Some Do Get It

Once in awhile there is a politician who does get it. A senator from Canada’s Liberal party commented on the amendment before Parliament to require trans people to use the bathroom of their birth gender, the senator list reasons what it is wrong, Senator Grant Mitchell wrote,

Top Reasons why the "Bathroom" Amendment to the Transgender Rights Bill C-279 Is Wrong

1. It is inherently discriminatory.    

• No other element in the Human Rights Act or the Criminal Code is limited in a negative way.

• It implies that somehow being transgender is a choice and that going into a given washroom is a choice; but a trans woman who simply is a woman - it is who she is and it is how she feels - feels just as awkward walking into a men's washroom as any man does when they have mistakenly walked into a women's washroom.

• So, at a deeply personal and emotional level this amendment takes away everything the bill would otherwise give. It is important to remember that even more than extending rights, this bill should extend the hand of acceptance and recognition and even as it does that this amendment takes it away.

2. It will not actually change behaviour. Trans men who look perfectly masculine, could well wear a beard, dress and act like any other man will now be forced to go to women's washrooms. How are women going to feel about a trans man, let's say a lawyer, in a beautifully tailored men's three piece suit, sporting a beard, well-muscled physique, entering their washroom or change room?

Or, what is going to happen to a trans women, every bit as feminine in her demeanour, bearing, world view and dress as any woman, wearing a beautifully tailored dress and accessories to match, entering a men's washroom?

In fact, who is going to stand at the door of the washroom to determine who is what gender?

Yes he does get it!

He goes on to say,

3. It is legislative piling on. Already the Criminal Code will deal with anyone, trans or not, who acts in any way inappropriately in a washroom, locker room or any other facility specified in the amendment. It is interesting that Conservatives who hate red tape and legislation would actually pass an amendment that only does what another piece of legislation, the Criminal Code, already does.
[…]
5. The amendment is implicitly based upon the assumption that trans people would be the aggressor in any inappropriate/threatening situation, rather than cisgender people who have been the bullies and antagonists against trans people.

And the reason that I like the best is,

8. Conservatives used one central argument against gun control: that law abiding gun owners should not be held responsible for the actions of non-law abiding gun owners who might do crimes with guns. So, how is it that law abiding transgender people should be held accountable for the potentially criminal activities in washrooms of people who may not even be transgender in the off chance that these people would think to try to use this bill as a way to justify criminal activity in a washroom?

He is so right! These so called “bathroom” bills are basically saying we all cannot be trusted that we are all criminals.

Here in the U.S. the Republicans are always saying “get government off our backs” and what do that want to do, they want to pass the most invasive laws yet; they want to inspect what is between our legs.