Supporter of transgender law says use judgment ‘without discriminating’
May 13, 2016, 9:41 AM | Updated: 10:02 am

"For years we've been sharing our locker rooms with transgender people ..." (AP)
(AP)
Opponents of the group fighting to undo a law giving transgender people certain rights argue that what is being disputed is part of a rule created a decade ago.
Heather Weiner, with told ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dave Ross that is using the now-nationwide debate as “political fodder.”
Related: Opponent of transgender access says law violates women’s boundaries
Weiner understands what the privacy group is concerned about assault and privacy. However, when the Human Rights Commission extended protections to transgender people in Washington – which included allowing them use of restrooms and locker rooms of the gender they identify with – it didn’t weaken criminal laws set to protect people.
“Regardless of gender or gender identity, if they are there and you think they want to, or have, committed a crime, call 911,” Weiner said.
But, “Do not single out transgender people,” she added. “Don’t discriminate against transgender [people] and say they have to go use another facility.”
Just Want Privacy, which is collecting signatures to get an initiative (I-1515) on the November ballot that would allow businesses to restrict access to facilities based on gender, argues that it is not anti-transgender. The group’s members, however, are worried about people taking advantage of the law for the wrong reasons.
But how are people supposed to properly identify who should and shouldn’t be in, for example, a women’s locker room? Dave asked what the response should be when a person born as a male, who now identifies as female, is in the room with other women?
Weiner says it is all about how someone acts. If the person in question is going about their business like everyone else, leave it be. If they begin acting “suspiciously,” that’s when you call law enforcement and/or get management involved. Determine based on behavior, not looks, she explained.
“For years we’ve been sharing our locker rooms with transgender people …” Weiner said, adding that it’s often transgender people who are harassed and assaulted. “This is the reason many people are opposing I-1515. We need to stay safe without discriminating.”
A directive from the Obama administration coincides with that sentiment. Sent to schools on Friday, the directive states that public schools must allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen identity. Guidance from leaders at the departments of Education and Justice says that’s true, even if education records or documents indicate a different sex.
“There is no room in our schools for discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against transgender students on the basis of their sex,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement accompanying the directive, which is being sent to school districts on Friday.