In fight for trans rights, Maryland legislators still obsessed with toilets
March 28, 2011 - 12:45 PM
By Amanda Hess
http://www.tbd.com/blogs/amanda-hess/2011/03/maryland-legislators-still-obsessed-with-toilets-9823.html (http://www.tbd.com/blogs/amanda-hess/2011/03/maryland-legislators-still-obsessed-with-toilets-9823.html)
On Saturday, the Maryland House of Delegates voted to advance a bill that would ban discrimination against trans people in employment and housing—but would stop short of eliminating discrimination in public accommodations. The rationale for giving the state's hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, shops, gyms, and stadiums free reign to legally bar trans people? Think of the toilets!
In recent years, local opponents of trans rights have swatted down proposed gender identity protections in the state by hammering away at the bathroom question. Their argument: When trans people are granted equal access to public restrooms and locker rooms, any man will be empowered to don a skirt, infiltrate a women's bathroom, and rape women and children with impunity. Seriously.