The City Council’s transgender-people-using-the-bathroom debate
The Story
The Charlotte City Council on Monday debated an ordinance that would prohibit businesses such as restaurants, bars and stores from discriminating against LGBT people. The ordinance wouldn’t apply to hiring or firing. It’s more about whether a bar can refuse to serve a gay man, for example.
But then the conversation took an odd turn.
Bathroom choice for transgender residents splits Charlotte City Council http://t.co/c2e0SPPL2L
— Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) February 10, 2015
The public restroom
This question arose: Should transgender people be allowed to pick which public bathroom they want to use? The debate went like this:
“If I send one of my daughters into a public bathroom, and I see (a man) going into that bathroom, I am going to have some concern.” -At-large member Michael Barnes, Democrat
“Mr. Barnes, if you want to know about people being discriminated against because they are LGBT, it’s a bad feeling going into a restaurant and being asked to turn around.” – Councilman Al Austin, Democrat
Councilman Kenny Smith, Republican, said he, too, was worried about his kids and the public restroom issue.
“That’s not deplorable.” – Smith
CharlotteObserver.com commenters go nuts
-Typical crazy liberal legislation removing rights of ordinary citizens in order to bend over for one who may be so called disenfranchised! Next thing this stupid council will do will be to supoena (sic) all pastors in Charlotte for their Sunday sermons! – Paul Booth
– This legislation is every perverts/pedophiles dream. You’ll have non-transgenders dressing like women and snapping pictures left and right. Can the future victims bring lawsuits against the city for allowing such absolutely ridiculous legislation? – Fantasymainframe
– go where your plumbing directs you, or where your clothing of choice would indicate….that should cover it – J.B. Hall
– But seriously, just make all the bathrooms unisex. Surely you saw this coming… – Damien Sullivan
C5’s Take
Weird debate. But here’s something you don’t see a lot in politics these days: a Dem and Rep agreeing on an issue. That’s something worth noting, right?
This story was originally published February 11, 2015 at 1:01 AM with the headline "The City Council’s transgender-people-using-the-bathroom debate."