I was talking to my therapist yesterday about this, before this news dropped. How I couldn't wait to get my new ID card with an F on it so that I could finally go to the bathroom without too much fear. If someone happened to spot that maybe I was trans, I could just put it out and say "look, I'm a woman" and walk away.
But she was in disbelief at this. She genuinely couldn't wrap her head around the idea of someone making a scene because a trans person was in their bathroom. Like, at first, she thought I was blowing up a non existent issue. "Who would do this?!", she asked, And I told her it was an actual issue that lots of people were doing it and therefore lots of trans people avoided the bathroom like the plague.
And when I told her about some US states new laws, taking Utah as an example, her jaw dropped. She had this look of utter disappointment, like I had just chipped away a piece of her faith in humanity.
Not only did the idea never crossed her mind, she couldn't even conceive why it would be a problem. I laughed at this and told her: "That's because you're a normal person."
Just wanted to share this with all of you, especially fellow trans people. It's good to know that while some people are mentally deranged at the idea of my existence, It not only seems to be a very loud minority, but it also seems to be a repellent for a lot of people who cannot grasp their obsessions.
Seeing someone who isn't really aware of our issues in the first place being shocked at these things was relieving. It felt good and gave me hope.
The thing that gets me with this is, how is anyone to know?
If you present as the gender on the door, what are they going to do? Rip your pants down and check? Cop a feel? That’s assault. Peep through the stall? Pretty sure that’s a misdemeanor, most places.
I get the idea behind this is terror, but “Fuck off! I’m shitting here!” should be the only response anyone should get to a nosy question in the bathroom.
I would always always always rather go to the bathroom with a trans person rather than a conservative. Those people are truly dangerous, and trans people are awesome. They also are not the ones who randomly decide to shoot someone for existing.
Ok, so what if dad brings his 3-year-old daughter into the men’s room, or mom brings her infant son into the ladies room? Can I sue over the emotional trauma that caused me?
I assume that integrated into this bill are guaranteed rights that trans people can countersue for harassment and defamation if they are misgendered while using the legally mandated bathroom.
Nina Simone sang it about the black experience in Mississippi in the 1960s. With a couple of minor lyrics changes, it could be about the queer experience today.
Oh, awesome! Cause that's what I need when I'm struggling. I don't need health care. I don't need a livable wage. I don't need equal rights. I need to sue trans people.
See? Repubs are giving us a path to success. Just sue a trans person who maybe has no money to pay out and everything is fine!
If by some foul twist of fate I ever find myself in Mississippi, and by some cruel trick of the Gods I have to use a bathroom in mississippi, and someone while I'm peeing decides to look and check to make sure I have a penis my first instinct would be to shoot that person.
Does this also affect any private establishment that wants to have a non-gendered bathroom? Like can those businesses sue the government for overreach for putting an onerous burden on their business for needing more than one bathroom?