On March 23, 2016, North Carolina passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law which prevents transgender people from using the bathroom designated to the gender that they identify with. This law is very ignorant because transgenders will not feel comfortable, and they will be discriminated against for their gender identity. The issue is that people feel uncomfortable or unsafe if a transgender person walks into the bathroom. There should be no problem since they are using the bathroom that is for their gender. Cisgender people, a person who identifies with their biological sex, also state that more incidents of rape or sexual assault would exist, but in reality, there has been no increase.

Transgender people have been assaulted in bathrooms which is why gender neutral bathrooms should exist. No one should feel uncomfortable if transgenders use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender because bathrooms have stalls. They are not open spaces, and they have doors which provide privacy. Even though gender neutral bathrooms would exist, there would still be bathrooms for just men and women. Gender neutral bathrooms would mainly be for transgender people to be comfortable and feel safe.

A survey, conducted by the DC Trans Coalition, found that 70% of transgenders have issues in the bathroom. Trans people have said that they get stared at in the restroom of their gender, but they also get stared at in the restroom of their sex. Although some say that opposing gender neutral bathrooms does not make you transphobic, I believe that it does. I believe this because even if there are gender neutral bathrooms, there would still be bathrooms that are for each gender. If people say that they feel uncomfortable when a transgender person walks in, they are transphobic. Everyone deserves equal access to public facilities. There is more discrimination against trans people in bathrooms than rape because of gender neutral bathrooms. Trans people being able to safely use a bathroom is a right that they should have. It should not be a controversial topic.

<Lena Park Cypress Highschool 10th Grade>