Another misguided petition drive [Editorial]

[suzifrommd]

Another misguided petition drive [Editorial]

Baltimore Sun, May 4, 2014

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-transgender-20140502,0,6588230.story

Rather than addressing the very real need to protect transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing and other matters, they are trying to convince the public that this bill will lead to a rash of men putting on dresses and going into public bathrooms to ogle women.

It's difficult to know where to start in explaining why this argument is ridiculous, and it's somewhat embarrassing for our state that we should have to do so. But here goes.

...

[suzifrommd]

Maryland conservatives' quixotic fight against transgender protections

Washington Post Editorial, May 6, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/maryland-conservatives-quixotic-fight-against-transgender-protections/2014/05/06/a2213cde-d494-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html

Incredibly, the conservatives' main line of attack is that the law will turn women's restrooms into fertile ground for peeping toms disguised in dresses and wigs, even for similarly attired rapists. This is middle school trash talk disguised as policy analysis. There is no evidence that this is a statistically detectable problem in other states that have banned discrimination against transgender people, nor in Maryland localities, such as Montgomery County, that have had similar statutes on the books for years.

[gennee]

What it is is fear mongering. I wonder if these people can cite an instance where such events happened ?

[Jessica Merriman]

When you have no basis for a well thought out response I guess they make stuff up. I think most people see the stupidity of these fools and what they say will happen. The first thing I thought of when I read this is rapist's don't like any attention at all, so wearing a dress and wig to go on the prowl, uh, NO. They would draw WAY to much attention to themselves.

[Kimberley Beauregard]

I wonder if they can support their findings.

That was rhetorical, of course.

[ZoeM]

This is the same culture that assumes all men are potential rapists, remember. The logic probably springs from the same place - "men aren't safe. Don't give them a chance to hurt anyone."

[VeronicaLynn]

I think this is more about men being hit on by gay men in the men's room, and it does happen. I've been hit on twice, in full guy mode, at the urinal, of all places, in mid-stream, where I had to endure it for far longer than I wanted to. The one guy was all like, what you going to do, call mall security? Whatever toe tapping that congressman a few years back type stuff doesn't help either. I don't blame people for being concerned about this, it's these aggressive gay male types that are ruining this more than anything. Seriously, why would anyone go to a men's room to try to meet guys when there are gay bars and gay dating websites?

[Eva Marie]

It is interesting to me watching history unfold, and observing who is on the wrong side of history and seeing who still has not figured out that the tide is turning, because the general population of Maryland seems to "get it" just fine. Some of the politicians mentioned in the articles will soon learn this lesson with unemployment hopefully.