FL Bill Would Criminalize Transgender People Using Single-Sex Public Restrooms

[skin]

Dominic Holden, BuzzFeed
February 5, 2015

A bill introduced Wednesday in the Florida Legislature by Representative Frank Artiles of Miami would make it a crime for transgender people to use single-sex public facilities — including restrooms in businesses that are open to the public, workplaces, and schools — that correspond with their gender identity.

Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine.

The bill would also empower people in a single-sex restroom during any "unlawful entry" to sue the alleged interloper and owner of the facility for attorneys fees and damages.

More: http://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/florida-bill-would-criminalize-transgender-people-using-sing#.anXz7RNv6

[Devlyn]

This is a job for Buck Angel.

[Jill F]

Dumbest thing I've ever heard.   They've invented a problem that doesn't exist.  If you look at statistics, are transfolk more likely to be the perpetrator or victim in a public bathroom?

[Beth Andrea]

I can see it now...a cis-woman complains "OMG LOOK LOOOK!! THERE'S A MAN IN HERE!!!" 

Police are called, security, medivac, etc...and we find out the "man" is in fact a hirsute cis-woman, who is not blessed with an overly feminine face... 

Well, *NOW*...who's going to get sued? 

[mrs izzy]

Its the same old bathroom bill fear.

You know we are all pervs in the eyes of the extreme right.

Wonder what that senators would do if his wife was in the ladies room and my husband walked in.

Hmm maybe that's what's needed a national bathroom activism day.

Super palm face.

[stephaniec]

Now I'm confused, a customer at Starbucks told me to use the ladies room when I was going in the men's room.

[Eva Marie]

I think the reason that we are seeing a flurry of these kinds of bills lately is that politicians want to be seen as "doing something" to help their constituents and proposing these kinds of bills represents almost no political risk to them whatsoever - it's seen as low hanging fruit, and something that is expected to greeted with enthusiasm by their conservative voter base. They see other politicians proposing such bills and think that they need to jump on the bandwagon too - after all, we have to protect the children from these perverts!

It's preying on people's ignorance and irrational fears in search of votes.

We are such a small demographic that we are seen as no threat to their careers, and the fact that they would be trampling on our rights just doesn't enter their minds, or if it does they just don't care.

I don't know how we stop it; perhaps some favorable rulings from SCOTUS might help (?)

[Jill F]

So what bathroom are intersex people supposed to use?  *le facepalm*

[Cindy]

I'd be more worried about sharing a bathroom with your politicians, definitely wouldn't feel safe.

[Jill F]

I'd be more worried about sharing a bathroom with your politicians, definitely wouldn't feel safe.

Like that homophobe guy, Tappy McWidestance?

[Cindy]

I did sort of laugh at this whole idea today. At work I often ride my bike as do several other woman. Since stalls are too small to change in, we stand around outside of the stalls strip off and put on either work clothes or bike clothes, depending on the time of day. So there we are in bra and knickers chatting away. The all know I'm TG, no one gives a damn.


Why should they!!!

[ScottAnthony407]

So what bathroom are intersex people supposed to use?  *le facepalm*

if this goes through then every business will have to put in 2 extra bathrooms.....3 for intersex individuals

[Jill F]

if this goes through then every business will have to put in 2 extra bathrooms.....3 for intersex individuals

So I had these underdeveloped vestigial "girl parts" removed when I was 12.  Which one is for me?

Yeah, this bill is going to clearly solve more problems than it will create.  /sarc

[Ms Grace]

This whole thing is so completely nuts. It seems to me the whole issue with these legislators is not just transphobia but severe ignorance.

For me, being able to use the female restrooms makes me feel so less stressed it's amazing. It's not like I go out of my way to use them but when you gotta go you gotta go. I was out and about a lot today and needed to use public restrooms no less than four times (stupid bladder!!) - I felt 100% comfortable and unlike using the "men's" I felt safe.

[ScottAnthony407]

So I had these underdeveloped vestigial "girl parts" removed when I was 12.  Which one is for me?

Yeah, this bill is going to clearly solve more problems than it will create.  /sarc

yes it will...i dont see this bill going up and being voted for at all, although with how this world is i wouldnt be surprised if someone from some where actually voted on it.....like say a republican....

[barbie]

I can see it now...a cis-woman complains "OMG LOOK LOOOK!! THERE'S A MAN IN HERE!!!" 

Police are called, security, medivac, etc...and we find out the "man" is in fact a hirsute cis-woman, who is not blessed with an overly feminine face... 

Well, *NOW*...who's going to get sued? 

Yes. To avoid possible sue, a doctor or an inspector should be in every bathroom for 24 hours to check the sex chromosomes of every visitor. And then, what are they going to do on intersex people?

barbie~~

[suzifrommd]

yes it will...i dont see this bill going up and being voted for at all, although with how this world is i wouldnt be surprised if someone from some where actually voted on it.....like say a republican....

Actually think some public debate on this bill wouldn't be a bad thing. Most people, when they really think about it, quickly come to the conclusion that allowing us to use the correct bathroom is the *only* way it can work. Problem is, most people haven't thought about it.

I'll also say that the fact that this comes up at all points to what a TERRIBLE job our community has done of educating the public why we need to do what we do. We've outsourced that job to the media, and we know what responsible citizens they are.

[Paula1]

Yep I saw this here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/florida-bill-would-criminalize-transgender-people-using-sing#.owzPZPzen

Thank heavens I live in the UK although there are parts of the Gender Recognition Act that discriminate and were not thought through properly.

I am glad that we have GIRES trying to sort them out.  See: http://www.gires.org.uk/

If the right wing Tories had their way, this Act would never have come into force.

What is happening to the USA right now scares me rigid and I worry for my sisters there that I visit quite often.

[Eveline]

Florida's Vicious Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill Easily Survives Its First Vote

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/03/05/florida_trans_bathroom_bill_easily_survives_first_vote.html

by Mark Joseph Stern, Slate
March 5, 2015

Florida's stunningly malicious anti-trans bill passed its first major legislative hurdle on Wednesday, sailing out of the House Civil Rights Subcommittee with a 9-to-4 vote. (Yes, a subcommittee with that name actually approved this thing.)

Republicans unanimously and enthusiastically supported the bill; Democrats unanimously and vigorously opposed it. When I first wrote about the proposed measure in February, a number of Floridians wrote me predicting it would quietly die in subcommittee without ever receiving a vote. After Wednesday's vote, the bill's passage into law suddenly seems like a distinct possibility.

[chefskenzie]

So this MUST mean they will have an attendant at the door, and make you prove your gender???  Politicians are just getting stupider and stupider!