"Bathroom bills" have been all over the news. They mandate that everyone must use the restroom that corresponds to their biological gender - which is fine for most people, but forces transgender individuals to use the bathroom of the opposite gender than the one they identify with. Supporters for these bills justify the discrimination of transgender people like this: if we allow trans women, who are biologically male, to use restrooms with biological women, then male sex offenders can potentially use a false gender identity to legally get into the women's restroom. An acquaintance of mine worded the problem like this: How will our daughters figure out which man in her bathroom is a trans woman and which is going to attack her? Although this sounds like a big problem, forcing transgender individuals to use restrooms of their biological sex creates an even bigger problem.
Let's ignore the blatant discrimination for a second. Let's ignore the fact that sex offenders have been sneaking into restrooms regardless of transgender rights for decades. Let's just take a moment to compare the situations.
Using the restroom WITHOUT a 'Bathroom Bill'
Imagine you are a young woman who is waiting in line in the ladies' restroom. Three people enter the restroom behind you.
The first one clearly looks like a woman. Curves, breasts, painted nails, long hair, sundress and purse. You don't question her whatsoever.
The second one is an uncomfortable looking person who looks almost like a boy in a dress. They would look like a woman if it wasn't for the fact that they're flat-chested and have no hips. They keep staring down at their feet like they don't want to look you in the eye. What are they hiding?
The third person is clearly a man. He looks around at everyone and will stare you right back in the eye if you look at him. "What are you looking at? I'm a trans girl," he huffs at you. If he really is a trans woman, he is legally allowed in here, but that makes you uncomfortable.
Pop quiz: Who in this situation is transgender, and who is the sex offender?
The answer is that the first two people are transgender, and the last person, the man, is the sex offender.
I'll let you in on a little secret: most trans women dress like they're female. And with the miracles of makeup, padding, and surgery, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The woman in this situation is actually trans; people like her have been using the restroom next to you for your whole life. The second person represents an individual who has newly become trans. Previously a he but now a she, she is nervous and embarrassed about being in the women's restroom. What if someone decides to harass her, because she still looks biologically male? The last person, the man, represents a sex offender. Sex offenders are the least likely to try and fit in in the women's restroom. Telling the difference between a trans woman and a sex offender is normally fairly easy.
Using the restroom WITH a 'Bathroom Bill'
Imagine, again, you are a young woman waiting in line in the ladies' restroom. Two people enter the restroom behind you.
The first one is a man in a flannel with a beard. He has his hands shoved in his pockets and he's looking around nervously. He makes you uncomfortable; why is he in the women's restroom? Is he a transgender man forced to use the restroom of his biological gender? Or is he just trying to peep at women?
The second one is a man in a university hoodie. He's clean-shaven and has a bowl cut. He displays a laid-back attitude as he looks around the room. You're even more nervous now. Is he transgender? Or is he here to commit a crime?
Now, tell me who the transgender is and who the sex offender is.
The answer is, you don't know. You won't know.
When you force trans men to use the women's restroom because they were born female, you put women at a higher risk. Because most trans men look like normal men, you can't tell the difference between a law-abiding citizen and a criminal. This is the problem that bathroom bill supporters are afraid of - but it is caused by the bathroom bill! This is a serious problem that bathroom bills cause, not prevent.
Please, if you support "bathroom bill"-like legislation, reconsider. Supporting trans rights not only helps prevent discrimination, but also helps to keep all people safe and comfortable in the most private of places.
