This Bathroom Law Confusion

I don't think I understand this bathroom bill thing. Yes it bothers me to tamper with the normal male and female sex designation of bathrooms but as for the practical issues involved I don't get why people are worried about GAYS choosing to use the one they think they fit best psychologically. I mean if you're worried about children being molested shouldn't you worry about that happening to boys in the men's room rather than by female-identified males in the women's room? And gay men in the women's room aren't going to be a threat to little girls.So what is the worry? Are they worried about predators taking advantage of the law and POSING as gay to get access to children or something like that? Are they worried about gays that don't clearly LOOK gay so it will be a matter of men looking like men in the women's room and so on?I guess there might be a problem with transgenders like Jenner who says he identifies as a woman but is nevertheless a heterosexual male. He may be primping at the women's room mirror but nevertheless feeling attracted to the women in there? How does that get sorted out?

Transgender does not equal gay.These laws are riling up the extreme right wing. Transgender individuals have been using the bathroom they are most comfortable with for decades. It's only now that bathroom laws are being proposed that people are getting their panties in a bunch.

Yes but in a bunch about what exactly? Some say it's worries about molesting of children, which doesn't make sense as I say; others say it's about "privacy." Are they just not imagining the actual situation or is there a problem I'm not grasping?

the hysteria seems to be about "male child molesters using women's bathrooms to molest little girls". But there's no outrage that those male child molesters would be in male washrooms with little boys. It's just straight up anti LBGT bigotry.

I certainly understand people not wanting all this gender confusion being imposed on us, and I don't think that's bigotry, but I'm trying to figure out the actual problems if there are any. I agree with you about the danger of molestation being more likely with the present designation, as I said, but I keep thinking I'm missing something. Also, if people have already been using the sex-designated room of their preference without problems why do we need a law at all?

You seem to understand it quite well. Yes, this is about right. They lost on gay marriage, so they feel a need to take a stand. Strangely, they are taking a stand on another issue which they will lose.

It's election and fund raising time so any way that a pot can be stirred is the right thing to do. What, got no issues? Make one up.

because the right needs to stir it's base up.

This.Groups like ALEC come up with legislation every election cycle to get the base angry at some religious slight, and thus driving them to the polls. American Legislative Exchange Council In 2008 it was Prop 8 & the like. This year it's a non-existent problem with public restrooms, just as it was in the 1970s when Phyllis Schlafley told everyone that the ERA would lead to men using women's public restrooms.I remember how she got a bunch of people to reverse their votes in the legislature, by riling up the conservatives at the time over fear & bathrooms. I lived in Idaho at the time.Everything old is new again.

What you describe are exactly the arguments used by the governor of NC when defending the current law making transgender people go to their birth certificate defined bathroom. So I suggest that there is likely no hidden problem that you are not grasping.

Faith writes:

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I certainly understand people not wanting all this gender confusion being imposed on us

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So much wrong in a single sentence.There is no confusion. Trans men are men and thus use the men's room. Trans women are women and thus use the women's room. Why do you feign confusion?Nothing is being imposed and certainly not upon you. On the contrary, these laws are impositions upon trans people. They are forcing trans people to use the wrong bathroom. They force trans men to use the women's bathroom.This person is now forced to use the women's bathroom: This 14-year-old is now forced to use the men's bathroom:

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I keep thinking I'm missing something.

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What's to miss? It's nothing but bigotry. Those who hate trans people make these laws. Having lost their fights over keeping gay people as second-class citizens (not that that fight is over), they have set their sights on trans people thinking they can use that as a wedge to maintain their hold on power.You will note, for example, that the NC bill that enshrined bigotry against trans people into the law was done so that they could also pass laws that prevented localities from setting a higher minimum wage, stripped workers of the right to sue when they are discriminated against (and that is for all categories such as race, sex, and religion): "[No] person may bring any civil action based upon the public policy expressed herein."If you are fired because of your religion, for example, you can still sue...in the federal courts which is more difficult. For example, federal suits must be filed within 180 days. The previous law in NC gave you three years.It also prevents any municipality from passing laws that protect citizens on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.The bigots in the legislature knew exactly what they were doing: They could screw over the populace using trans people as a cover.

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Also, if people have already been using the sex-designated room of their preference without problems why do we need a law at all?

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Precisely. What was the purpose of this law?Because they could. Because they couldn't just accept that people who aren't like them are just as worthy of humanity and dignity as they are. They had to flex their muscles to show that they were still in control.And in the process, they could screw over everybody else.

I had several discussions about this with some family members who are for these laws. The core of their argument and belief is that gay and transgendered people are pedophiles.I no longer consider them family and will discourage any further contact. I only had anything to do with them because I did not want to hurt my parents and since I lost my parents in 2012 I no longer have any reason to have contact with these bigots.I think the people who are enacting these laws are actually intentionally trying to legalize discrimination against people they hate.

I'm not at all trying to be anti-trans, but isn't it inherent that the individuals at some point are kind of in physical gender limbo-land?At what point does one who makes the female to man physical transition, make the transition from using the women's restroom to using the men's restroom?Which restroom should the physically male but psychologically female individual use?Moose

Take that cute little 14-year old in Rrhain's message above. Do you think she doesn't know which bathroom is most appropriate for her?

I consider her to be both physically and psychologically female. Not really part of my question.What about when she was physically male but (I presume) psychologically female?MooseEdited by Minnemooseus, : Screwed up quote box and didn't preview.