Transgender Bathrooms: Discriminatory Practice or Necessary Protection?
One current issue that the school and district overall is presently facing is the usage of public facilities in school for transgender students. Currently, this issue has received a lot of attention in the media after North Carolina legislation banned individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex. As this issue gains more public attention, current school district officials feel growing pressures from concerned parents and community members to address this issue and ensure the safety of their children. Many people feel that this policy is discriminatory against, and poses a danger to, gay and transgender individuals while others believe …show more content…
Transgender bathroom policies are a current issue not only in schools, but in the entire United States today. The question still remains: Should transgender individuals be able to use the restroom which correlates to which gender they identify with and if not, is it discriminatory to prevent this practice (Steinmetz, 1)? For years, bathrooms have been a civil rights battleground for minorities, women, and handicapped workers alike. Due to the nature of a public bathroom, it is a facility where people may feel exposed or vulnerable, and therefore resist change (Steinmetz, 1). Transgender people are now the focus of this fight. It is common practice for a person purchasing alcohol to present their ID, however it has become equally as common for the public to doubt transgender people’s true identity. Transgender …show more content…
They feel that these policies protect the “bodily privacy” of women and children entering a bathroom with a transgender woman who has not fully transitioned. At a recent school board meeting, Robyn Lambert, contended for the safety of her grandchildren (Rolo, 1). She is worried about the consequences of “allowing the transgender population to use the bathroom of their choice could do for child predators” (Rolo, 1). Lambert, among others, feel that these policies open the door for any man, claiming to be a woman, could come into a woman’s bathroom and cause harm to women and young children using the facilities. Therefore, they believe that these “bathroom bills” are a necessary protection for the public. Finally, a teacher of Berkeley County School District, choosing to remain anonymous, also supports bathroom policies that restrict transgender individuals to using the bathroom that matches their biological identity. She feels that it is necessary in order to protect both student and staff member’s health and safety in schools (personal communication, May 23, 2016). “Students have a lot of pressure to contend with in high school. It is therefore unnecessary for students to have to worry about added dangers in a place whose primary responsibility is to protect” (personal communication, May 23,
One current issue that the school and district overall is presently facing is the usage of public facilities in school for transgender students. Currently, this issue has received a lot of attention in the media after North Carolina legislation banned individuals from using public bathrooms that do not correspond to their biological sex. As this issue gains more public attention, current school district officials feel growing pressures from concerned parents and community members to address this issue and ensure the safety of their children. Many people feel that this policy is discriminatory against, and poses a danger to, gay and transgender individuals while others believe …show more content…
Transgender bathroom policies are a current issue not only in schools, but in the entire United States today. The question still remains: Should transgender individuals be able to use the restroom which correlates to which gender they identify with and if not, is it discriminatory to prevent this practice (Steinmetz, 1)? For years, bathrooms have been a civil rights battleground for minorities, women, and handicapped workers alike. Due to the nature of a public bathroom, it is a facility where people may feel exposed or vulnerable, and therefore resist change (Steinmetz, 1). Transgender people are now the focus of this fight. It is common practice for a person purchasing alcohol to present their ID, however it has become equally as common for the public to doubt transgender people’s true identity. Transgender …show more content…
They feel that these policies protect the “bodily privacy” of women and children entering a bathroom with a transgender woman who has not fully transitioned. At a recent school board meeting, Robyn Lambert, contended for the safety of her grandchildren (Rolo, 1). She is worried about the consequences of “allowing the transgender population to use the bathroom of their choice could do for child predators” (Rolo, 1). Lambert, among others, feel that these policies open the door for any man, claiming to be a woman, could come into a woman’s bathroom and cause harm to women and young children using the facilities. Therefore, they believe that these “bathroom bills” are a necessary protection for the public. Finally, a teacher of Berkeley County School District, choosing to remain anonymous, also supports bathroom policies that restrict transgender individuals to using the bathroom that matches their biological identity. She feels that it is necessary in order to protect both student and staff member’s health and safety in schools (personal communication, May 23, 2016). “Students have a lot of pressure to contend with in high school. It is therefore unnecessary for students to have to worry about added dangers in a place whose primary responsibility is to protect” (personal communication, May 23,