Susan's Place Logo

News:

Please be sure to review The Site terms of service, and rules to live by

Main Menu

Christians Warn ‘Bathroom Bill’ Allowing Men in Womens’ Restrooms is Sweeping Na

Started by Shana A, July 14, 2013, 02:41:52 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Shana A

Christians Warn 'Bathroom Bill' Allowing Men in Womens' Restrooms is Sweeping Nation
July 13, 2013
By: Heather Clark

http://christiannews.net/2013/07/13/christians-warn-bathroom-bill-allowing-men-in-womens-restrooms-is-sweeping-nation/

As Delaware recently became one of the latest states to enact what is known as the 'bathroom bill,' which permits males who identify as females to use the womens' restroom and vice versa, Christians in the state are warning others across the country that similar legislation is sweeping the nation and may come to their state next.

Last month, the Delaware legislature passed the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act, which dealt with a plethora of protections for transsexual and crossdressing residents, including allowing those who identify with the opposite gender to be allowed to use the restroom of their choice. Following passage in the House 24-17 and 11-9 in the Senate, Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law.

"Our mission to build a welcoming and accepting state that can compete in the global economy requires laws that reflect our values," Markell declared. "Today, we guarantee that our transgender relatives and neighbors can work hard, participate in our communities and live their lives with dignity and in safety."

However, during the public hearing for the legislation, a number of Christian organizations and pastors expressed their concerns about the measure. Nicole Theis, president of Delaware Family Policy Council, and Mike Fox, pastor of The Trek Church in Smyrna, were two of those who made their voice heard.

"This opens the door to so many questionable and very concerning things," Theis told Christian News Network. "Women do not want to share [restrooms and locker rooms] with someone–with anyone–who is biologically a man, but thinks that they are a woman."
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde


  •  

Devlyn

It's the legislative sensation that's sweeping the nation! Coming soon to a bathroom near you!
  •  

vegie271


She a flaming bigot! she commits a hate crime right in her statements to the reporter - and she is worried about us or about what is going to happen in the future?



This opens the door to so many questionable and very concerning things," Theis told Christian News Network. "Women do not want to share [restrooms and locker rooms] with someone–with anyone–who is biologically a man, but thinks that they are a woman."

"It goes against every single thing that we as Christians stand for," Fox stated. "God said, in the beginning, He created them male and female. And so, from the very beginning to the very end of the Bible, this [bill] is demolishing every ounce of identity that God created."

Theis advised that there is no exemption in the law for Christians or any entity that expresses disagreement. She explained that every public facility has to provide a "reasonable accommodation" under the new Delaware statute.

Connect with Christian News 
"If you don't offer that, then you are in a position of being held liable," Theis outlined. "You're vulnerable if you are open to the public and you don't offer that."

Fox noted that churches and Christian businesses in the state may not realize that they are now mandated to allow men in womens' bathrooms and vice versa if they identify with the opposite gender.

"If you're a Christian business owner, it automatically immediately directly affects you," he stated. "The biggest grieving of my heart is that churches have been apathetic. Christians have been apathetic thinking that it's really not going to affect them in the churches, and that's the farthest from the truth."

Fox and Theis also warned that legal ramifications could ensue for noncompliance.

"If you ever question [anyone] or deny them access into locker rooms, into bathrooms and public facilities, you are pretty much committing a hate crime," Fox advised. "And so, if you stand up because you have morals and virtue and character, and you don't want to condone and support any kind of ->-bleeped-<-, then your business is going to be in trouble..."

"What we are seeing are lawsuits across the country where those reasonable accommodations have been made, but a lawsuit has followed anyway," Theis explained. "People who struggle with this condition want to feel normal, and going to a restroom separate from everyone else or separate from the gender they identify with makes them still feel separate."

While some may believe that the issue is isolated to Delaware, Theis warned that similar bills are being proposed in states across the country, and that legislation will soon be presented at the federal level.

"Already in Massachusetts, we see how there was a mandate in their school system to treat children according to how they identify, not their assigned sex at birth," she stated. "So, we just see mass confusion coming from this effort to redefine social order."

As previously reported, lawmakers in California recently passed legislation mandating that school students be allowed to use the restroom that suits their gender identity, and the Colorado Civil Rights Division ruled last month that a school district discriminated against a 6-year-old boy when it stopped him from using the girls' restroom. Bills similar to the legislation now made law in Delaware have also been proposed in other states, such as New York and Arizona.


[
I can't stand self righteous people trying to run our lives


  •  

Soren

I'm extremely glad people are finally obeying the 'separation of church and state'. And it only took what, a few hundred years?
  •  

matthewzguitarz

Guess this was what my parents were watching on one of their favorite tv shows(wretched or something like that). Honestly, I am a Christian, and can kind of understand both sides I guess, I do understand that the Bible pretty much says homosexuals are sinning(as far as I know, they don't really mention transsexuals), but my belief, is that we shouldn't go around judging people because we don't understand them, that would be God's job.

I kind of understand how churches and Christian business owners would feel about this, since they already have had lots of things forced on them. Hmm... Hope this makes sense, kind of distracted by a nearby fire(1000+ acres and I just realized I can see the flames now).

Trying not to offend anyone by the way, if I do offend someone, then I am sorry. I have been researching all of this for the past few months, and it kind of sickens me that the Christians are pretty much condemning LGBT, but also bad that LGBT are returning hate with hate(from what I have seen.. on youtube).

Also, haven't read the article.. yet, but the part about trans wanting to fit in, I can understand that part, and honestly, I wonder how many women actually don't want to share bathrooms with someone who identifies as a woman. I could see some things that would probably creep people out, like if someone hasn't had bottom surgery or something yet.

Hope this made sense, stopping now before I go way off topic, or offend anyone.
  •  

Soren

Quote from: matthewzguitarz on July 15, 2013, 11:44:19 PM
as far as I know, they don't really mention transsexuals

I kind of understand how churches and Christian business owners would feel about this, since they already have had lots of things forced on them. Hmm... Hope this makes sense, kind of distracted by a nearby fire(1000+ acres and I just realized I can see the flames now).

I think the only mention that could be related is that men can't wear clothes made for a woman and vice-versa.

Your current location is same from the fire, I hope.
  •  

matthewzguitarz

Quote from: Soren on July 16, 2013, 12:07:16 AM
I think the only mention that could be related is that men can't wear clothes made for a woman and vice-versa.

Your current location is same from the fire, I hope.

Yeah, forgot about the part about crossdressing. Though, I am pretty sure it was meant for something like, men shouldn't dress as women to escape war, and women shouldn't dress as men to get into temples(old testament).

Yes, safe from the fire I think, think it is about 20-30miles away.
  •  

Soren

Quote from: matthewzguitarz on July 16, 2013, 12:12:20 AM
Yeah, forgot about the part about crossdressing. Though, I am pretty sure it was meant for something like, men shouldn't dress as women to escape war, and women shouldn't dress as men to get into temples(old testament).

Yes, safe from the fire I think, think it is about 20-30miles away.
I'm sure the bible meant a lot of things that were misinterpreted. It is very old, after all.

And that's good to hear.
  •  

Joanna Dark

I can understand their predictament about upholding their version of religion but the fact is in my expereince I used to usde the girls room when I was in first grade and got severely punished (this was in the 90s) and as a result I stopped using the bathroom, damaged my bladder, started wetting the bed, became a problem child, tried to kill myself at age 10, was arrested at age 12, started using heroin by age 16, and was a prostitute by age 18. So that one event so destroyed my life in addition to my trans-ness that it became a horror story. But I was valedictorian of my college and head of the class by age 22 so sometimes I wonder what I could have achieved if I was simply treated with respect and didn't endure the nightly humiliation that occured via bedwetting from a damaged bladder.

And so while I sympathize with her view I can not in good faith condone it as anything other then pure ignorance and highly offensive to even God. Who is she to say what God wants?
  •  

Cindy

  •  

Silvermist

I don't see what regulations on gendered bathrooms have to do with Christianity. Where does the Bible regulate bathrooms?


  •  

Silvermist

Quote from: Soren on July 16, 2013, 12:07:16 AM
I think the only mention that could be related is that men can't wear clothes made for a woman and vice-versa.
Everyone ignores that now because women can wear pants (and suits!) without raising an eyebrow, whereas they used to be prohibited from doing that because pants were traditionally menswear. Also Scottish men have worn kilts (skirts) for hundreds of years without a problem.


  •  

suzifrommd

Quote from: Silvermist on July 19, 2013, 09:13:22 AM
I don't see what regulations on gendered bathrooms have to do with Christianity. Where does the Bible regulate bathrooms?

Not all Christians have a problem with people using the proper bathrooms. I think there are certain leaders within the Christian community that have gotten into the sad habit of making people fear outsiders (us, gay people, whomever is around) in order to retain followers.
Have you read my short story The Eve of Triumph?
  •  

Constance

Quote from: suzifrommd on July 19, 2013, 09:19:13 AM
Not all Christians have a problem with people using the proper bathrooms. I think there are certain leaders within the Christian community that have gotten into the sad habit of making people fear outsiders (us, gay people, whomever is around) in order to retain followers.
Thank you for posting this.

I'd take it a step farther and say, "I think there are certain leaders within certain Christian communities that have gotten into the sad habit of making people fear outsiders (us, gay people, whomever is around) in order to retain followers." The majority of Christian clergy I've directly encountered are on our sides, arguing and fighting for our equality.

Jess42

Wow, more twisted and warped views of us. OK so a M2F of F2M (it seems to me like M2Fs are way more demonized though) poses some kind of sexual danger if they use the proper restroom acording to how they dress or present themselves? Not knocking anyone's sexual preference but if it is about sexual attraction or the menace of such then what about gays and lesbians and bis? I'm bi and have never hit on anyone in the restroom (YUK, I don't even want to think about it) but have had a guy hit on me once. I didn't really care other than please let me pee and hit on me back in the club where you have to buy me a drink and work for it at least. I am assuming that most women, even us sexually deviant transwomen that are bi, ::) do not find restrooms romantic even with another woman and would never use a public restroom as a place to fulfill sexual desires. I should probably shut up though since I am bisexual the "potty police" may end up eventually making me use the big oak tree out back in full view of everyone. :police:

Really, I wish people would stop seeing us as some sort of "sexual freaks". It's really getting old being seen as such by certain aspects of society. Its kind of becoming disheartening.
  •  

Misato

These people are the Westboro of the crapper.  A non-representive sample of people of a faith. Really, they seriously don't have better things to do than fret about who does their business where?
  •  

Constance

Quote from: Jess42 on July 19, 2013, 10:39:20 AM
I'm bi and have never hit on anyone in the restroom...
I know, right? Romance and sex are the LAST things on my mind in such places.

Jess42

 This was in the article: "It goes against every single thing that we as Christians stand for," Fox stated. "God said, in the beginning, He created them male and female. And so, from the very beginning to the very end of the Bible, this [bill] is demolishing every ounce of identity that God created.""

What I have emboldened could show the narrow and close mindedness of these people. Male and female. Talking on a spiritual level could mean both male and female one and the same. Should it read that God created them male or female if there was a clear deviation of the genders in the Spirit or Soul? And really, isn't she judging what is in God's mind? Right along with judging us as people. Just another rock thrown. Anyway this isn't the spiritual thread but I find it interesting that when all things are possible through God, very few people that see themselves as spiritual actually believe or accept it.

Also God didn't say in the beginning. Whoever wrote the opening verses of the Book of Genesis did. I think these folks are actually more twisted, delusional and demented than they think we are.

Quote from: Constance on July 19, 2013, 11:30:21 AM
I know, right? Romance and sex are the LAST things on my mind in such places.

You ain't lying there Constance.
  •  

Beth Andrea

Quote from: suzifrommd on July 19, 2013, 09:19:13 AM
Not all Christians have a problem with people using the proper bathrooms. I think there are certain leaders within the Christian community that have gotten into the sad habit of making people fear outsiders (us, gay people, whomever is around) in order to retain followers.

This is true for everyone who fears or hates "any group of people", because of real or perceived threats (including LGBT when talking about Christians). The separation of genders when in moments of exposure has been around for a long time, and yes it is to protect women from predators.

Given that a man could say he's a woman, enter a bathroom with only one woman in there, rape her and/or kill her, and then walk out of the establishment...yes, thats a real threat. It would be best for us to actually address their concern, and not just with the legal argument that "rape and murder is already illegal." That diminishes their concerns.

With separate facilities, if "a man" is seen entering a woman's restroom, its assumed he's up to no good...and is readily bounced out of there.

What we need is some way to punish the men who have done such a crime...like when someone commits a "hate crime", the punishment is doubled. Likewise, if someone dresses as a policeman and commits a crime, that adds a bit more punishment.

We should ask for the same consideration to reduce their concerns (and ours).
...I think for most of us it is a futile effort to try and put this genie back in the bottle once she has tasted freedom...

--read in a Tessa James post 1/16/2017
  •  

StellaB

If I were in the States it wouldn't be a bathroom I'd be worrying about. I'd be terrified to go anywhere near a church.
"The truth within me is more than the reality which surrounds me."
Constantin Stanislavski

Mistakes not only provide opportunities for learning but also make good stories.
  •