(09-18-2016 11:42 AM)queenladybug817 Wrote:  I wish you weren't, but you are incorrect in saying the initial ordinance put in place by Charlotte was also a solution in search of a problem. Perhaps you are unaware at how awful transgender people are treated everywhere, to include Charlotte? By far, transgender people are harassed, attacked, raped and murdered, often over simple bathroom use, every single day, all over the country . . .

. . . I think laws restricting bathrooms to some concept of birth gender or what's on birth certificate are ways to use the guise of safety for women and girls, in a way to discriminate against transgender people. The safety line is a nice load of BS. This is not how you create safe bathrooms. For one, it's IMPOSSIBLE to enforce. I'd love for someone to tell me, other than a potty guard at all public restrooms, how do you plan to enforce something so insane? And then what criteria is used to decide who is allowed where . . .

. . . To think bathrooms were safe for women at any point, is very naïve. Before these laws, my mother taught me to always pay attention when going to a public restroom and think in terms of my own safety. I've passed along those guidelines to my children, no matter their gender or sexual orientation. Situational awareness, EVERYWHERE. There is no magic force field on the women's bathroom door to prevent a man from following me into a secluded restroom when I'm alone . . .

. . . Look at the ENTIRE picture here. If it's really about bathroom safety, then there are plenty of things that can be done that doesn't discriminate against people . . . I'm not going to brand people bigots for their concerns. But I do want people to see all sides and realize that there are solutions that address safety for everyone. There are valid safety concerns, but NC isn't fixing anything, with that one part of HB2.

Let's be clear. This entire kerfuffle is about the transgender bathroom clause. Did Charlotte have a problem with transgender people being denied the right to use the bathroom of their choice? I can't find any evidence to support that assertion.

But, let's say that Charlotte had a well-documented problem with transgender people being kept out of their bathroom of choice. Are there legitimate concerns with the Charlotte law? Maybe you don't have a problem with men having a legal right to shower with your daughters, but I don't think those who object are simply pushing "a nice load of BS." (And I find it amusing that you claim the Charlotte law is needed to protect transgender people by arguing that my concerns are invalid because laws can't keep us safe anyway.)

You say there are plenty of things we can do that protect people and maintain safety. Let's start with the most basic thing. How would you legally define someone as transgender?