🚨 OUTRAGE IN OKLAHOMA 🚨

 

Oklahoma House’s decision to police a single women’s Capitol bathroom is sexist and outrageous An empty women's bathroom at the Oklahoma State Capitol is pictured. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) By JANELLE STECKLEIN, Oklahoma Voice

The bathroom police have arrived at the Oklahoma state Capitol, and our Republican lawmakers plan to lead the charge of deciding who’s woman enough to pee. It’s yet another state police attacking the rights of transgender people, but they’ve added more targets: children. Now, hold on. Before you poo-poo the idea, the male-dominated House wants the public to know that legislators only plan to police usage in one particular bathroom — the one that’s designated for use by their female colleagues. Yes, for some reason those we’ve elected to serve in our 60th House Legislature are obsessed with who is entering and exiting that single women’s bathroom as well as apparently what might be going on inside. They’re so interested they spent over 15 minutes last week discussing and then passing a new — and unheard of in our state — rule that requires anyone who uses the restroom, which is located at the back of the House chamber, to be “a person born as a biological female.” They passed no such rule governing the men’s room. And as a bit of potpourri to try to sweeten this already flaming pile of excrement, Republicans revealed that the new rule means that their female colleagues can no longer accompany their young sons, nephews or grandsons if they need to use that potty. Female lawmakers will have to use a less convenient facility elsewhere in the building if they want to help a small child assigned a different gender use the bathroom. It’s like these people don’t have kids – or at least don’t care about them. As the mother of a young boy, I can tell you he’s frequently accompanied me into women’s restrooms when my husband isn’t around. Not a single woman has objected to him being there with me. Violating the House’s new bathroom rule means risking censure, which could result in loss of women’s privilege to vote, and, as one Democrat pointed out, deprive the 40,000 people who live in their district of legislative representation. But lest you worry your pretty little heads, when a male Republican asked about what potential punishments he could face, House members made clear that it wouldn’t impact men who might have female relations visit them at the Capitol. They won’t face the same risk of censure. The new rule is outrageous, downright sexist and really creepy. But I guess that’s what happens when only 21 of the 101 House seats are held by women. And I guess sexist policies aren’t properly screened when House Republicans only tap two women to serve in leadership posts. Maybe GOP leaders will decide to install a porta potty in the Capitol Rotunda where they can relegate all women who dare question their decision making. Female Democratic lawmakers certainly objected to the new rule, questioning how legislators will police whether they’re woman enough to use their restroom. They asked if they’ll have to present birth certificates or undergo “genital checks.” Rep. Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, who introduced the rule, argued that requiring birth certificates seemed “extreme” and unnecessary. She also admitted under questioning that the new rule is necessary in case a transgender woman tries to use the bathroom. Oklahoma Republicans took a cue from the GOP-run U.S House, which recently banned transgender women from using the women’s restrooms in parts of the Capitol complex following the election of the first openly transgender person to Congress. Jenkins and her fellow Republicans seem to be confused about what’s extreme here. Not to mention, as far as I’m aware, there are no transgender members currently serving in the state House. So we’re creating unnecessary policies designed to fearmonger as well. Beyond Jenkins’ brief remarks, it was a man that generally defended and advocated for the new rule impacting women. Let me pause here and say that I’ve become something of an expert on women’s bathrooms in the Capitol after 10 legislative sessions and two pregnancies that resulted in morning sickness and multiple dashes to the closest restroom. I’ve encountered all sorts of people in the bathroom, including transgender Oklahomans. And nothing unusual or uncomfortable happened. Everybody took care of their own business. So I struggle to understand this manly desire to police women’s bathrooms. Lawmakers are acting so emotional and irrational. For those who haven’t been so blessed (or cursed on particularly busy days) to use the women’s bathrooms in the Capitol, let me explain to you how they’re laid out at our Statehouse. You walk in and see sinks. Then there is a row of enclosed stalls each with a locking door. There’s plenty of privacy. After the public bathrooms were renovated, I successfully advocated for tables to be added so women could have a clean place to put down bags or papers. I’m still trying to get lawmakers to add trash cans to the handicapped stalls in the women’s public restrooms on all floors. In most bathrooms, that’s where the changing tables are usually located along with a posted message from maintenance to put baby tray liners in the toilet. Trash cans are convenient for parents who need to dispose of wipes, diapers and baby tray liners. They’re also beneficial for adults, including disabled constituents, who might need a discrete way to dispose of diaper-like underwear or other unmentionable hygiene items. If Republicans want to truly improve women’s bathroom experience, adding those trash cans is an easy place to start. Hopefully 2025 will finally become known as “The Year of the Women’s Trash Cans.” But alas, I fear it is more fun to serve as the gender police than think about dirty diapers and the needs of the disabled. Link to original story: https://is.gd/PmK8zm