Letter: Denial of identity rights based on fear, not facts

Denial of identity rights based on fear, not facts

Eleven states have gone to court to block the federal mandate to ensure that bathroom rights in public schools are based on a person’s gender identity. This hateful reaction to everyone’s freedom of selfhood and denial of access to public facilities is an affront to common sense and common decency. They seem to be a toxic blend of disrespect for another’s sense of self, a fixation on genitals instead of gender identity, confused homophobia, and fear-driven dread of differences and denial of human compassion.

The rush to restrict the use of toilets to birth gender, regardless of gender identity, is not based on any records of assaults by transgender persons. Do some research, I have. Just the opposite, from the data, transgender folks are the victims of the attacks!

Could these emotional outbursts crafted into laws and lawsuits represent deeply troubling sexual-mental health: a voyeuristic disorder and a frightening dysfunctional sexuality? It might just be a sinister misogyny masquerading as civic concern, bigoted religious and cultural discrimination, and a treacherous un-American denial of another’s right to self-determination.

The denial of individual rights of identity and access to public facilities is based on unsubstantiated, bigoted fear — not facts.

This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 2:02 AM with the headline "Letter: Denial of identity rights based on fear, not facts."