Public restrooms. It happens. We've all had to enter one at sometime. You go in, mind your business and then leave. Until now. Now it's a political statement. Now it's liberals against conservatives. Meanwhile- I'm staring at the stick figures on the door wondering if I am violating anyone's civil liberties as I cross my legs and hold it. All of a sudden, a quick pit stop at a public restroom is no longer worth the trouble.
As the general public releases their artillery disguised as clever memes and religious views, I cringe. I cypher each view point and wait for an impartial and balanced voice to tell us all there is an easy answer. There isn't one. People want to believe their children are more protected using the restroom with "their kind". Boys to the left, girls to the right. As the specifics are attempted to be ironed out- I cry. I sob at the hurt being dished to anyone with a social media profile. I visit friends who know my secret. I see my husband lower his gaze for the hundredth time. They cannot give me the explanation but they feel my hurt. As social media personalities battle between civil liberties, bathrooms and safety, I begin to wonder who gets to decide my sexuality as I enter the restroom. Apparently, according to the angry man with a video camera, or the clever mom chanting for us to boycott stores that encourage perverts and pedophiles, it is to be decided amongst ourselves. Possibly an angry man with a gun standing at the public restroom checking for all of the body parts before he allows you to enter the restroom. I like to picture him wearing a shirt that states "I'm THAT dad".
I see where this is headed and I am pleading that we stop. While you all were targeting a specific group, repeatedly transgenders were mentioned, you have offended me beyond your comprehension. I'm a straight married woman and the mother of one girl and one boy. And you were talking about me!!!
I will soon receive comments and posts that explain how you were talking about "those other people". I will receive comments that tell me I'm too sensitive and wrong. No, you were definitely talking about me and you never stopped for one minute to even realize it, that's how ignorance and hate spreads.
I am THAT mom. THAT wife. We are THAT family. I am a cancer survivor. I received three separate cancer diagnoses in 12 months. Thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. I no longer have a uterus, cervix, right breast or left ovary. I take medication everyday to block the estrogen in my body... There are very few things left in my body that clinically identifies me as female. I am sure you meant no harm, but I am asking we use great caution before we start creating our own definition of gender. I have had multiple discussions with medical professionals and have been assured that my sexuality is still in tact. This is something that I remind myself each time you try to give specifics of the evil people you are targeting.
Did you stop to think about that before you started making fun of people and creating panic over a bathroom? I have no idea if I meet your criteria of being qualified for the women's restroom.
I can assure you though signs mean nothing to people who are trying to hurt someone. I've been hurt countless times in my life and not once was it because of a poster on a door granting permission for the act to occur.
We've been sharing restrooms with transgenders for decades. It simply has not been discussed... I have read the data in the other letters and documentation you have all so eloquently provided as fact. I'm going to call your bluff though. Sexual orientation or the surgical transformation of a human doesn't make them a pedophile.
Making generalized remarks about what does or does not make someone a female makes you rude though. I'd rather not share a bathroom with THAT kind of person, but I will. I'll even pass you a roll of Charmin if you ask nicely. I'm THAT girl.
