This sounds like Phylis Shafly's (sp?) argument that passing the ERA would result in unisex bathrooms. Seriously stupid.

I don't know... I what if sick perverted men take advantage of this law and try to hurt women. and besides, I don't want men in my bathroom or shower. I just don't feel comfortable. Women in my opinion need a place where we can put on our make-up and use the bathroom in peace. Pronouns and plastic surgery kinda doesn't make you a woman. your DNA stills says "man" and when you die, (if you believe in God) you will be judged naked with everything God gave you, not with what you decided to self mutilate your-self with. Just saying, can a woman use the bathroom in peace?!?

Seal, you really need to do a little academic reading on transgender issues.

Outside of that, what about people born with genetic disorders? There are plenty of individuals who present as one sex physically but are genetically coded the other. Many don't realize this until adulthood, when they try to conceive and can't. Are you planning to discriminate against them as well so you can have a comfortable place to put on your make-up?

not with what you decided to self mutilate your-self with

hehe, repetition.

Anyhoo, people should be allowed to use the locker room of the gender with which they identify. Chances are, if they are pre-op trans, they already respect the concept that their different junk might freak people out and know how to handle that, if it's by changing in a stall or whatever.

And if someone wanted badly enough to get into a locker room to assault someone, they'd figure out a way. A nasty, narrow-minded, discriminating hate law is not going to stop them.

I'm not against unisex bathrooms. Hey there, that's what stalls are for. I can understand locker rooms because most people aren't comfortable changing or showering in front of the opposite gender if they aren't involved with them. But bathrooms? Nah, you're enclosed and you only see the other people when you're washing your hands. I think I can handle sharing my Softsoap with men.

I worked at a goth/fetish bar for years, and we never had a problem when the trannies used the women's room. Only when they would try to use the men's room, and even then, not very often.

Honestly, in the 9 years I worked there, we only ever had to have words with one of the Trans guys about his bathroom etiquette in the women's room, and s/he was kind of problem in other arenas, too. So, it wasn't like that was their only issue.

Here's a brief insight for those that have commented thus far, some stating fears.

The situation, in my home of Montgomery County Maryland, is about discrimination at the most basic survival levels, such as workplace, housing, public services. That it has been unfairly conflated with any other issue is both misleading, and an unwarranted fear tactic used by these groups.

The legislation mirrors laws that have been passed in nearly 100 localities including 13 states around the U.S. already, and there has never been any record of the kinds of fears having a basis in fact, that these groups have used to spearhead this issue.

They told the county residents that were no public hearings held. As a personal recipient of extreme social and workplace discriminations based on being Trans, I testified at those hearings standing right next to one of the local heads of opposition in a packed council chamber, almost a year ago.

Opposition members told the voting public it had all been underpublicized so that the council could just "sneak one under the noses of the county residents".

Considering that there were full hearings made public on this subject, lots of local media coverage (including a full page Washington Post Sunday Edition that interviewed me personally), this was also not true.

I watched in horror myself as several of their representatives told the general public both of these lies, en masse, at their various petitions sites during their petitions gathering phase.

They were proven in court to have submitted many incorrect, and possibly falsified signatures as well, that the judge threw out.

This is about discrimination, plain and simple.

Thanks,
Most Sincerely,

Maryanne Arnow

Please see these links:

http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2008/08/guest-blog-living-with-discrimination.html

http://www.metroweekly.com/gauge/?ak=3008

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/10/AR2007111001436_2.html