Seeing the above on Facebook (from PBS) reminded me of a story I was listening to on NPR this morning – Big Business is having a grudge match in the Texas Legislature, their opponent being religious conservatives. The issue? The above. Business – especially those in Houston, hosting an upcoming event (NCAA basketball, maybe?) – are concerned that overturning the transgender bathroom law will cost millions of dollars as events and businesses pull out.
Religious conservatives are afraid that men will dress in girly clothes and traipse into the women’s restrooms and rape the 9 year olds they find in there.
I’m sure you’ve all heard that explanation before, but I am compelled to say, I KID YOU NOT.
You boys in Texas, you need to think hard about this: No Rapist Is Held Back By A Lack Of Girly Clothes. In fact, we can assume that restrooms, particularly in busy venues, are simply not good for rape. Tragically, it happens – but permitting the transgender to use the one that makes them comfortable isn’t going to lead to mass rapes.
It seems the problem here is that the conservatives chose to take control of the argument, and no one challenged them where it hurts – in the illogic of their base argument. It’s pathetic that is the best they can do, and that so many people listen to it. No doubt it’s because everyone hears R A P E and stop reading. And thinking.
So everyone, THINK. Transgender bathrooms, involving as few people as they do, are a truly trivial issue. The question for religious conservatives is What makes you afraid of doing the right damn thing? ‘cuz it sure isn’t rape concerns. That’s just damn silly.
