Beauty Policing: The Consequences of Transgender Bathroom Politics

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/catholicauthenticity/2016/03/beauty-policing-the-consequences-of-transgender-bathroom-politics/?ref_widget=trending&ref_blog=yimcatholic&ref_post=comment-policy

Patheos/March 3, 2016 by Melinda Selmys

"There are a couple of things that I would add. The first is that while Libby is absolutely right that trans women need to be able to safely use public restrooms, the radical feminists are not entirely crazy in thinking that sexual predators might take advantage of laws that allow anyone who self-identifies as trans to use women's facilities. There have been reported cases in Canada and Japan where people claiming to be trans women have sexually harassed women in spaces set aside for women's use, and there have also been instances where people incarcerated for sex crimes have claimed to be trans and demanded the right to be transferred to a woman's facility. It's very rare, but it's not entirely fabricated."

This article makes some great points. I thoroughly agree that there is a vein of discrimination against non-passing women throughout mainstream discussions of transgender bathroom use.

This is something I certainly notice as a privledge as someone who passes and has my documentation reflect my actual gender and name. When I talk to people even those who know I am trans they tend to be very adamant that people jump thru lots of legal hoops in order to use the right restroom, such as gender markers on ID or even a "bonafide feminine presentation" as one put it. But they never say I shouldn't use the same restroom as them....I find that sort of doublethink to be very dangerous.

I know I for one don't want any authority saying what is and is not proper clothing to use to pee in the restroom at the department store, and I don't think it is very reasonable to expect people to have all of their paperwork in order either; it just isn't practical for a great many transwomen as many states and localities don't make it easy.