Police Called on Transgender Woman for Using Women’s Bathroom in Public Library

The following is an account about an incident in neighboring Springfield, as relayed by a very good friend:

A security guard kicked a transgender woman, Marie, out of the single use women’s bathroom. Then the head of security asked her if she had had “the surgery.” Marie told him it is none of his business. Security then called the Springfield police. Two police officers arrived and approached Marie at the public computer terminal, asked her to step aside, and told her that she can’t use the restroom because she is “still a man.”

I arrived at the library within 15 minutes of these events and asked to speak with the head of security. Roger Larsar came out and the three of us, Marie, Roger, and I stepped outside. I only gave him my name (and I was in a suit). I informed him that Marie is a transgender female, she belongs in the women’s bathroom, and it is not safe for her to use the men’s room. I asked why he called the police and why he asked about her genitals. I said, “do you ask all the patrons of the library what their genitals look like?” He said, “No, just anyone who looks like that,” pointing at Marie. He also spoke about the number of sex offenders in the area. I stopped him and asked him what this has to do with anything we are talking about. He agreed it was irrelevant. He then excused himself and returned with the Springfield Library Director. I informed her of the situation - that Marie is a transgender female, she used the single use women’s room, and the security officers called the police. I told her that this was unnecessary and very embarassing to Marie. She apologized to Marie and told Roger Larsar that she wished he had checked with her before calling the police.

Roger then apologized to Marie and shook Marie’s hand. I asked if there would be any future problems with Marie using the single use women’s room and they said there would not be. The Library Director also said that they would train their staff and work on having a written policy. I thanked them, we all shook hands, and Marie and I left.

Marie and I are both contacting GLAD’s hotline to inform them of these events and see what, if anything, needs to be done.

And of course, my favorite queer folk artist, adhamh roland, has put the whole bathroom issue in perspective in adhamh’s song: Bathrooms, boxes and binary… enjoy the song (www.riotfolk.org) Download link

Or for futher bathroom reading visit pissr’s website at http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~schess/organizations/pissar/contents.html

or

The Transgender Law Centers Safe Bathrooms webpages or pdf Peeing in Peace

http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org/