You've probably heard, by now, about the "bathroom bill" passed in North Carolina. In essence, it says that people have to use public bathrooms in accordance with the gender indicated on their birth certificates.
Since this a blog about cycling (well, mostly), I'm not going to get into what the law means for transgenders, or people in general. I am fortunate, I guess, in that it's been a long time since I've been hassled about being in the "wrong" bathroom. One thing I wonder, though, is whether or not I need to carry a copy of my birth certificate with me if I ever have to change flights in Charlotte, or go to the Tar Heel State for any other reason. In case you're wondering: Yes, my birth certificate says I'm female.
Anyway, in fairness, I'll point out that North Carolina isn't the only jurisdiction that has such a regulation, whether in the letter of the law or in effect. The probable reason why the law has made gotten so much publicity is that the state legislature voted for it, and the governor signed it, the day after the city of Charlotte passed its own law saying that LGBT people would be protected in "public accomodations", including bathrooms.
Also, this is a Presidential election year and although North Carolina voted for Mitt Romney four years ago and for every Republican candidate since 1980--with one exception--the margins of victory have been slim. (That exception came in 2008, when Barack Obama took the state from John McCain.) Also, there are pockets of the state, such as the "Research Triangle" and much of Charlotte, where Democratic support is almost as strong as it is in most Northeastern states and coastal metropoli.
But about the bathrooms: I hope that no place where I cycle will ever pass its version of a "bathroom bill", and that no ride organizer will institute such a rule. After all, organized bike rides are among the few arenae in which the lines for the women's rooms are actually shorter than those for the men's rooms.
Now you know the real reason why I "changed" my gender! ;-)
Since this a blog about cycling (well, mostly), I'm not going to get into what the law means for transgenders, or people in general. I am fortunate, I guess, in that it's been a long time since I've been hassled about being in the "wrong" bathroom. One thing I wonder, though, is whether or not I need to carry a copy of my birth certificate with me if I ever have to change flights in Charlotte, or go to the Tar Heel State for any other reason. In case you're wondering: Yes, my birth certificate says I'm female.
Anyway, in fairness, I'll point out that North Carolina isn't the only jurisdiction that has such a regulation, whether in the letter of the law or in effect. The probable reason why the law has made gotten so much publicity is that the state legislature voted for it, and the governor signed it, the day after the city of Charlotte passed its own law saying that LGBT people would be protected in "public accomodations", including bathrooms.
Also, this is a Presidential election year and although North Carolina voted for Mitt Romney four years ago and for every Republican candidate since 1980--with one exception--the margins of victory have been slim. (That exception came in 2008, when Barack Obama took the state from John McCain.) Also, there are pockets of the state, such as the "Research Triangle" and much of Charlotte, where Democratic support is almost as strong as it is in most Northeastern states and coastal metropoli.
But about the bathrooms: I hope that no place where I cycle will ever pass its version of a "bathroom bill", and that no ride organizer will institute such a rule. After all, organized bike rides are among the few arenae in which the lines for the women's rooms are actually shorter than those for the men's rooms.
Now you know the real reason why I "changed" my gender! ;-)
