Transgender debate back in the news

Posted by Lance Gravlee on February 3, 2008 
Filed Under In the news

citysealblue.jpgThe front page of today’s Gainesville Sun reports that the local debate over a city ordinance that protects transgendered people from discrimination has attracted national attention. The Sun’s original story, which I wrote about last week, also appeared on the widely read Drudge Report.

Today’s article focuses on the “heated response” to the anti-discrimination ordinance. According to the Sun, city commissioners continue to receive complaints from opponents of the ordinance. The chief concern appears to be whether local businesses need to accommodate transgendered people in restrooms, dressing rooms, and fitness-center showers.

Joe Cirulli, founder of Gainesville Health & Fitness Centers, the city’s largest fitness provider, was among those who waited in line to address the City Commission Monday night. His comments were quick and to the point: How would this affect GH&FC, which provides showers and locker rooms for both men and women at all its centers except for its one women’s center that has facilities only for women.

Josh Alterman, owner of Alter Ego Fitness in Gainesville, shares Circulli’s apprehension. “It does concern me,” said Alterman. “I would be very uncomfortable letting a transgender customer into our female restroom, and I think that would make our female customers very uncomfortable.”

According to the Sun, the ordinance allows businesses to deny transgendered people access to restrooms and other facilities if equal alternative facilities are available.

But how big an issue is this? The Sun notes that transgender anti-discrimination laws are on the books in “93 cities and counties, 13 states and the District of Columbia.” Is there evidence that the laws have created problems in any of these places? The Sun put this question to city officials from Lake Worth and Key West, where similar provisions are in place; the officials deny that there has been any negative fallout. I wonder if there has been a systematic study of the effects of gender identity provisions in anti-discrimination laws.

The Sun also interviewed Nora Spencer, director of the University of Florida Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. As she points out, “Trans people are using bathrooms now and have been forever. People probably didn’t even realize they were in there.”

What’s your take on this debate?

Comments

4 Responses to “Transgender debate back in the news”

  1. Douglas Monroe on February 5th, 2008 2:06 pm

    I find this debate interesting because it raises some important questions about the differences between “sex” and “gender” as mediating forces in social processes as well as public policy. Gender, as an aspect of an individual’s social identity, is subject to negotiation. Sex, the presence or absence of a Y chromosone (having a penis or a vagina)is somewhat less pliable. Does it make sense to use either one of these categories of difference as a basis for segregation? We could have have seperate bathrooms for homosexual men and straight men…That might appeal to some of the opponents of this proposed ordinance. But then what to do with everyone who is bisexual? In what way is this debate different from the debate over the “seperate but equal” doctrine used to justify discrimination on the basis of “race”?

  2. Keri on February 8th, 2008 12:17 am

    I do not have an extensive thought on this matter. But, being a women I would feel opening that can of worms to basically allow WHOMEVER to which WHICHEVER restroom they wanted would allow for possible perverts to enter the scene. I am fine with a biological male who dresses like a woman because he WANTS to, to use the women’s restroom because he feels that is who he is and vice versa. However, it’s when people cross the line and sexual predators enter the scene that things start to get a little out of control.

  3. Douglas Monroe on February 10th, 2008 3:41 pm

    While I understand that fear of “perverts” and molesters is very prevalent in our society, I think that it is a weak basis for opposing the ordinance. We should not, in my view, use the fear of one category of person to jusitfy discrimination against another…for example, I wouldn’t want to argue that fear of “terrorists” jusitfies discrimination against Muslims or other people of Arabic descent.
    Another thought that intrigues me: the intersection of public/private spaces with public/private behaviors. I think the debate over the ordinance underscores the friction between these concepts. For instance, going to the bathroom is generally regarded as a private behavior, but if you go into a public restroom…you are entering a “public” space. How do we negotiate private behaviors in public spaces???

  4. Charles Sands on November 3rd, 2009 6:27 am

    I don’t think that letting transgendered people using the washroom which represents their sexual gender is opening the door for perverts to enter the scene. I mean, what do you think transgendered people have a trail of perverts following them around? Or are you saying that transgendered people themselves are perverts. I don’t think that one has anything to do with the other. However, I do understand that a biological female in womens shower might feel uncomfortable with a pre op transexual. So to put it in a nutshell, a washroom for transgendered people is not a necessity, however a shower for transgendered people would not be a bad idea.