Virginia Legislator Introduces "Restroom" Bills

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/state/government/del-cole-files-bill-restricting-restroom-use-of-transgender-people/article_f5d42b6a-b96d-11e5-bdcd-1f08717c94a5.html

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

Nothing original in this baloney!!

[Guest]

It's the coal dust??? Causes respitory damage to workers and brain damage to politicians???

In the desert most of us get Valley Fever but it doesn't effect us that way except in Fountain Hills. Giggle.

Please forgive my sarcastic humor, maybe just a humorless tragedy... Shutting up now

[MarcieMarie12]

I live here. I though Virginia was better than that.

[StephanieVikingGirl]

This is unfortunate. I have many friends who live in Virginia, and it is terrible how different things are back there, than here in California. I hope none of these bills ever pass.

hugs,

Stephanie

[MarcieMarie12]

I read up on the delagate, apparently he's submitted stuff like this before.

[MarcieMarie12]

I just shot off an e-mail to my Delegate in the house for what it is worth. Here is what I wrote. My fellow Virginians feel free to use this or create your own when contacting you Delegate about this law. :

Delegate Mark Levine,

It recently came to my attention that legislation was proposed to limit transgender persons to the restroom of their "anatomy". I am referring to HB663

transgender individuals would be prohibited from using public and school restrooms that correspond with their gender identities under legislation proposed by Del. Mark Cole, R–Spotsylvania.

Not only is this legislation unwarranted, it will result in violations of federal law. I am sure you will agree that we have better places to spend our Virginia tax dollars and resources defending such a law.

Further more research has shown laws protecting a transgender persons ability to use the bathroom of their perceived or preferred gender has not resulted in an increase in sexual assaults. Nor has there been any instances of a male predator posing as a transgender person to sneak into the women's restroom. I have included a link to this research.

http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/01/12/florida-experts-debunk-the-transgender-bathroom/207916

I might also add that this bill would force transmen to use the ladies room. Which would be a cause for discomfort in women's rooms, and discomfort for the transman as well. Something your colleague also doesn't consider. And in the men's room a transwomen is vulnerable to attack, harassment. This leads the transwomen of Alexandria such as myself in the unenviable choice of do I break the law or put myself in a dangerous situation. If anything (and if possible) I would ask that you propose legislation guaranteeing a persons right to use the public facilities of the gender they identify with as a counter to this bill to protect the rights of transgender individuals such as myself.

Respectfully,

Marcie

[Guest Ladyinker]

Well I hope his Bill goes nowhere fast.

Erin

[Guest Kenna Dixon]

From one of the inane comments under the article:

You do realize that male rapists will have EASIER access to women's restrooms with the passage of this bill?

Why? Will the doors be taken off of their hinges?

[Guest]

Some of the commenters are some really sick people. They perpetuate their sexual sickness. They are actually the dangerous ones. I would not want to know them under any circumstances. They are tragic.

[Charlize]

I like your letter Marcie. Hopefully while many states are talking about bathroom bills few will ever pass them. If they do i'll have to take my ACLU card to the bathroom. Getting a group of trans* men and women together for a sitting could be great fun.

Hugs,

Charlize

[MarcieMarie12]

I cleaned up the letter, even though I already sent it. I just was so angry I had to send it right away.....

Delegate Mark Levine,

It recently came to my attention that legislation was proposed to limit transgender persons to the restroom of their "anatomy". I am referring to HB663, that prohibits transgender individuals from using public and school restrooms that correspond with their gender identities under legislation proposed by Del. Mark Cole, R–Spotsylvania. Not only is this legislation unwarranted, it will result in violations of federal law title IX. I am sure you will agree that we have better places to spend our Virginia tax dollars and resources than having to defend such a proposed law.

Furthermore research has shown laws protecting transgender persons’ ability to use the bathroom of their perceived or preferred gender has not resulted in an increase in sexual assaults. Nor have there been any instances of a male predator posing as a transgender person in order to sneak into the women's restroom. I have included a link to this research.

http://mediamatters....bathroom/207916

I might also add that this bill would force transmen to use the ladies room. Which would cause discomfort for women seeing a man in the ladies room. It will also be a discomfort for the transman being forced into that situation as well. For a transwomen being in the men's is dangerous, as we are vulnerable to attack and harassment. This leads the transwomen of Alexandria such as myself in the unenviable choice of do I break the proposed law or put myself in a dangerous situation. If anything (and if possible) I would ask that you propose legislation guaranteeing a persons’ right to use the public facilities of the gender they identify with as a counter to this bill to protect the rights of transgender individuals such as myself.

Respectfully,

Marcie

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Also if you need to find your representive in the Virginia legislature you can go to the the following page: http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/