaign, or It's On Us. That being said, it is Memorial Day Weekend. For now, let's put this issue on the back burner and remember those who fought with their lives for the causes they saw as important, whether it be pride for their country, freedom and independence or the safety of their loved ones. 'Merica.