Do I have any rights? (bathroom issues @ school)

[conformer]

After gym class I go to the boys bathroom instead of the locker room because my gym teacher doesn't want me using the locker room for some reason. Anyways, last Friday I was on the way to the bathroom and this happened:

One of the security guards (he knows I'm female in the school system because of an incident I had with security last year when they busted in the mens bathroom and yelled at me and outed me telling me to get out)
Anyways he said "You can't go to the bathroom it's closed right now" and I was looking right at the boys bathroom door it was fine so I just kept walking past him and he said "You can't use that one what are you doing?"
I turned to look at him and also saw that the girls bathroom door had a caution sign in front of it. I said "Why not?" He said "Because it's for boys."
I said "I am a boy, what's wrong with you?" and went in the bathroom anyways and changed out my gym cloths then went to class. Then they called me out of class to go down to the security desk and talk to the head officer. She was really understanding and pretty much said she doesn't care because it's my personal preference, none of her or their business and said she would tell them to back off. Then as we were leaving she was like "I'm so happy for you, so you've had a sex change?"   I'm just kinda looking at her with a wtf face on like why would you ask me that. Since I didn't reply I guess she felt she could go into more detail and she asked "So like what are you down there? Male or female or both?" while motioning at her groin. I just wanted her to leave me alone so I said "Male." and she asked if I was still sore from the surgery. I just said that I inject testosterone every week and the left me alone after that and just said she's happy for me.
She didn't mean to be rude about it, but the more I think about how she questioned me, I feel invaded and somewhat harassed. So after I talked to her I went back to class and at the end of the hour they called me back down to the security desk. Now I know there's about to be some type of issue.

I get down there and there's two detroit city police officers. Apparently she (the head officer) had to tell the people above her about the situation in case anything happens. She went on to tell me that she needs some type of legal documents stating that I can used the men's bathroom. At this point I'm infuriated. Like what the <not allowed> what paper work do you want me to give you? I told her that my social worker has paper work stating that I have a condition if that's what you want. She said she'll talk to the principal to get that paper work or some ->-bleeped-<-.

At lunch I went to the principal on my own to ask her about the situation. The principal just told me that she would contact the people above her and and ask about the situation (I'm assuming she's gonna ask if I'm allowed to use that bathroom.)

So with all of this bull->-bleeped-<-, I'm just here to ask the question: Do I have any legal rights? Like is there any law preventing me from using the mens bathroom? Is there a legitimate reason that I cant use it? I'm in Michigan if it helps. I mean I'm going to use the boys bathroom regardless because I'm comfortable with it and it's more convenient than walking all the way to the office to use the unisex , but I'd like to know if there are any laws against it.

[fatalerror]

Whoa whoa whoa. I don't know enough about the legality of using restrooms so I can't comment on that so much myself, but she asked what are you down there and gestured at her groin? That is entirely inappropriate and I would consider that sexual harassment. And if you're underage, there must be pretty major actions you could take against them for sexually harassing a minor. That is absolutely NONE of hers nor anyone else's business. Completely detestable and unnecessary.

[wheat thins are delicious]

So your school principal basically said "whats in your pants?"  You need to go higher than her and turn her in, that's harassment.  I don't know the name of any of the transgender rights law groups but you need to find them to help you wit the bathroom.  They shouldn't be calling the cops or saying you need paper work.  Unless they are going to physically dick/vag check every single person that ever goes into a bathroom at that school, which would be harassment as well, they need to chill the ->-bleeped-<- out.  You need to be allowed to use a bathroom that fits what you are presenting your gender as or have access to a teacher's or single occupancy restroom.

[conformer]

Whoa whoa whoa. I don't know enough about the legality of using restrooms so I can't comment on that so much myself, but she asked what are you down there and gestured at her groin? That is entirely inappropriate and I would consider that sexual harassment. And if you're underage, there must be pretty major actions you could take against them for sexually harassing a minor. That is absolutely NONE of hers nor anyone else's business. Completely detestable and unnecessary.

Yes I'm underage, but I'm kind of have mixed feelings about telling my parents that she did that because I know they will flip out and at the same time I know that she didn't intentionally mean to be rude about it.

So your school principal basically said "whats in your pants?"  You need to go higher than her and turn her in, that's harassment.  I don't know the name of any of the transgender rights law groups but you need to find them to help you wit the bathroom.  They shouldn't be calling the cops or saying you need paper work.  Unless they are going to physically dick/vag check every single person that ever goes into a bathroom at that school, which would be harassment as well, they need to chill the <not allowed> out.  You need to be allowed to use a bathroom that fits what you are presenting your gender as or have access to a teacher's or single occupancy restroom.

It was the head security guard at my school, yep she basically asked that. That is a good idea though, I'll look into transgender rights groups in my state. I have access to a unisex restroom in the office, but the reason they provided that was because I wasn't comfortable using the student restrooms. I'm comfortable with it now though so I don't see the problem =/

[wheat thins are delicious]

Ok, some searching has led me to this site: http://www.transgendermichigan.org/questions/restroom.html
it states there is no law in Michigan restricting bathroom usage.

This site: http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/index.htm
Shows that in 2008 a law was passed prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression, in Detroit.

I would contact lamdalegal.org and transgenderlaw.org

[conformer]

Ok, some searching has led me to this site: http://www.transgendermichigan.org/questions/restroom.html
it states there is no law in Michigan restricting bathroom usage.

This site: http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/index.htm
Shows that in 2008 a law was passed prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression, in Detroit.

I would contact lamdalegal.org and transgenderlaw.org

Okay so I found this: http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/ngltftlpichart.pdf
and under "public accommodation" there is a mark indicating protection. Public bathrooms would be included in that right'?

[wheat thins are delicious]

As far as I know, yes.

[conformer]

As far as I know, yes.

Okay cool, I'm going to print it out and show it to my principal/the head officer on Monday. I also emailed transgenderlaw, hopefully I get a reply soon. Thank you so much Andy

[wheat thins are delicious]

No problem man.  I know how crappy it is when people try to police your bathroom usage based on how your genitals may or may not look.

[Lee]

Yeah, I think that would include bathrooms.  I know in Colorado any public area (including bathrooms) is considered legally gender neutral, and it sounds like that law is about the same there.  Good luck!

[Zerro]

I know you say she didn't mean to be rude, but that's sexual harassment to ask a MINOR what they have below the belt and should not be tolerated. Ever. It's sick to ask anyone about the state of their genitals, with the exception of a few very special cases. :/ You should consider telling your parents, because this bathroom issue is ridiculous, mate. It's a -bathroom-, you're not hurting anyone by using it and the security guard needs to shut the hell up and leave you alone because it's not wrong of you to use that bathroom.

[MaxAloysius]

Absolutely not okay. It's sexual harassment, and the fact that she didn't mean to sexually harass you doesn't make it any less wrong. If she'd asked any other student what kind of genitals they had she would be severely punished at best. The fact that you are transgender changes nothing.

I say tell your parents, kick up a stink, and just generally do anything you can to have them punished, because this kind of thing should not stand, and if no one makes them pay then they will never learn.