Transgender individuals have struggled for certain rights which are easily available to cisgender individuals, the current issue being which bathroom they have access to. Recently North Carolina governor Pat McCrory passed a law forcing all individuals to use the restroom which corresponded with their biological sex.

This has forced transgender individuals into potentially dangerous situations, yet many supporters of this law voice that transgender individuals in personally appropriate restrooms make them uncomfortable. One argument is that  men would pretend to be transgender in order to gain access to women’s bathrooms which would put females in danger, which is an understandable fear.

However, it turns out that transgender individuals are actually more at risk of assault in the “correct” bathroom. “53% of 6,450 transgender people reported being harassed or disrespected in a place of public accommodation in a recent survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force” according to Lambda Legal.

When, for example, a passing transgender women is forced to use a male bathroom due to her biological sex, she would be at risk of being attacked. Many transgender individuals have voiced their concerns about this issue.

In the article “I’m a Transgender Man in North Carolina. Here’s What the Bathroom Law Means for Me”, Charlie Comero shares his concerns about the North Carolina law. He explains that when he must use the women’s restroom, people may suspect him as a predator due to his masculine appearance, and thus he may become an attack victim.

He recalled speaking to his girlfriend after the law was proposed, and she became upset at his prediction: “it became clear to her that I was at risk for getting hurt.”

It seems to me that opposers to transgender people using their corresponding bathrooms aren’t concerned over potential predators taking advantage of this. Although it is a logical fear, I don’t think these people are only worried about this risk- they simply want to keep transgender people in a society which they see fit.

They want to feel power in thinking that transgender people are “confused” or “delusional” or whatever terms they throw around. They don’t want to legitimize the transgender experience, and admit that maybe, transgender people are normal people who are simply trying to live their lives as well as anyone else.

People against transgender rights are, I think, desperately reaching for ways to prevent transgender individuals from being comfortable in order to perpetuate the stigma that transgender people are just confused or even delusional.

But the truth is, whether or not their personal gender is legitimate is not the issue. There is no issue. Transgender people, as well as every other individual regardless of gender, race etc, deserve the right to live without societal restraints as long as their pursuit of happiness doesn’t harm anyone else.