In Transforming Citizenships: Transgender Articulations of the Law, Isaac West offers an interesting critique of the LGBTQ rights movement though the accounts of transgender citizenship claims. West offers many examples of how this criticism of the law can help transform current legal engagements. Through his expansive discussion of Debbie Mayne, People In Search of Safe and Accessible Restrooms, Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, and impure politics West is able to articulate how “legal discourses open up sites for identification across identity categories and enable political activities that escape the analytics of heteronormativity and homonationalism.”
In West’s discussion of legal recognition and radical separatism he argues that “neither of these options holds much promise because each of them misconstrues the cultural flows of the law.” Legal recognition implies complete equality under the law but does not take into consideration cultural norms and creates the illusion of cultural acceptance; just because there is legal equality it does not mean that everyone is actually equal. Legal recognition will always, somehow exclude or impact groups of people because in order to be legally recognized one must be what is considered a “good citizen.” On …show more content…
Unless there is an available gender-neutral or private bathroom many nonconforming people choose to be safe and neglect to use public restrooms. Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act, many people with disabilities have problems finding accessible restrooms that aren’t far out of the way. A few things that might hinder the accessibility of a restroom include, doors that are too narrow for a wheelchair, lack of grab bars, and unreachable soap dispensers, sinks, and paper
In West’s discussion of legal recognition and radical separatism he argues that “neither of these options holds much promise because each of them misconstrues the cultural flows of the law.” Legal recognition implies complete equality under the law but does not take into consideration cultural norms and creates the illusion of cultural acceptance; just because there is legal equality it does not mean that everyone is actually equal. Legal recognition will always, somehow exclude or impact groups of people because in order to be legally recognized one must be what is considered a “good citizen.” On …show more content…
Unless there is an available gender-neutral or private bathroom many nonconforming people choose to be safe and neglect to use public restrooms. Even with the Americans with Disabilities Act, many people with disabilities have problems finding accessible restrooms that aren’t far out of the way. A few things that might hinder the accessibility of a restroom include, doors that are too narrow for a wheelchair, lack of grab bars, and unreachable soap dispensers, sinks, and paper