THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

"[On Thursday, July 13] several of my House colleagues from the self-described "Freedom Caucus" held a press conference to misrepresent and demagogue the policy of the Springfield YMCA that allows all members to use the changing areas consistent with their gender identity. Worse still, these members cowered behind a teen they claimed was harmed by this policy, even though the teen has acknowledged being uncomfortable in the changing area, even while acknowledging that she never witnessed any male genitalia in the changing room despite irresponsible reports to the contrary.

Illinois law requires that everyone in our state is allowed to use the restroom and changing room< consistent with their gender identity. The YMCA is following that law — which some of my colleagues seem unwilling and unable to understand. This behavior is part of the on-going attacks staged by far-right extremists aiming to erase trans people from our communities. These performative acts too often result in violence perpetrated against our trans siblings. These events are designed to whip up hatred and fear, unleashing the attendees on community members.

It is appropriate that the YMCA has created private changing areas that everyone who uses the facility can utilize in order to make full use of the facility. That is the best way to ensure inclusion — not by barring others from using the facility. Responsible elected officials should encourage this inclusion, not engage in divisive and hyperbolic remarks aimed at stigmatizing the trans members of our community.

Regarding the allegation of a "very manly looking woman in a woman's bathing suit", this young woman, her family, and the so-called leaders who elevated her story have no idea whether there was a trans person in the locker room. Would they demand that the woman submit some sort of proof that she belongs in the locker room? What would that entail? If you're in a bathing suit, chances are you don't have a government-issued ID or birth certificate handy, so are my proud colleagues suggesting a physical assault to evaluate everyone's genitalia in the locker room? If so, they're advocating sexual assault. As someone who was confronted in women's bathrooms over the years when I had short hair, I can attest to how frightening and violating that is. My spouse is regularly harassed in restrooms due to their butch presentation.

A better plan is for folks to mind their business, do what what you are in the locker room or bathroom to do, and leave your neighbors alone. Instead, six of my colleagues have put an entire community in danger and sent a hateful message to trans youth in our entire state. My friend Rep. Zooey Zephyr said it best right before she was expelled from the chamber of the Montana House for arguing for the basic humanity of trans people: these men have blood on their hands. The blood spilled when the people they whip into a frenzy harm someone and the blood of youth that are more than 50% more likely to attempt suicide or self-harm."