Pecker Checkers
Christian right, mayor, R-G fight transsexual right to pee.
BY ALAN PITTMAN

A proposed ordinance that would allow transgender people access to the restroom of their choice has the Christian right up in arms.

"God does not make mistakes and it clearly states in the Bible this type of behavior is from Satan," Debra Nelson wrote the City Council, in one of scores of comments opposing the proposed human rights ordinance.

Kimberley Hammons e-mailed that she was "disgusted" that such a "really sick" ordinance was under consideration. "The bottom line should be this ... men have a penis ... women have a vagina. They all belong in their own bathrooms!!!!"

Mayor Jim Torrey threatened last month to veto the proposed ordinance if it allows transgendered people to choose bathrooms that "conflict with their congenital reproductive anatomy." Torrey said he would allow only postoperative transvestites to use the bathrooms of their choice. Documentation of the alteration/removal of sexual organs would be "required prior to using such gender-specific facilities."

A Register-Guard editorial joined Torrey in opposing transgendered restroom access. Passing the proposed transgendered bathroom rights "would court a public backlash," the paper said.

Abe Silos warned that if the council passes the ordinance, the city will face "the Judgement of God as described in Genesis."

"We do not need this abomination to God anywhere. It gets pretty hot in hell, I understand," wrote Marie McCall.

"Please make Eugene a safe, clean and inviting place. Not a dirty, sick and nasty one," wrote Betsy Schultz.

Many of the opponents comments focused on a fear the ordinance would somehow allow transgendered men to enter restrooms to sexually assault children.

"This opens the door for any pedophile or rapist to enter seemingly under the guise of being 'a woman inside a man's body,'" wrote Angela Miller. "I will not feel as if I can use a public restroom again."

"If passed, all public bathrooms and dressing rooms will become unsafe places for me and my children," Michal McBride wrote.

"You are opening the door to exposing our children to all sorts of sexual perversion," wrote Kathy Niemeyer.

But city staff said they could find no evidence that sexual assaults increased in the 50 other cities and counties with similar transgender rights ordinances. "We were unable to find any reports of increased problems," city human rights staffer Greg Rikhoff told councilors.

Any sexual assault and harassment would continue to be illegal under the proposed ordinance, Rikhoff said. Federal statistics show that 93 percent of juvenile sexual predators are family members or friends and only 7 percent are strangers, he said.

"This has absolutely no basis in fact," Roey Thorpe, director of Basic Rights Oregon, wrote of the pedophile fear. "Transgendered people are far more likely to be harassed or physically assaulted in restrooms than they are to be a threat themselves."

Transgender advocacy groups have documented two dozen anti-transgender murders in the last year.

The idea of transgendered people using the ordinance to assault others is a "completely unfounded irrational fear," wrote Laura Phillips. That fear is "precisely on par with the fear of sharing a swimming pool with people of other races," she said. "In a constitutional democracy, it is not acceptable for government to indulge some people's irrational prejudices (or personal preferences) at the expense of others' legitimate, basic civil rights."

"I could very well get hurt, killed, etc., just using the men's room because of my appearance," wrote Karla, who was born a hermaphrodite with "intersexed" genitalia. She said she shouldn't also fear being arrested because people mix politics with what "their god" believes.

Jesse, a 32 year old who has scheduled a double mastectomy to transition to a man, says doctors often require that transgendered people live as the opposite sex for a time before they will operate. Davis described using the restroom with bound breasts as "unbelievably stressful."

Jesse said he found public testimony against transgendered rights frightening. "Some of the speakers the other night seemed to stop just short of suggesting a strip-search of anyone who doesn't quite fit the gender norm and wants to use the bathroom. This is a pre-op transperson's nightmare."

"I'm deathly afraid," said Billy/Barbara of using the bathroom. He said transgendered people don't want to bother anyone when they go to the bathroom. "What we're trying to do is go in and not be noticed."

Billy/Barbara said about half of transgendered people never have all the painful and expensive surgery that would be needed to meet Torrey's test of who's allowed to go to the bathroom.

The transgendered rights ordinance does have support from many in the local religious community. Rev. Dan Bryant of the First Christian Church, Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin of Temple Beth Israel and eight other local religious leaders wrote in support. "We wish to stress that they (opponents) only speak for some, and we speak for many others."

"It is times like this that the dark side of Oregon shows," wrote John Bonney. "Please don't bow to the bigots %G—%@ stand tall!