TN Anti-trans legislation

[ReneeT]

For all you Tennessee guys and gals, be aware of newly introduced hate legislation. The following is a letter i sent to several advocacy organizations:

Good Morning,
*
I wish to call your attention to an urgent legal issue affecting the transgender population in Tennessee.* Representative Richard Floyd has introduced HB 2279, which would restrict public restroom and dressing room use to only those individuals whose birth certificate gender marker matches that of the facility designation.* Senator Bo Watson has introduced companion legislation (SB 2282).
*
This is a direct assault on the liberties of the Tennessee transgender community and is an effort to further marginalize and contain us.* This proposed legislation requires a swift and effective response to defeat it and to send the message that Tennesseans will not tolerate such attacks on their fellow citizens, particularly those who are most vulnerable.* As you are no doubt aware, this follows recently-enacted discriminatory legislation in our state.
*
I urge you to review this legislation and join forces to defeat it.* I am ready and willing to do what it takes at the local level but, with a state governor who has demonstrated an animosity towards the GLBT population, a coordinated effort by partners with national recognition is essential
*
Than You

Renee McLaughlin

[Frances]

This type of legislation is not enforcable. A lot of GG's look like men. Will there be police at every single bathroom door inspecting papers and genitals? I would not worry too much about it. Public means government owned in my country. A restroom in a mall or restaurant is private.

[Melody Moore]

Here is an article about this, but not too much in the media yet, might have to
pass this around a few friends on Facebook to get things stirred things up a bit.

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2012/01/unjust-transphobic-bills-introduced-in.html

[Michelle.M]

It just never ends, does it? Does this mean that they expect people to actually carry their birth certificates at all times to address any potential challenge on this point? And just how do they propose to ensure that the birth certificate matches the sign on the bathroom door? Will there be someone posted at bathrooms to check papers before people can pee?

This is sort of like that anti-immigration law (also in Tennessee I believe) that requires immigrants to carry papers at all times, and it didn't take long before the authorities rounded up a couple of legal foreign-born employees of a Japanese auto plant in the state. What an insult to these people, and THAT sure made the state lawmakers look good!

It's only a matter of time before some, um, less-than-polished looking GG gets jacked up for "illegally" using a women's bathroom. I wonder how many hundreds of thousands of dollars the state will end up paying when they have to address her legitimate civil liberties violation lawsuit?

[Melody Moore]

I think passing a bill to turn all public restrooms etc gender neutral private cubicles would
have been the logical solution rather than to further marginalise the trans community. Duh!

This is shocking as well...


Tennessee has a 65-34 Republican majority in the House and a 20-13 Republican majority in the state senate. Passage of these bills and Republican Governor Bill Haslam's signature of them will put Tennessee transsexuals at significant risk and in a Catch 22 situation as Tennessee will NOT change the sex designation on the birth certificate even if the transperson in question has had SRS.

[Miranda-E]

its not surprising he did this considering his active involvement in:

Bethel Bible Village
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Christian Businessmen Committee
Stuart Heights Baptist Church

[ReneeT]

While this may seem like a trivial matter, Tennessee has a recent history of enacting discriminatory legislation. A prime example is the sequence of events that led to the enactment of the "Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce" act. Without action every step of the way, will will wake up one day branded as illegal subversive deviants. I suspect that the Family Action Council of Tennessee is involved in this

[Debglam]

This type of legislation is not enforcable. A lot of GG's look like men. Will there be police at every single bathroom door inspecting papers and genitals? I would not worry too much about it. Public means government owned in my country. A restroom in a mall or restaurant is private.

Enforceable yes but practical no. This kind of BS legislation needs to be stomped on quickly. It is like a fire - it needs to be dealt with before it gets too big to handle. Embarrass these two legislators. "With x number of Tennesseans out of work, you have time for impractical and unnecessary legislation?" or something to that effect.

Michelle is right, it just never ends!

Debby

[ReneeT]

I am working on a letter to the editor. Suggestions are most welcome

[Frances]

Enforceable yes but practical no.

How though? The State cannot put police officers at every public restroom entrance. Maybe punish people who went into the wrong bathroom and got caught? That means that people would have to complain to some authority and detain the person committing the alleged infraction. This can only lead to mob justice and people getting hurt. Look what happened in Baltimore at that McDonalds. This kind of legislation can be construed as a license to pre-emptively attack someone who may not look right. I really don't think it would be possible to enforce this, unless it is in a government building with guards around. Like I said stores and restaurants can do what they want.

I believe it is ending actually. This is backlash from the fringe right. Most people (from the right and the left) and pretty level-headed about this. This is a sign that we are on the radar and can be used as scapgoats in fear propaganda. The best thing is to concentrate on your own transition. People have been doing it for decades with no problem.

[moondog]

Why are they so scared that they feel the need to introduce legislation of this nature?

[Kathy Smith]

I think passing a bill to turn all public restrooms etc gender neutral private cubicles would
have been the logical solution rather than to further marginalise the trans community. Duh!

This is shocking as well...


We have a similar system in the UK. Unless there are _very_ extenuating circumstances (e.g. a genuine medical mistake at birth) it's impossible to have the sex entry on a birth certificate changed. That's not new legislation either! Luckily we don't need to produce documentation when going to the toilet. :-) Yet. :-(

[DanaR]

"With x number of Tennesseans out of work, you have time for impractical and unnecessary legislation?" or something to that effect.

This what they always do, set up a diversion from what the real issues are.

[Niya W]

How though? The State cannot put police officers at every public restroom entrance. Maybe punish people who went into the wrong bathroom and got caught? That means that people would have to complain to some authority and detain the person committing the alleged infraction. This can only lead to mob justice and people getting hurt. Look what happened in Baltimore at that McDonalds. This kind of legislation can be construed as a license to pre-emptively attack someone who may not look right. I really don't think it would be possible to enforce this, unless it is in a government building with guards around. Like I said stores and restaurants can do what they want.

I believe it is ending actually. This is backlash from the fringe right. Most people (from the right and the left) and pretty level-headed about this. This is a sign that we are on the radar and can be used as scapgoats in fear propaganda. The best thing is to concentrate on your own transition. People have been doing it for decades with no problem.
How when some crazy women freaks out in the bathroom and calls the cops .

[AllieSF]

Frances, it is not a matter of policing every individual restroom and clothes changing area. What it does is give John Q. Public the right to discriminate against those he/she perceives to be transgendered. Since no one carries their birth certificate around with them, the discriminator will always win at the moment of confrontation and thus create a scene embarrassing and harassing the transgendered person. So, Niyah's short answer is spot on.

[Jorja]

For those not in the know, Tennessee is located in what is known as the bible belt. It is not a surprise to me nor should it be a surprise to anyone that this type of legislation has been introduced there. For more about the bible belt see the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Belt

[kimdl93]

Besides the obvious violation of basic human rights (like going to the bathroom), or being able to dress in accordance with one's personal preferences, and the absurd lenghts that would be required to enforce such a law, I have yet another question to ask:

Is this really the most important thing, or for that matter, does it rank among the fifty most compelling issues facing the sate of Tennesee? If this jerk represented my district, I'd want him recalled for wasting the Legislature's time and resources.

[ArleneRaquel]

Tennessee, I'm sure is in need of jobs and investment in programs that will create new jobs, but fo some , in the state legisature I guess its more imports to show that you are a good Christian, which these days often, alas, shows itself as bigotry against those who are different.

[kimdl93]

Tennessee, I'm sure is in need of jobs and investment in programs that will create new jobs, but fo some , in the state legisature I guess its more imports to show that you are a good Christian, which these days often, alas, shows itself as bigotry against those who ar4e different

I suppose they could create a lot of jobs for bathroom police to enforce this!

[ArleneRaquel]

I suppose they could create a lot of jobs for bathroom police to enforce this!

Lol! A minimum wage job not doubt.

[Frances]

Frances, it is not a matter of policing every individual restroom and clothes changing area. What it does is give John Q. Public the right to discriminate against those he/she perceives to be transgendered. Since no one carries their birth certificate around with them, the discriminator will always win at the moment of confrontation and thus create a scene embarrassing and harassing the transgendered person. So, Niyah's short answer is spot on.

That's my point. Who is John Q. Public? Is he a policeman? How can a citizen discriminate the perceived transgendered person in reality? Imagine this is McDonald's, would there be a sign on the bathroom door saying that only people with birth certificates are aloud to use them?

Considering Niyah's answer: Someone calls the cops. Then what? How is the alleged perp detained? The whole thing is fear-mongering, not viable legislation.

My point is that the law is discriminatory and so un-enforceable that it cannot pass and would be deemed unconstitutional upon review.

[arbon]

That's my point. Who is John Q. Public? Is he a policeman? How can a citizen discriminate the perceived transgendered person in reality? Imagine this is McDonald's, would there be a sign on the bathroom door saying that only people with birth certificates are aloud to use them?

Considering Niyah's answer: Someone calls the cops. Then what? How is the alleged perp detained? The whole thing is fear-mongering, not viable legislation.
.

It just means they can do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldv2GAU01lg&list=PL783AC638EDF5A537&index=12&feature=plpp_video

[Asako]

It's kind of funny. I haven't really been a politics person but within the last year, I've paid a fair bit more attention to politics. As for the Bible Belt...crap...I live in one of those areas of the "Buckle". Back on topic though.

I do agree with Frances. Requiring a birth certificate to access the bathroom? How much stupider can people be? If crap like this continues to pass, V for Vendetta may slowly start to become a reality in various ways in relation to the fear campaigns that could be seen in the movie. It's a little scary when one contemplates how a movie may actually start to become part of reality when we see bills like this.

[Traci Elizabeth]

This is a total waste of Taxpayer's funds not to mention discriminatory. Even if this law passed, it would not stop me from using my correct restroom - woman's. Who carries their birth certificate and I was not born in Tennessee. If they want to see my license, that's still a violation of my rights but I will show it as it says "Female." Now, if they want to inspect my privates that's another issue all together and I will refuse such inspection. This is one of those asinine laws that will be stuck down as unconstitutional.

[Katesback]

Do you have a copy of the bill by chance? I would like to see the exact wording. Sadly a lot of the trans activists like to tell things they way they want them to be herd. I am guessing the wording applies to someone having a LEGAL IDENTIFICATION and NOT a Birth certificate. That is a big difference and what I really think the bill means.

[kimdl93]

Do you have a copy of the bill by chance? I would like to see the exact wording. Sadly a lot of the trans activists like to tell things they way they want them to be herd. I am guessing the wording applies to someone having a LEGAL IDENTIFICATION and NOT a Birth certificate. That is a big difference and what I really think the bill means.

either way, (birth certificate or legal id) its assinine. Or are Tennessee's public bathrooms really being overrun by marruading bands of trannies, that frighten old ladies and stand up in the stalls?

[arbon]

Do you have a copy of the bill by chance? I would like to see the exact wording. Sadly a lot of the trans activists like to tell things they way they want them to be herd. I am guessing the wording applies to someone having a LEGAL IDENTIFICATION and NOT a Birth certificate. That is a big difference and what I really think the bill means.

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB2279.pdf



BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1 Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68 , Chapter 15, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following language as a new section:
68-15-304
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Sex” means and refers only to the designation of an
individual person as male or female as indicated on the individual’s birth
certificate;

[Eryn]

Is this really the most important thing, or for that matter, does it rank among the fifty most compelling issues facing the sate of Tennesee? If this jerk represented my district, I'd want him recalled for wasting the Legislature's time and resources.

The problem is that the common name for these people is "Lawmakers" which gives them the impression that the more laws they make and pass, the better they are doing their jobs.

[Aprilrain]

The solution is simple, if you're transitioning change your name and gender marker! If push came to shove the "authorities" are simply going to ask for ID since no one carries their birth certificate around. Who is really going to want to question the legitimacy of a state issued ID? Macy's official policy is to allow people to use the changing rooms of the gender they are presenting in. They actually fired a woman for telling a TG person she couldn't use the woman's changing area. I was recently in Nordstums one of the SA's was most likely TS and when I asked where the bathrooms were another different SA told me where to find the lady's room. Most "public" restrooms are located in privately owned establishments who are free to allow whoever they want to use their restroom. The "woman" in Arbon's video needed only to produce ID stating that she was female and that whole situation would have been a non event. I assume that because she could not she had not taken the steps to legally become female. can you imagine the law suit that WILL eventually happen when some vigilante hillbilly decides that some woman isn't feminine enough and questions her? What business is going to want to deal with that?

[Debglam]

http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB2279.pdf

Thanks Arbon. Also note that Sub C of the legislation makes using the "wrong" facility a Class C misdemeanor subject to a $50.00 fine.

[kimdl93]

Thanks Arbon. Also note that Sub C of the legislation makes using the "wrong" facility a Class C misdemeanor subject to a $50.00 fine.

Ah, now we know the real motivation behind this bill - the sponsor hopes to balance the state's budget on the backs of CDrs.

[kimdl93]

The solution is simple...The "woman" in Arbon's video needed only to produce ID stating that she was female and that whole situation would have been a non event. I?

No, the simple solution is to reject foolish and discriminatory legislation. No one should ever be asked to prove their gender for the benefit of the bathroom police.

[Frances]

No, the simple solution is to reject foolish and discriminatory legislation. No one should ever be asked to prove their gender for the benefit of the bathroom police.

That is what will happen in my opinion. I am glad to live in Canada, that's for sure.

[Debglam]

No, the simple solution is to reject foolish and discriminatory legislation. No one should ever be asked to prove their gender for the benefit of the bathroom police.

Yes and as I posted above, you HAVE to deal with crap legislation like this early and decisively. If you don't, legislators pandering to the religious right (read that as trans haters) will see an easy path forward on our backs. I don't know the current state of Tennessee law, but first they unravel the right to use a gender identity appropriate restroom or dressing room and the next bill takes away housing or healthcare discrimination protections.

[Aprilrain]

No, the simple solution is to reject foolish and discriminatory legislation. No one should ever be asked to prove their gender for the benefit of the bathroom police.

I don't condone the law nor would I produce an ID if asked but when I was arrested and they saw that I was a female wouldn't they feel dumb! As Frances said the law is not enforceable, as soon as one genetic woman is affected it will be taken to the supreme court and ruled unconstitutional, at the state level that is. Thats assuming this law even passes to begin with! wouldn't it be grand if the good "lawmakers" wife was questioned! he would get laid for a year!

[Julia_in_Pa]

Renee,

I agree with Frances concerning this being a non enforcable law.

With that being said I am completely disgusted at this and I pray it does not come to pass.

Thank you Renee for the information.


Julia


This type of legislation is not enforcable. A lot of GG's look like men. Will there be police at every single bathroom door inspecting papers and genitals? I would not worry too much about it. Public means government owned in my country. A restroom in a mall or restaurant is private.

[SandraAbsent]

I really don't see legislation like this standing a chance. Most sane members of a state senate or congress would look at something like this and laugh. Just because someone writes a bill, it still has to make it to the floor for a vote. These extremists represent such a small portion of the population its hard for there little crazy bill like this to ever make it. The scarier thing is when one of these f%^*sticks decides he is going to sneak it into bigger piece of legislation as a bargaining tool. Ya know the ones that are 500 pages long that no one reads! Best course of action is for you and others to contact your state representatives to inform them of the Tom Foolery in this bill, but more importantly to contact your federal reps and senators too. Why? Because political party money and endorsements roll down hill! Next pass the info along to national equality organizations like GLAAD and the HRC.

All this brought to you by your friendly Transsexual Republican!

[ReneeT]

While i have read and appreciate everyones response, i am most impressed by the fact that 37 of the 252 viewers of this post have responded! These seems to get under everyones skin as much as mine. So now, lets put our money where our mouths are, especially for you TN folks. And I know there are other Chattanooga gals lurking here......

[Julia_in_Pa]

Go,,,Go,,,Go Lookouts!!!! :O)

[SandraAbsent]

OMG I just outed myself as a republican to a trans community, that was harder than coming out as trans!

[Eryn]

The solution is simple, if you're transitioning change your name and gender marker!

The problem with your "simple solution" is that not everyone is transitioning and those of us who aren't still should be able to use the restroom that matches our presentation with dignity.


The "woman" in Arbon's video needed only to produce ID stating that she was female and that whole situation would have been a non event.
The rent-a-cop has no authority to ask for ID from anyone. He has no rights beyond those of a private citizen. He overstepped his bounds and was making it up as he went, which was made obvious by his citing a non-existant law.

[arbon]

OMG I just outed myself as a republican to a trans community, that was harder than coming out as trans!

Now that takes real courage! lol

[Rianna Humble]

We have a similar system in the UK. Unless there are _very_ extenuating circumstances (e.g. a genuine medical mistake at birth) it's impossible to have the sex entry on a birth certificate changed. That's not new legislation either! Luckily we don't need to produce documentation when going to the toilet. :-) Yet. :-(

That is not accurate. In the United Kingdom, a Gender Recognition Certificate allows the holder to obtain a new birth certificate in the correct gender. There may be hoops to jump, but it is definitely NOT impossible for someone who has transitioned to obtain a valid birth certificate in the correct gender.

[sandra-leigh]

This can only lead to mob justice and people getting hurt. Look what happened in Baltimore at that McDonalds. This kind of legislation can be construed as a license to pre-emptively attack someone who may not look right.

Yes, and I would suggest to you that that is an intended effect. If cross-dressing or trans people get attacked and become afraid to use the bathroom in public (and consequently become afraid to venture much in public in case they might need a bathroom), then the framers of the bill will have won, just as they will win if CD/TG/TS people move away from TN.

If you hate a people, find some way to make them afraid -- and blame the victims for violence committed against them. If they move away, you have a "purer" land populated by people more likely to think and vote like you. The ones that do not move away: well, they make great scapegoats. (Every society with radical class inequalities needs a bottom-of-the-barrel class that it is legal to discriminate against.)

You won't see any uprising if a GG gets set upon by a mob, not unless the GG is someone "important" to your constituency. Someone who is "important" / "famous" / whatever, but is not felt to be a virtual part of the constituency... well, it was just "God's justice" on them. [Don't you know it is the crossdressers who are responsible for the tornadoes?]

[Niya W]

That's my point. Who is John Q. Public? Is he a policeman? How can a citizen discriminate the perceived transgendered person in reality? Imagine this is McDonald's, would there be a sign on the bathroom door saying that only people with birth certificates are aloud to use them?

Considering Niyah's answer: Someone calls the cops. Then what? How is the alleged perp detained? The whole thing is fear-mongering, not viable legislation.

My point is that the law is discriminatory and so un-enforceable that it cannot pass and would be deemed unconstitutional upon review.
In my state a citizen has the right to make a citizens arrest and detain. If you resist them it's considered resisting arrest .

[Starling]

...Most sane members of a state senate or congress would look at something like this and laugh...

I sure hope you're right, Sandra. Meanwhile, I'm glad I'm in CaIifornia.

:) Lallie

[Cindi Johnson]

Of course, on this site both political parties are equal. We are not allowed to point out that only one of the two political parties espouses anti-gay and anti-TG laws. No, that might offend someone. Better that we maintain harmony even as we are, so to speak, led to the chambers.

As to enforcement..., you might say that it cannot be enforced. But your thoughts are irrelevant to the one girl who is singled out, arrested, and jailed, because of the law. Her life may be in ruins even as you say, "it can't be enforced, so it doesn't matter".

And I'll point out that many states now have legislatures and governorships with mindsets similar to Tennessee's. So don't think it won't affect you.

Protection of human rights is a never-ending battle. We should all be engaged.

[Melody Moore]

Actually if people are smart, they could use this latest bill as a weapon in the fight for gender recognition
in Tennessee. This latest attack on the trans community will bring a lot of attention to these issues. This
story is now going viral through social media sites, so hopefully the whole trans community will start to rally
together to condemn this transphobic government & help our brothers & sisters in Tennesse. :D

[EnglishRose]

AFAIK the senate sponsor of this dropped his support for the bill and it's dead. It needs a sponsor in both houses to be considered.

[Pythos]

Makes me wonder about IS folk that have one id in one country, and another sex ID in this country. (Birth Cert has one ID)

[Melody Moore]

Since I first posted there is a lot of discussion going on right now on this topic in many transgender groups
& networks from all around the world, including those in Australia, the community is starting to rally behind
the sex & gender diverse community of Tennessee. Here you can change your gender marker on your birth
certificate with a gender recognition certificate. However recently that was challenged by two transmen in
the Federal court of Australia they won the right to have the new gender on their birth certificate without
needing SRS.

The key documents now being used to win cases like this are the Human Rights 2009 Sex Files Report (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/genderdiversity/sex_files2009.html)
into the legal recognition of sex in documents and government records & discrimination on the basis of
sex/gender identity, along with the new WPATH Standards of Care v7 (http://www.wpath.org/documents/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH.pdf).

[Chickhe]

Does TN have any discrimination laws against family status? What about the case where a father or mother brings their child of opposite gender to the restroom? What they should be doing is eliminating gender on all washrooms and making them universal so that families are not discriminated.

[Starling]

Yes, the ideal would be unisex one-bangers. Even in male mode I don't much care for company.

:heehee: Lallie

[Sarah Welch]

It just BURNS MY ASS, every time I read about how "good Christian" people set out to JUDGE, DISCRIMINATE, PER SECURE, or otherwise MALIGN other fellow human beings.
I could have sworn there was a passage in the good book that tells us NOT to do these very things..........just sayin.

[arbon]

A quote from the author of the bill:


Rep. Floyd:

“I believe if I was standing at a dressing room and my wife or one of my daughters was in the dressing room and a man tried to go in there — I don’t care if he thinks he’s a woman and tries on clothes with them in there — I’d just try to stomp a mudhole in him and then stomp him dry.

“Don’t ask me to adjust to their perverted way of thinking and put my family at risk. We cannot continue to let these people dominate how society acts and reacts.”

From http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/anti-trans-police-the-potty-bill-withdrawn-tenn-state-rep-calls-trans-people-perverts-and-would-stomp-them/

It does look like the bill is about dead though.

[Kelsy]

The obvious solution to this is to have the same type xray machines the TSA uses at the airports at every rest room and designate us as terrorists that way they can detain us indefinately without legal recourse and we can get some vacation time at GITMO!!

Kelsy

[ReneeT]

As Kristen noted, the senator has withdrawn his bill, which is good news and a quick victory. The issue is still alive and a threat, though, since the house bill is still active. I am sure Rep. Floyd will be prowling the halls of the capitol looking for another senate sponsor

[Melody Moore]

Still Renee, I would take every bit of an opportunity with the awareness that has now been raised about
other issues with the laws of Tennessee where they wont change your gender marker even after SRS.
Along with any other issues about changing gender markers on drivers licences without SRS, so those legally
identified or validated as females don't feel threatened by having to use a public toilet or bathroom. So strike
while the iron is still red hot and this transphobic bigot has been caught with a smoking gun in his hand I say. ;)

[ReneeT]

My letter to my rep:

Dear Sir:

I, as a constituent of yours, am greatly troubled by the language and intent of legislation that you have recently introduced, HB 2279. *Your expressed rationale for introducing this bill is not supported by objective data, particularly from the district that you were elected to represent. *Rather, I interpret it as a thinly veiled attempt to further marginalize a group of YOUR constituents, who also happen to be among the most vulnerable among us. *As a resident and taxpayer of your district, I KNOW there are bigger problems that demand yourtime on our behalf. So, please stop wasting your time and my money and get to work! *By the way, did you really threaten physical violence against the people you were elected to serve??? *I can't wait for election day- andyes, I am a Republican.

Sinerely,

Renne McLaughlin
Sent from my iPad

[Frances]

I like this response from the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. It also contains info on who to put to task.

Bathroom Harassment Act is a New Low for Tennessee

The Second Session of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly convened on Tuesday, and it did not take long for the members to set the bar lower than ever before in introducing bad legislation.

Just a little over 48 hours ago, the Bathroom Harassment Act (SB 2282/HB 2279) was filed by two Hamilton County Republicans, Senator Bo Watson of Hixson and Representative Richard Floyd of Chattanooga.

The Bathroom Harassment Act restricts access to public restrooms and public dressing rooms designated by sex to members of that particular sex. Using the person's birth certificate, a person would face a Class C Misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $50.

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition feels that while this bill is a direct attack on the rights of Tennessee's transgender community, transgender people would not be the only people harassed under this bill should it become law. It would affect lots of other gender variant and gender non conforming people who do not necessarily identify as trans. Furthermore, it would criminalize plumbers and cleaning personnel who operate in restrooms the opposite of their birth gender.

The bill would also affect families who take their children with them into restrooms in shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, and sporting events. Are we now going to arrest the parents, or children, or both, for violating this new law?

Tennessee also has many people who visit the state to enjoy our many tourist sites, from Dollywood to Graceland, as well as to transfer at Tennessee airports in Memphis and Nashville. If any of them wish to use a restroom while they are in the state and they do not have their birth certificates with them to prove identity, are we now going to arrest them?

We are also curious to see how Senator Watson and Representative Floyd intend to set up this new Bathroom Identification bureacracy. Who will be responsible for checking everyone's birth certificates? If a person does not carry their birth certificate with them, will they be denied access to a facility? And how do they intend to pay for this new Big Government agency in the bathroom stalls? Do they propose raising taxes, or will they seek to cut the budgets of superflous agencies like Department of Education or Department of Health? Does this mean that doctors, nurses, and teachers are less important than Bathroom stall monitors?

There are also serious Constitutional questions surrounding this bill, since the Fourth Amendment protects persons "from unreasonable searches and seizures."

While there have been many attempts to scare people about transgender people using bathrooms, including a well circulated video previously used in anti-transgender campaigns in Florida and Michigan, the only documented incidents all show the transgender person as the victims, not the perpatrators of the abuse. The April 2011 beating of Chrissy Lee Polis at a Baltimore McDonald's led to charges of Hate Crimes in Maryland against the two women who beat Ms. Polis. In Tennessee, they would probably be hired as supervisors in the new Tennessee Bathroom Security Agency.

We feel this bill is the latest in a growing string of embarrassing bills in Tennessee.

We urge all of you to contact Senator Watson (615-741-3227 or [email protected]) and Representative Floyd (615-741-2746 or [email protected]) and express your opposition to the Bathroom Harassment Act and ask them to withdraw it immediately.

[Debglam]

My letter to my rep:

Very well done Renee! I'm proud of you for sending this.

You know, I'm still trying to wrap my head around a member of the State legislature threatening to "stomp someone into a mudhole" or whatever it was he said exactly. I hate talking like this but I have to think that he must not know the breadth of transgender community. There are some girls that would make that the last stomping he ever does!

Debby

[Debb]

I sent an email, too, although not being a resident of TN, not sure if it'll have any weight at all ... not that it would have, anyways, I guess.

It's a shame some people have it in for others like this, especially in a beautiful state like TN.

[Starling]

...I am sure Rep. Floyd will be prowling the halls of the capitol looking for another senate sponsor

The halls--or the mens rooms? He may be another closet case trying to overcompensate.

:heehee: Lallie

[Michelle.M]

Why are they so scared that they feel the need to introduce legislation of this nature?

Ever hear the expression "Follow the money"? There's your answer. This is not so much about ideology as it is about bank accounts.

Here's the deal, which far too many TG folks (even far more anti LGBT citizens) fail to understand. Elected representatives are elected to represent their districts, not to vote their consciences. This is why a politician will vote for some wasteful program that neither he nor his constituents like in exchange for a return vote on, say, that manufacturing subsidy that will keep the paper mills in his district running for the next 5 or 10 years. Politics, tied to favors that show that the rep is doing his or her job. Otherwise well-meaning politicians may do despicable things in order to get something done.

As they say in Washington, you're better off not knowing how sausage and laws are made.

In other cases a politician may be truly anti LGBT and he'll be a fine ally to so-called "conservative values" organizations who - big surprise here - need money to continue to exist. Politician becomes the firebrand who stirs up the issue, organization rounds up the voters for the politician, and of course both need money to continue the work and to get reelected. The faithful are easily convinced to contribute.

And by the way, that politician may have to call in some favors from your elected representative to be successful in this crusade.

All of this starts by selling an issue that people may not really even care that much about. If the rabble rousers can tie this in to things like basic morality and decency, convey that there's a threat to innocent women and children (despite the fact that there is not a threat), and that this will all without any doubt lead to other, even scarier evils then all these fear mongers have to do is prey upon ignorance and capitalize on uncertainty and fear (of which there is plenty in tumultuous times).

This tactic has never been known to fail. Historians and sociologists have repeatedly discussed how a great and civilized nation like Germany could allow the extermination of not only 6 million Jews but millions more of Gypsies, dissident artists and writers, homosexuals, intellectuals and evangelical Christians who opposed genocide. This is how it's done.

Sell fear, rake in the money and when this gold mine runs out move on to the new hot button issue. All in God's name, or in the name of whatever motivator will energize the media and the middle class to repeat what you say and part with a few shekels in the process.

[AKAMichelle]

The solution is simple, if you're transitioning change your name and gender marker! If push came to shove the "authorities" are simply going to ask for ID since no one carries their birth certificate around. Who is really going to want to question the legitimacy of a state issued ID? Macy's official policy is to allow people to use the changing rooms of the gender they are presenting in. They actually fired a woman for telling a TG person she couldn't use the woman's changing area. I was recently in Nordstums one of the SA's was most likely TS and when I asked where the bathrooms were another different SA told me where to find the lady's room. Most "public" restrooms are located in privately owned establishments who are free to allow whoever they want to use their restroom. The "woman" in Arbon's video needed only to produce ID stating that she was female and that whole situation would have been a non event. I assume that because she could not she had not taken the steps to legally become female. can you imagine the law suit that WILL eventually happen when some vigilante hillbilly decides that some woman isn't feminine enough and questions her? What business is going to want to deal with that?

That is what I see happening as well. The worst case would be to attack a butch lesbian. Then they would have a mutiny and a lawsuit on their hands. One lawsuit by a GG and the whole thing dies immediately.

[AKAMichelle]

The Bathroom Harassment Act restricts access to public restrooms and public dressing rooms designated by sex to members of that particular sex. Using the person's birth certificate, a person would face a Class C Misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $50.

These guys must be bored. They go to all this trouble for a $50 fine.

[sandra-leigh]

The halls--or the mens rooms? He may be another closet case trying to overcompensate.

Have we developed a transgender equivalent of "toe tapping" yet ?

[Vickie_CDTV]

These guys must be bored. They go to all this trouble for a $50 fine.

Times are tough, and like other states hiking their fees and fines I am sure they "need" the money. After all, in this tough economy how else will the politicians be able to afford to buy all those votes?

[AKAMichelle]

Times are tough, and like other states hiking their fees and fines I am sure they "need" the money. After all, in this tough economy how else will the politicians be able to afford to buy all those votes?

There aren't enough of us in TN that this law would create much revenue for the state. Besides whatever it gains may be lost in lawsuits by GG who are thought to be TG.

[sandra-leigh]

These guys must be bored. They go to all this trouble for a $50 fine.

This together with the mudhole remarks by the sponsor help solidify my impression that the whole point of the legislation is to intimidate and to encourage vigilantism. He'd probably even admit to the intimidation being a purpose -- gotta intimidate Those Evil Perverts To Keep Our Families Safe.