UPDATE/Transgender woman ticketed for using ladies room

[Michelle G]

This was in my MSN news feed this morning,  why does this have to stand out amongst other news items to make a "headline"


http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/02/11501842-transgender-woman-ticketed-for-using-ladies-room?lite

[Jamie D]

It is "news" because of its sensationalistic subject matter, and, perhaps because of the infamy of the location.

Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, is where John Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Jack Ruby all died.

The transwoman who was ticketed will likely walk, as she committed no crime.

[Michelle G]

That is a historic place!

Their statement...looks like they dropped the ball on the last two points with her, hopefully it all works out fine,

Parkland Hospital released the following statement: "Because of the complexity of the issue, the incident is currently under review. Parkland strives to treat patients, visitors and staff with dignity and respect, as well as provide a safe environment at all times."

[MiaOhMya!]

Oh no that is NOT national news...it is WORLD news!

Thank Gawd  there was an observer there to catch this disgusting pervert in the act...or else HE might have even gotten away with going number two! 

I bet if it had been a regular ol bloke in the women's, this woulda been chokked up as a simple misunderstanding...but because she was  a "man in a dress" somone got their atrophied brain into overload and...OMG CALL THE MILTARY!!

This is not about "phyical sex" and all about transness... *sigh*

[annette]

It could also be a transgender in disguise.
This person is already been convicted before, for molesting underage girls.
->-bleeped-<- used under false pretenses is something all transsexuals will give a bad name.
Six years in transition, and no ID changed.
Yes, this case  indeed is complicated.
Is this really a transgender, or is this person using that status to have access to places where underaged girls are coming?
Something to think over.

[SandraJane]

As if Parkland didn't have enough problems operating as a hospital already!
Now this...jeesh!

[Shana A]

Transgender woman ticketed for using women's restroom at Parkland hospital has criminal record
Posted on 02 May 2012 at 4:24pm

http://www.dallasvoice.com/transgender-woman-10108304.html

A transgender woman who was ticketed for using a women's restroom at Parkland hospital last week has a criminal background and is a registered sex offender, Instant Tea has learned.

On Tuesday, we reported that 56-year-old Paula Witherspoon, of Dallas, was cited for disorderly conduct on April 25 after using a women's restroom at Parkland, Dallas County's public hospital.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Witherspoon was convicted of sexual assault of a child involving a 14-year-old girl in 1990 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. That same year, Witherspoon was also convicted of indecency with a child by sexual contact, involving a 15-year-old girl, and sentenced to six years in prison. According to DPS, Witherspoon remains on parole for the indecency conviction.

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Transgender Woman: Convictions Irrelevant to Citation
Witherspoon convicted in 1990 for sexual assault of child, indecency with child
By Ray Villeda
|  Thursday, May 3, 2012  |  Updated 12:10 AM CDT

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Transgender-Woman-Convictions-Irrelevant-to-Citation-149923975.html

A transgender woman who was ticketed for using the women's restroom at a Dallas hospital says her status as a convicted sex offender should not play a role in the citation.

[...]

Witherspoon said on Wednesday that her criminal past is no secret.

"It happened over 22 years ago, and I'm human," she said. "I made a mistake."

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Transgender woman on parole for child sex assault

by JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA
Posted on May 2, 2012 at 9:46 PM

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Transgender-woman-on-parole-for-child-sex-assault-149941805.html

DALLAS - From the purse to painted fingernails, Paula Witherspoon said she has been living as a transgender woman since 2006.

Last Wednesday, she was using a women's restroom at Parkland Hospital when someone reported her to police.

"I came out, washed my hands and I come out of the restroom, and there was a lady outside who said, 'Oh, that's a man,'" Witherspoon said. "I just ignored her."

[MiaOhMya!]

Wouldn't it make sense that she couldn't change her name if she is on parole? I know at least one person who had to wait until his probation was finished to do so...and I believe probation is considered less than parole...

I am curious if "Paulas" actions might constitute "breaking the law" and thus a violation of parole? That would mean she could, in theory, go back to prison. Hopefully she was straightforward about her transness with the parole people cus I imagine they need to know...it IS their business

Also, and please forgive my ignorance, but I've heard prisoners here in the States lose many rights, correct? So  does she still have the "right" to transition considering her spotty past? Gosh that sounded outrageous, but I hope you know how I meant.

At any rate this is not at all the person I really want as a poster child for trans rights. Yes, she does have rights, and yea she should be treated with decency...and I do believe that people make mistakes they learn from...yea yea BUT I wouldnt ever make the mistake of leaving my child in her care...would you?!

Also I wonder if her being trans and giving out a different name like that would throw people off of her sex-loffending past. Perhpas she really is using trans as a disguise! I sure hope not because trans people need this like we need a hole in the head...no thanks Paula!!

[Michelle G]

Also I wonder if her being trans and giving out a different name like that would throw people off of her sex-loffending past. Perhpas she is using trans as a disguise...I sure hope not because trans people need this like we need a hole in the head...no thanks Paula!!

if thats the case, and after this going viral in the news feeds...this person is going to need a different disguise very quickly!

I had no idea about her past when I first saw the article and posted it, quite a twist in the story

[Kelly-087]

Great.

This is going to validate the arguments of the transphobes :/
I might get flamed. But I won't call this a trans-woman because of their past, and there's no real evidence of transition other than that they were out wearing female clothing. I don't want to be associated with a child molester. And we'll be lucky if we get by without that happening by some radical.

The letter was also apparently issued after the ticket, just increasing suspicion.

[SandraJane]

Trans woman's ticket could spur changes


Gay Parkland board member says hospital needs LGBT liaison, written policy after Paula Witherspoon is cited for using women's restroom


DAVID TAFFET  |  Staff Writer | Posted on 03 May 2012 at 5:50pm

http://www.dallasvoice.com/trans-womans-ticket-spur-10108479.html


 

CITED | Paula Witherspoon was at the hospital with her husband, Billy Lorentz, who had a follow-up after suffering a heart attack. (David Taffet/Dallas Voice)




Dr. Roberto de la Cruz

An openly gay board member called for Parkland hospital to add an LGBT liaison and adopt written policies this week after a transgender woman was ticketed for using a women's restroom at the facility, in a case that made national news.

Dr. Roberto de la Cruz, a gay member of Parkland's Board of Managers, met with Paula Witherspoon on Wednesday, May 2, a week after she received the citation.

Witherspoon, a transgender woman, was cited for disorderly conduct by hospital police on April 25. Officers wrote the citation for the class-C misdemeanor after a complaint was lodged by someone who saw Witherspoon coming out of a women's restroom.