When I watched Comedy Central's "The Trans Panic Epidemic" video on YouTube, I was utterly horrified.

 

            This Transgender Panic revolves around the issue of which bathrooms transgender people should be allowed into. Many people are afraid that a man will be able to claim he is a transgender woman to that he can sexually assault women in public restrooms. Their solution to this "problem" is to create laws forcing transgender people to use the bathrooms that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate.

 

            The Daily Show handled this issue in an eye opening, yet comical, way. They began their segment by having Jessica Williams interview Megan Taylor, an African American transgender woman who was arrested last summer just for being transgender. Ms. Williams then proceeded to interview member of the Colorado House of Representatives, Chaplain Gordon Kilingenschmitt as well as a panel of several transgender activists. Chaplain Kilingenschmitt insists that the transgender community is full of men and women who are simply "confused about their own identity" and "want the rest of us to be confused with them." He agrees that transgender men pose a threat to women in public restrooms and is in support of these "Trans Panic Defenses."

 

            This is a ridiculous claim. For one, if a woman is raped or harassed in a public restroom, the offender would not be allowed to get away with the crime by just saying they are transgender. Not to mention, it takes a lot of courage for a man or woman to make the decision to come out as transgender. They are often ridiculed and harassed by their own family and friends for being themselves. So, it is extremely offensive to say that these transgender men and women would put themselves through so much pain just to harass people in public places.

 

            And one question in particular has been on my mind: how would these laws against the transgender community even be enforced? It would be considered sexual assault to physically check for the "proper genitalia." And, besides, plenty of transgender people have had reassignment surgery. It would be rude to police people simply based on their looks. There are transgender people who have reached a stage of transition where you can no longer tell that they are transgender. Also, some non-transgender men look very feminine and some non- transgender women look very masculine.

 

            So, stop harassing the transgender community! Your defense is weak and your laws wouldn't work anyways.


Below is the video of "The Daily Show: The Trans Panic Epidemic." Check it out and comment below! Thank You!