Transgender: denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex. But what does this term really mean? It means spending the whole day avoiding the bathroom because you are forced to go to the one of your birth gender. It means fearing the harassment that occurs every time you go to the bathroom. Being transgender is not a choice, and those who are should not have to live in fear. Transgender individuals should be allowed to use either the bathroom that matches their gender identity or gender neutral bathrooms.

PEOPLE AGAINST TRANSGENDER BATHROOM RIGHTS ARGUE, “TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ARE SIMPLY THEIR BIRTH GENDER, JUST FEELING LIKE A DIFFERENT GENDER DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING.” THE CAUSE FOR BEING TRANSGENDER IS ACTUALLY A MENTAL DISORDER CALLED GENDER DYSPHORIA. JUST LIKE YOU WOULD HELP SOMEONE WITH ADHD OR DEPRESSION, THOSE WITH GENDER DYSPHORIA DESERVE THE SAME HELP. BEING FORCED TO GO TO THE WRONG BATHROOM CAUSES TRANSGENDER PEOPLE’S GENDER DYSPHORIA TO WORSEN, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO THE FACT THAT 65% OF THE TRANSGENDER POPULATION HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT: YOUR COMFORT, OR SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE?

TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS MAY BE AT RISK IF THEY GO IN THE BATHROOM THAT MATCHES THEIR BIRTH GENDER. IF THEY DO SO, THEY WILL BE IMMEDIATELY OUTED TO ANYONE WHO SEES THEM. THIS IS NOT A VERY GOOD SITUATION, AS FORTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FROM A SURVEY ON THE TRANSGENDER POPULATION REPORTED BEING VERBALLY HARASSED, AND NINE PERCENT SAID THEY WERE PHYSICALLY ATTACKED BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. FORTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THEM REPORTED BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFETIME. THE LIKENESS OF BEING HARASSED, ATTACKED, OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IS DRASTICALLY HIGH FOR ANYONE PERCEIVED AS TRANSGENDER.

The most common argument against transgender-inclusive bathroom laws is that men will claim to be men in order to enter women’s restrooms to sexually harass them. There have been very few incidents where this has happened, and in most states where they have integrated transgender-inclusive bathroom laws, there has been no increase in bathroom related crimes. Quite contrary to popular belief, trans women (women who are anatomically male) are actually at the most risk. Trans women have a very high chance of being assaulted if they are forced to go to the men’s bathroom.

ANOTHER POINT IS IF YOU FORCE SOMEONE TO GO TO A BATHROOM THEY’RE NOT COMFORTABLE IN, THEY WILL LIKELY AVOID THE BATHROOM. FIFTY-NINE PERCENT OF THE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE INTERVIEWED SAID THEY AVOIDED THE BATHROOM SO THEY WOULD NOT BE HARASSED. IN SOME CASES, THEY WILL EVEN RESTRICT THEIR EATING AND DRINKING SO THAT THEY WOULDN’T HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. THIS COULD LEAD TO MANY SERIOUS AND UNPLEASANT HEALTH ISSUES. AGAIN, WHAT MAKES YOUR COMFORT MORE IMPORTANT THAT OTHER PEOPLE’S HEALTH?

IT’S BEEN MADE QUITE CLEAR THAT TRANSGENDER-INCLUSIVE BATHROOM LAWS ARE THE WAY TO GO. WITHOUT THEM, ANY TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUAL WILL BE PUT IN DANGER OF HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WILL BE PUT AT RISK, AND THEY COULD FACE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS FROM AVOIDING THE BATHROOM. THESE LAWS COULD HELP PEOPLE AVOID HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT BASED ON THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. THE REASONS NOT TO ARE NEXT TO NONEXISTENT. WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?

"Tranny"

I didn’t ask for this

I didn’t ask for the pain, the tears, the ridicule

Yet that’s what I got

Gender Dysphoria

It’s caused me so many problems

So I confide in the people I trust

But the response I get is anger and disbelief

I’m accused of making it all up just to be “cool”

What’s “cool” about avoiding mirrors as to not be reminded of-

Well, of what I am biologically

Others call me names and make fun of my very being

What’s so funny about it?

By all means, tell me

"Lillian"

The teachers say I’m “special”

Mom thinks I’m retarded

Dad thinks I just need to man up and get a girlfriend

The other kids think I’m a freak

I don’t know what I did wrong

Was it trying on mom’s dresses behind her back?

Was it asking to be the mom when we played house during recess?

Was it saying that I wish my name was Lillian instead of Luke?

Was it trying to grow my hair long enough to braid it?

Or maybe was it asking when I could put on makeup like mom?

I’m sorry mom, I’m sorry dad

I just want to be who I really am

Lillian