Buttinski

Maine’s governor has to add his two cents to court case in Virginia over the use of bathrooms.

Our View: LePage backs the wrong side in transgender-bias lawsuit
The Maine governor's support of a Virginia school district's bathroom ban perpetuates stereotypes and makes life more difficult for a stigmatized minority.
The Portland Press
By The Editorial Board
December 14, 2015

Just by using the bathroom in which he felt comfortable and safe, Gavin Grimm, a transgender teen boy, drew out the worst of his Virginia community. Just for being who his body and mind told him to be, he was forced to endure inconsiderate teachers and fellow students, an unsympathetic school board and hateful neighbors, one of whom called Grimm a “freak” in the teen’s presence at a public meeting.

“I was in a room full of adults, and it felt vicious,” said Grimm.

Now, as if the local animosity wasn’t enough, six officials from other states, including Maine Gov. Paul LePage, have joined the chorus of intolerance, filing a legal brief in favor of the policy created by Grimm’s school district to keep the teen from using the bathroom that corresponds with his gender identity.

[…]

What’s more, he is perpetuating harmful transgender stereotypes and contributing to an atmosphere that makes life difficult, and even dangerous, for transgender Americans of all ages.

The article goes on to say,

Unfortunately, there is no doubt that Grimm has heard the governor’s message, as have other transgender teens trying to decide whether it is safe to tell the world who they are.

It is up to the rest of us to make sure they can hear the voices of justice and tolerance just as well.

The Republicans are doing what they do best, vilifying people who are different. Whether it is because their religion is different, or they speak a different language, or look different, or are attacked to people of the same sex, or are transgender. The Republicans use that difference to create fear, hate, and division to gather votes.