By CRISTINA SILVA Associated PressPHOENIX March 20, 2013 (AP)A prominent Republican lawmaker in Arizona wants to link public bathroomuse to birth certificates in what civil rights advocates are callingthe nation's toughest anti-transgender measure.The bill would require people to use public restrooms, dressing rooms orlocker rooms associated with the sex listed on their birth certificateor face six months in jail.The proposal had been scheduled for a vote Wednesday during a House ofRepresentatives committee. But in an unusual scene for the usually staidhalls of state government, men in dresses, women in business suits andother transgender supporters crowded into the committee room and thelobby of the House to protest the legislation.Minutes after the meeting started, state Rep. John Kavanagh said hewould delay the debate on his bill because of a paperwork error.... The term transgender covers men and women whose identity does not matchwith their birth-assigned sex, including cross-dressers and people whodon't want to alter their bodies hormonally or surgically....More than 100 cities and counties have passed laws prohibiting gender-identity discrimination, including Phoenix, Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas. Those laws are also not uniform. For example, Baltimore County in Maryland approved a measure in 2012 protecting transgender people from discrimination. It did not apply to "distinctly private or personal" facilities. Tennessee lawmakers tried going in the other direction with a proposal similar to Arizona's in 2012, but it failed to gain support....In Arizona, where Republicans control state government, Kavanagh saidgovernment shouldn't allow people to use facilities based on "you arewhat you think you are." He said he was worried an anti-discriminationban passed in Phoenix last month would serve as a cover for pedophileswho want to expose themselves to children of the opposite gender."This law simply restores the law of society: Men are men and women arewomen," he said. "For a handful of people to make everyone elseuncomfortable just makes no sense."

So what do you guys think about this?

That is so stupid.

That is very stupid.

"For a handful of people to make everyone else uncomfortable just makes no sense."

 

Kavanaugh fails understand that he represents a handful of people that make the transgender community more uncomfortable than they are making the rest of society. The notion that these people universally harbor pedophiles is ludicrous, only overshadowed by the idea that a Republican wants the government to dictate who can go into which bathroom! How can one possibly be more comfortable with that concept than simply letting transgenders go to the goddamn toilet!? 

 

The "law of society", as he puts it, has changed. Transgenders are citizens who deserve the same rights to privacy, liberty, and equality as any other person. If he's not comfortable with a transgender person using the bathroom next to him, you have to first wonder why he's looking to see in the first place.

"Just because he's a hard-working white man at heart doesn't mean he can go on and use our whites-only bathrooms."That's what I heard from this.Also, people with different sexualities only make you uncomfortable if you're already uncomfortable with your own sexuality. I'm thinking mister Kavanagh is getting his breakfast with a side of sausage.

I disagree with this.

Never heard of anything like this before. Very strange. But seriously, would a woman want a man in their public restroom, dressing room or locker room?

Never heard of anything like this before. Very strange. But seriously, would a woman want a man in their public restroom, dressing room or locker room?

That doesn't make sense because the issue is with letting trans*women in public restrooms with ciswomen. Both are women, biology doesn't matter. The issue isn't about men being in the same facilities as women, it's about women with different biology being in the same facilities as other women.

 

This is firetrucking ridiculous. A trans*woman is still a woman and a trans*man is still a man. The term "birth gender" is trans*phobic in itself, since gender is ASSIGNED to us at birth. Whatever gender someone identifies as is their gender and that shouldn't be put to question because of their genitals.

 

No one should be put in jail for using the restroom. 

Edited March 22, 201312 yr by Koko

That's so awkward O.o

 

 

 

 

Six months in prison? Just for going into what he sees as the "wrong" restroom or dressing room? I'm not even sure that ridiculous even begins to describe this. 

 

Now, I can understand that some people may be uncomfortable with sharing a restroom with people with... the opposite biological reproductive organs... but this just takes it too far. Its not like someone's even going to know that man/woman is trans, seeing as how there are WALLS and DOORS on bathroom and dressing room stalls. Just let people use the facilities that suits them.

That bill better not get passed plus don't they have other stuff to worry about instead of transgenders using a certain bathroom?

...... Arizona law makers are bakas.

O.O...What? ehm just.. What?

Were they bored when they thought about such a stupid law?

Interesting. Six months in jail? I'd make it three months.

Interesting. Six months in jail? I'd make it three months.

youre disgusting for wanting to put someone in jail for simply using the bathroom

youre disgusting for wanting to put someone in jail for simply using the bathroom

Ok, let me have my opinion. Stop criticizing me for my positions. If you thought my opinions on a certain past thread were disgusting, it's more disgusting to beat someone down because of their opinion.

Ok, let me have my opinion. Stop criticizing me for my positions. If you thought my opinions on a certain past thread were disgusting, it's more disgusting to beat someone down because of their opinion.

No it's disgusting for you to believe someone should go to jail because YOU think they're unnatural. it's disgusting that the reasoning for this law is that trans*people are "weird"just because it's an "opinion" doesnt mean youre safe from criticism you deserve and hun as long as im around i'm gonna call you out for your homophobia and trans*phobia and blatant disrespect for the queer community

No it's disgusting for you to believe someone should go to jail because YOU think they're unnatural. it's disgusting that the reasoning for this law is that trans*people are "weird"just because it's an "opinion" doesnt mean youre safe from criticism you deserve and hun as long as im around i'm gonna call you out for your homophobia and trans*phobia and blatant disrespect for the queer community

I know I will be criticized for what I say, but can I have an opinion at least?

I know I will be criticized for what I say, but can I have an opinion at least?

sure but calling it an opinion doesnt mean that it's not oppressing trans*people and supporting the idea of arresting people just because theyre weirdits the god damn bathroom no one should be firetrucking arrested

sure but calling it an opinion doesnt mean that it's not oppressing trans*people and supporting the idea of arresting people just because theyre weirdits the god damn bathroom no one should be firetrucking arrested

Fine, whatever you say. I won't change my opinion though.

Fine, whatever you say. I won't change my opinion though.

 

Then you'll forever be an oppressive bigot denying people rights glad you're okay with that. 

Then you'll forever be an oppressive bigot denying people rights glad you're okay with that. 

if that's what you think, then fine, whatever you say.

if that's what you think, then fine, whatever you say.

 

It's not what I think, it's the truth. Denying someone rights like rights to use the public bathroom is denying basic human rights to be comfortable and happy and you know NOT BE ARRESTED FOR USING THE BATHROOM. 

It's not what I think, it's the truth. Denying someone rights like rights to use the public bathroom is denying basic human rights to be comfortable and happy and you know NOT BE ARRESTED FOR USING THE BATHROOM. 

Ok, whatever you say.

I thought this would be good to post here since it's basically why this law is bullshit.