To Pee Or Not To Pee: It Shouldn’t Be A Question
I never really thought about this issue until…I was publicly shamed for using the “wrong” toilet.
RE: BUZZFEED APPLICATION
In a letter signed by the Justice and Education department officials, the Obama administration released a nondiscriminatory and supportive statement on Friday, May 13 declaring that transgender students possess the right to use the school bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. Schools that do not abide by the ruling face loss of federal funding. The letter states: “as is consistently recognized in civil rights cases, the desire to accommodate others’ discomfort cannot justify a policy that singles out and disadvantages a particular class of students.”
I never really thought about this issue until…I was publicly shamed for using the “wrong” toilet.
One evening, I waited to use the single stall women’s bathroom at a local restaurant; I noticed that nobody was waiting to use the men’s room. Unable to wait any longer, I quickly dodged inside. Suddenly, a man pounded on the locked door and I nearly jumped. “Get out!” He shouted. I started to feel panicky. He declared that I was not a man. My heart pounded and I imagined that the whole restaurant could hear him chastising me for using the “wrong” toilet. I wondered if he had been watching me, or wanted to hurt me. Was I in trouble? Had I done something wrong?
I felt ashamed and no longer had the capability to go. By the time I opened the door, the guy had gone back to drinking at the bar with his buddies. I felt harassed for trying to take care of a basic human need.
My personal experience helps me to understand how stressful or humiliating it could be when trying to take care of a natural human function.
In a statement released on April 10, 2016, Bruce Springsteen canceled his show in North Carolina in a display of solidarity and support of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act in response to the state’s backlash. Currently, the Justice Department and North Carolina are engaged in a legal battle regarding state restrictions and access to student bathroom and locker rooms.
Springsteen declared that taking a stand for human rights against bigotry and prejudice is more important than a rock show. Furthermore, he noted that “To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress.”
John B. King Jr., the secretary of the Department of Education, stated, “We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence.”
Federal law is seeking to ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of sex. Our students deserve the opportunity to learn in a safe, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory environment. It is an important human rights issue that transgender students feel safe and comfortable using school facilities consistent with their gender identities.
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