Think Tank Position: Media Matters for America

The Media Matters for America blog published an article titled Debunking The Big MythAbout Transgender-Inclusive Bathrooms in March of 2014 that aimed to confront the assertion that trans* inclusive restrooms would increase assault and harassment of cisgender women by trans* individuals. This article was written by Carlos Maza who stated that conservative news outlets and individuals that have ignorant conceptions and fear of the trans* community are promoting these callous fabrications. While it is important to acknowledge that cisgender women face threats from cisgender men, the argument that trans* individuals should be restricted from using restrooms that fit their gender identity is based on oppressive tactics. As the Media Matters article explains:

“For as long as the transgender community has fought for protection from discrimination in public spaces, conservatives have peddled the myth that sexual predators will exploit non-discrimination laws to sneak into women's restrooms.” 

Unfortunately, this publicity tactic has been succeeded in convincing individuals and groups across the spectrum that multi-stall restrooms should be based on such preposterous limitations such as chromosomes (see post on HB 1748 in the Texas legislature). The Media Matters article notes that such tactics have increased the proliferation of laws that allow discrimination in public restrooms since conservative media outlets promote such baseless fears about trans* individuals.

Media Matters released a report to expose the myths surrounding the dangers of trans* inclusive restrooms. This report includes evidence from twelve states that have implemented non-discrimination laws around public restrooms and locker facilities and have had no issues as a result. Furthermore, Media Matters states that experts from these twelve states have rejected the unsubstantiated fears around trans* inclusive facilities.

But, who are these experts? Law enforcement officials, state human rights workers, and sexual assault victims advocates have all written emails or said on phone calls that there have been no assaults as a result of the non-discrimination laws. Below is a graphic from the Media Matters article that outlines some of the pertinent quotes from this report:

Maza continues the article by including information about a falsified story from the Christian Broadcasting Network that stated a girl was being harassed by a boy claiming to be transgender in the school restroom. Fox News picked up this story, which turned out to be fabricated as corroborated by the school superintendent and students at the school. Many of the news outlets who reported on this story published retractions or apologies.

Detailed information on the Media Matters report can be seen here.