The fight for transgender rights has truly begun over the past year, and it is only natural that we will see more bigotry and suspicion as it becomes more prominent over the national airwaves.
But while it is one thing to see that bigotry, it is another thing to see people who in the name of “protecting the children” end up going after transgender children and harassing them. But that appears to have been the case in Philadelphia, as a teacher was so concerned about some potential pervert that she had to spend her time following a transgender student and preventing him from using the bathroom he wanted to use.
CBS is reporting that the transgender student, who is identifying himself as R, was told in his senior year of high school that he was not allowed to use the boys’ restroom because he was born a girl. Never mind the fact that he had identified as a boy since he was four. Never mind that when he used the girl’s restroom in middle school, the girls complained about having a boy in their restroom. Never mind that he then used the boy’s restroom for the next several years with nary a word or complaint. The school just decided to change the policy one day, thanks to some overzealous teacher with nothing better to do.
Maybe the conservatives are right in that it should be easier to fire teachers after all.
But they are not right in these fears of crazed transgender rapists just using their fake gender as a way to commit dirty deeds. As multiple sexual assault organizations can testify, jurisdictions which have allowed transgendered individuals to use the facilities of their identified report no significant increase “in sexual violence or other public safety issues.”
But if there is an upside to incidents like this in Philadelphia, it is that it shows that those who are willing to stalk transgendered individuals for using the restroom are ignorant at best and bigots at worst. And as they show their true colors, it will be easier for real progress to be made to give the transgendered their rights and social acceptability.
Just look at the rest of Philadelphia. The Springfield Township School District adopted a progressive stance on the transgendered and bathrooms last week and asked an education digital signage company to change the signage on the bathrooms. Other school districts appear to be taking a similar policy. Nothing will change from this – as long as the transgendered wash their hands and don’t make a fuss in the bathroom just like everyone else, there will be no problem.
But despite the progress which has been made, but conservatives will continue to fight and pass legislation like that in North Carolina, no matter the economic consequences of the bill. Just like their party is on the verge of nominating a president who promises to get back at the Mexicans or Muslims regardless of the consequences, so too will religious conservatives fight against transgender rights – even if it comes down to harassing high schoolers just trying to do their business.