Sadly, many people’s fear about what might truly happen if trans people get to use public restrooms is — if you can even believe it — even more ludicrous. They’re worried that a trans person might molest, rape, kidnap, murder or choose-your-own-violent-action-verb any innocent, helpless woman or child in the vicinity. Even more ridiculous, they’re worried that an attacker might transition just so that they can more easily gain access to the restroom that’s used by the victims they find most enticing…. Aside from the fact that being trans has nothing to do with being a predator, we don’t need laws outlawing trans people from using public restrooms to protect us from molestation, rape, kidnapping, murder and chose-your-own-violent-action-nouns because — are you ready for this? — all of those things are already illegal!
It’s been quite fashionable of late here in Idiot America to imagine transgender individuals as being possessed of all manner of evil intent and unrequited, perverted sexual desires they’re compelled to exercise upon our vulnerable and unsuspecting wives and daughters.
“OMG!!! HOW WILL WE EVER ENSURE THAT PERVERTED MEN WEARING DRESSES DON’T SNEAK INTO OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS WITH AN EYE TOWARDS MOLESTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN??”
Yeah, about that…. Truth is, that doesn’t happen…and even if it did, THERE ARE ALREADY LAWS IN PLACE PROHIBITING THAT SORT OF SEXUALLY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. In an effort to deflect attention from their inability to govern effectively, too many Conservatives have decided that demonizing an almost uniformly misunderstood minority class is the perfect shiny objet de distraction. We’re being played for fools by demagogues and culture warriors who know they can rule as long as they keep the American Sheeple scared and stupid. The worst part of this travesty is that there are large numbers of people who believe this to be a legitimate issue, something worthy of expending energy, brain cells, and considerable righteous outrage over.
So while you’re wondering if it’s true that we need to pass new laws to keep evil, perverted transgenders from molesting women and children, they short answer would be not just “NO!” but “HELL NO!!!” Shouldn’t the party of “smaller government” understand you don’t shrink government by inserting it into our public restrooms and changing facilities? And if they’re so fired up about the “threat” posed by sexual predators, might I submit it would be far wiser to start with two groups who actually do pose a threat: heterosexual males and pedophile priests? Just asking for a friend.
(BTW…not ALL Republicans are transphobic religious bigots. Some are willing to support their transgender sons and stand for LGBT rights. They should be commended for doing the right thing for the right reason.)
And shouldn’t all of us understand what those who are trying to keep us scared and stupid are REALLY up to? It’s not about protecting the sanctity of our public restrooms. Nor is it about protecting our vulnerable wives and daughters. Never has been. Never will be. It’s about demonizing a minority class of people in order to manipulate and distract the majority with the political/moral equivalent of shiny things. Besides, whether you realize it or not, you’ve been peeing next to transgender individuals for years- almost certainly without your knowledge and without incident. That’s what restrooms are for, people.