I want to apologize.

[Devlyn]

Last night I referred to HB 502 as "The Bathroom bill." This was wrong and offensive, and I am sorry to anyone that I hurt, or who objected to my language. Sincerely, Tracey

[cynthialee]

Yeah that would be a bone headed manuever around here....

I suspect that you didn't know better or you wouldn't be saying sorry.

[Devlyn]

Thank you, Cynthia. I know better now. Tracey Bonehead McDunce

[Silas]

Well, this is going to make me sound like a complete jerk apparently, but I looked up the HB 502, and "bathroom bill" sounds a little fitting. Although it does include things other than washrooms, like locker rooms, school uniforms? and the like.

What makes the term offensive?
Or was it offensive in context.

[pixiegirl]

Well, mostly people find it offensive or upsetting because it's not used in the sense of describing anything in a given bill. It's a term that is pretty much exclusively used by social conservatives in attempts to block legislation giving trans people rights on the grounds that if MtF's are allowed to use womens facilities then sexual predators will have free reign to prey on 'real' women in womens spaces with abandon. It's been used an awful lot to hurt trans people individually, and in terms of gaining basic rights in the U.S.

It's the go-to term for stoking fear and misrepresenting trans people whenever any public accommodation legislation comes around. Listen to these:
http://www.queerty.com/who-is-behind-mas-transphobic-bathroom-bill-radio-ads-20110714/
Thats an example of the only context "bathroom bill" is ever used.

[Devlyn]

Thanks for explaining that, Pixiegirl, I was afraid if I opened my mouth, I'd just be swapping feet.

[Silas]

Oh, okay then. o.o
Those guys are jerks. -.-;