Responding to HB2

The Facts: 

On Wednesday, March 23, North Carolina passed a law called HB2. The law is also known as Charlotte's Bathroom Bill. The law effects many members of the LGBT Community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered).  

Transgendered people do not identify with their biological sex. Despite what sexual organs they were born with, in their hearts and minds, they do not feel that their outsides match their insides. Trans people do not always surgically change their organs, but they often look the same as men or women who have identified with their biological organs since birth. For example, a person who was born with female genitalia, yet identifies as a male, may wear male's clothing, have facial hair, or go by a male name.

With the passing of HB2, transgendered people are not allowed to use the public restroom designated for the gender with which they identify.

Under the new law, only these categories are protected from discrimination: race, religion, color, national origin, age, handicap, or biological sex as defined on a person's birth certificate.

Holli's Reaction:

One thing that the law does not take into account is sexual orientation. Defining one's gender does not define one's sexual orientation. 

Here are a two examples:

1.  Born male > identifies as female > desires relationships with females

2.  Born male > identifies as female > desires relationships with males

A person's sexual orientation is not defined by his/her gender. 

It is interesting to me that some groups have protested holding signs that read, "PROTECT OUR WOMEN!" People who picket in full belief that women are in danger do not seem to understand the concept of being transgendered. A transgendered person is not the equivalent of a sex offender, a pedophile, or a sexual assailant. Transgendered people most likely want to use the bathroom (urinate or defecate) that has been specified for the gender in which they identify. 

I personally think that HB2 is dangerous and silly.
Outward appearance does not reflect morality. 

Some people who identify with their biological gender look "more manly" or "more effeminate." However, society has created a definition of what a women and men should stereotypically look like. Society makes a separation between men and women's clothing, hairstyles, scents, postures, and styles. No matter the outward appearance of a person, his/her moral compass could be just about anything. 

It is unfair to assume that a transgendered person has a sexually twisted moral compass.

It is unfair to assume that a transgendered person would want to hurt someone. 

It is unfair to assume that a transgendered person would be innately dangerous to be around. 

Whether one knows it or not, one has most likely been in a room or restroom with a transgendered person an had no idea of the fact. 

What if a woman who identifies with her biological female gender looks manly? Is it anyone's right to say that she cannot urinate in the women's restroom because she looks more like a man? The concept is ridiculous to me; it creates unnecessary paranoia. The danger is that people will always be looking over their shoulders in bathrooms, thus searching for someone who may look stereotypically different than society says they should. To single out a person based on his/her appearance is judgmental and condescending; it makes one less than another. No matter a person's outside looks, his/her inner self could fall on a wide spectrum of morality; none knows the inner workings of another based on physical appearance. 

In my opinion, HB2 creates paranoia and fear towards which is different and misunderstood. 

I encourage everyone to love others regardless of their appearance. Also, get to know someone who is different than you. Ask about their life, their morals, their beliefs, and try to understand where they are coming from. Live life with a spirit of understanding and compassion rather than judgment and fear of that which is different.