Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Group overusing the 'men invading women's restrooms' lie in Florida

Riddle me this - an organization uses a tactic against a non-discrimination bill which not only fails but fails overwhelmingly.

Should the organization use the tactic again?

Usually an organization wouldn't. But in this case, we are dealing with one of those pesky "traditional values groups."

In Gainesvile, FL, a group calling itself the Concerned Citizens of Gainesville are trying to keep Craig Lowe from becoming Mayor. They have two problems with him.

First that he is openly gay. Secondly that he helped to lead the effort to defeat a repeal of an anti-discrimination law last year. The repeal effort lost by a huge majority (61 percent). And what's more interesting is that supporters of the repeal (the losers) used the tired talking point of how the law would lead to men invading women's restrooms.

If the "bathroom"  tactic didn't work to repeal the anti-discrimination law, then what makes the "Concerned Citizens of Gainesville" think that it can defeat Lowe?

Never mind that Lowe has spent many years in public service, including serving on the Gainesville Commission since 2003 because to them, it's all about the bathrooms..

Those who want to support Lowe's campaign can go here.



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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The bathroom thing is basically just screaming "I have never done the slightest research about them or even spoken to a trsanperson, BUT I HATE THEM!"

I guarantee you that if a 'man' was actually caught in a women's restroom he'd be required to provide some proof he's transitioning. *I remember my doctor talking about a 'bathroom letter' before I stopped seeing him*

Lynn Miller said...

The Gainesville transgender ordinance has in effect for two years. There haven't been any problems.

In fact, 122 states, counties and cities in the US have laws protecting gender identity or gender expression. Some of these laws have been in force for more than 20 years. In none of those localities have women been harassed by men in the restroom.

If you can toss a few dollars towards the Lowe campaign, please consider doing so. We can't let the haters succeed in torpedoing him for his equality advocacy.
http://www.craiglowe.com/donate/