Should Transgender Students Be Allowed To Use The Restroom?

Imagine not being able to use the restroom for fear of discrimination and rejection. For many transgender individuals, this is the harsh reality. Being transgender means that you don’t feel that the gender you were born as matches who you feel you are, which can result in using other pronouns, name changes, or SRS (gender affirming surgery). Transgender students should be allowed to use the restroom they feel fits with their gender identity, because even though some cisgender, people who feel like the gender they were born as matches them, people may feel uncomfortable, transgender individuals are vulnerable. Looks shouldn’t define gender, and laws have already been made that allow transgender people to use the restroom that matches their identity. Laws have been put in place to protect transgender individuals. One article stated, “Many states have already created laws/rights to protect transgender people” ((Bosman and Rich)). This explains that there
are many laws that have been set to make transgender individuals feel safe. There are also laws to protect against sex discrimination, a big problem many transgender people face, “Not acceptable to institute different restroom rules for transgender and cisgender people” (FAQ: Answers to Some Common Questions about Equal Access to Public Restrooms). These laws do not only just protect transgender students, but give them a sense of freedom and safety because they are being treated as a cisgender student would be. Looks should not define gender.
In this article it stated, “Transgender people do not have to look a certain way to be heard or accepted (masculine and feminine)” (FAQ: Answers to Some Common Questions about Equal Access to Public Restrooms). This can begin to tell us that someone’s looks should not define who they identify as, everyone displays both masculine and feminine traits, and neither of the traits are confined to one specific gender. It shouldn’t be a necessity for transgender people to display one trait in order to be accepted. It also stated, “Gender policing is harmful to everyone, whether a transgender person, a butch woman, an effeminate man or anyone dressed or groomed in a way that doesn’t conform to someone else’s gender standards” (FAQ: Answers to Some Common Questions about Equal Access to Public Restrooms). This is explaining that society's gender standards do not only impact transgender people negatively, it impacts everyone, no matter who they are or what they
wear. Some cisgender people may argue that they feel unsafe or uncomfortable if a transgender person is in the bathroom or locker room they are in, however transgender individuals are more vulnerable. “The kids who are most vulnerable are the transgender students” (Bosman and Rich). This can illustrate that the ones who may feel more uncomfortable or unsafe are the transgender students, not the cisgender students. Also, these transgender students are not coming to the restroom with the intention of making anyone uncomfortable, “Transgender students do not want to invade anyone’s privacy, they want to do their business” (Bosman and Rich). Bathrooms often have stall doors, which allows privacy if a person feels uncomfortable. Another thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the time it is difficult to identify whether or not a person is transgender, unless they have made it clear that they are. In conclusion, because of vulnerability, previously placed laws, and knowing that looks don’t define gender, transgender individuals have the right to use the restroom that applies to their gender identity. Next time you see a transgender individual being told they cannot use the restroom they are comfortable with, stand up for them, they have a right to equality too.