Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 5-24-16 Online Edition

Citizens Share Opinions On Controversial Transgender Bathroom Issue
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Recently, there has been controversy swirling around the issue of public bathrooms and transgender individuals. North Carolina legislators passed a law stating that in- dividuals must use the bath- rooms matching their biological makeup at birth. Currently, the State of North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against the federal govern- ment over the issue and the federal government is or plans to file one against North Carolina.
The question of the week posed to some Sentinel read- ers was, “Should individuals be required to use the bath- room in keeping with their biological makeup or of their preference?”
Danny Green said, “ I think everybody should use the restroom, which gender they was born with because there are some crazy people out there. Now all a guy has to do is dress up like a female and go into the female rest- room. That opens the door to some pedophiles. I think they should have one family rest- room where transgenders can use. Just like the handi- cap restroom.”
Rev. Karen Jackson Sims said, “There is no “yes” or “no” answer for the ques-
tion as presented. I believe this is a question that re- quires us to consider both our moral standards and the legality of the issue. This is the very reason President (Barack) Obama has been placed between a rock and hard place. The equal oppor- tunity laws enacted say that we can't discriminate against this segment of the popula- tion. His job is to uphold the law. Mine, is to question have we gone too far with the interpretation of the law.
“Morally, I do not want to render judgment upon these individuals for their lifestyle choice. It’s not my job, but I just believe that we have the same rights they have. Per- haps we should install unisex bathrooms in all public places receiving federal dol- lars. That solves the chal- lenge.
“Otherwise, Congress should go to work and change the law.”
Billy Wheeler said, “In my view, the deeper issue is the threats of violence and anger being directed at trans- gender people - who have been going to public rest- rooms for years with no con- troversy. This "issue," started in one North Carolina school district, was moved to their state Capitol via political scheming, and has been put forth to divert our attention from more important na- tional issues.
“Like most of us, trans people go to the restroom to relieve themselves and then leave. Those that have sin- gled them out as "other" in order to promote hatred and discrimination have found
yet another group to scorn and ridicule with the masses following in blind agreement.
Why are we so quick to join the cause, directing hos- tility and threats toward them when they did not insti- gate this matter? If we are truly concerned with pe- dophiles and rapists entering restrooms, then why are the threats and anger not being directed at them?
“I am especially disillu- sioned when Black people forget that we were formerly the pariahs in society who had to stop on roadsides for a toilet break because, by law, we were not welcome in public establishments.”
Dr. Samuel Wright
said, “This is a difficult mat- ter. I have continued to hear
the debate on both sides of the issue. What would be ideal is to have additional bathrooms, but this would be very costly.
“Based to the stats in this case, it appears that trans- gender folk are already using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. If this is true, I am not sure why this has become such a contro- versial issue. Maybe I do know...politics!”
Ms. Sherna Blair Rich
said, “For most individuals, using a bathroom, whether private or public, is without a doubt, a very personal and private issue. If nothing but knowing that the sense and space of one's privacy when doing so will not be invaded is comfort enough because of
all the few places where one has that sense of privacy, a bathroom is one of their places.
“Why? Because what hap- pens in a bathroom is a per- sonal and private thing, which when we think about it, we really do not want to share that information. The public outcry of some indi- viduals who, for whatever reason, want to invade the rest of our senses and spaces of privacy is indeed another very personal and private issue because they have made very personal and pri- vate decisions about their lifestyles.
That everyone feels se- cure to use bathrooms, espe- cially public ones, whereby personal and/or private harm and the sense of same is not threatened, state and federal governments would be more effective to spend the money and time to create and fund building bathrooms for these individuals instead of spending and tying up tax- payer dollars in state and federal courts.”
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7
Opinions