The Bathroom disaster- when smart gets stupid and the bigger shovel

[underpants]

The "Bathroom bill " NC HB2.

We are all now focused on this issue and their side is digging in, our side is walking by laughing, and the middle type folks are aghast at what they are seeing.

So, how did THEY (The Republicans) get here?

The first step was a really smart move on their part. Instead of spending tons of money on high profile Congressional or Senate races they allotted the tiny bits of money needed to basically buy state houses. This was just after the shellacking they took in 2006 (we don't talk about that midterm) and 2008. A census was approaching and control of state houses meant control of districting. They caught the Dems flat footed and now we are more heavily gerrymandered than ever. This and the media are the only reasons the Republucans are still considered a national party.

Who should they get to run?
Well the Teabaggers became THE news story in 2009. They had nuts and whackadoodle coming out of the woodwork. Fine, here's enough money to get yourself elected. They just wanted numbers...what they got was a loss of all control.

What should we do now?
Once these people got in office they were hellbent on ACTION. No more waiting your turn and deferring to the senior leadership, nope it was NOW. Look at Cruz in the US Senate - first termers are supposed to shut up and do as they are told. Keep quiet to show you belong (Hillary, Franken, Kaine). But not these statehouse guys. They started implementing whacked out legislature from Kansas to North Carolina to Maine. Only in places like Virginia where a horrific choice for a Gubernatorial candidate (Cuccinelli) allowed for a Dem to win - McAuliffe- and he has been able to keep the nut house in check.

Why these laws?
The new firebrands simply didn't understand how the game was played. Issues like abortion and supposedly protecting gun rights are perfect for one issue voters. You don't actually DO anything about them you let the radio and TV mouthpieces divert attention and you get re-elected. What NC did with HB2 was unthinkable 10 years ago. You don't actually pass this legislation - you propose it, the blah blah blah machinery goes into action, it's voted down, and you move on. This is the perfect "look how manly we are/ how girly they are" issue for Republicans. They built they brand on this stuff with the imagery of Reagan and John Wayne and the like. Nope not these guys (and horrific anti-women's Right's laws all over the country) it was their time for ACTION and that action was to keep digging deeper into their hole.

[uppityperson]

2. How does allowing transgender females into the women's restroom also open it for males?

[uppityperson]

4. Do you think many men will take advantage of this ability?

[jberryhill]

6. They could be any manner of things

How they conduct themselves after entering is, of course, the difference between someone engaging in disorderly conduct, or someone who just needs to pee.

[uppityperson]

11. I've never felt troubled by the low level of security even if bio-men were present in restrooms

For every case of someone being assaulted in a public restroom, I can show dozens of assaults in public places, homes, work places. Maybe we should make those uni-sex too?

[uppityperson]

15. I agree" Improving security/privacy options will benefit everyone" but disagree that

prohibiting people from using the restroom for their perceived gender is how to do that.

[uppityperson]

21. Again, you are wrong. Prohibiting sunshine from using the restroom of their gender identity IS what

this bill is about. Among other things.

The "Bathroom bill " NC HB2

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article68401147.html

North Carolina’s legislature recently passed a law that prevents transgender people from using bathrooms corresponding to the gender with which they identify. The law — House Bill 2 (HB2) — has incited a state-wide civil liberties battle. Here is the timeline of the so-called "bathroom bill." Ali Rizvi and Nicole L. Cvetnic / McClatchy

https://www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/the-north-carolina-bathroom-bill-hb2-explained-172020141.html

http://www.politifact.com/north-carolina/article/2016/apr/22/roundup-hb2-fact-checks-north-carolinas-controvers/

The law is most well-known for mandating that people use the bathroom of the gender on their birth certificate, which would stop transgender people from using the bathroom of their gender identity. It also sets statewide nondiscrimination policies for both employment and service in public accommodations; the policies don’t include protections for gay or transgender people.

[trotsky]

9. How about who gives a shit what someone looks like...

and you just take care of your own business? Peeping, harassing, assault, all of these are still crimes and will continue to be. All the fears that are being promoted by the assholes are still going to be crimes.

[Rex]

8. So where did transgender folks shower and change their clothes before this law?

The GOP simply cannot help it, they MUST spy on peoples genitalia. It is their sick desires to be in control of this country like a dictatorship.

[LostOne4Ever]

12. "upgrade their facilities to feature more privacy/security options"

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]I think this is actually the best solution.

Make all restrooms gender neutral but beef up privacy. If every stall is built up to the point that they are their own private rooms then there is no need for segregation in the first place and EVERYONE of EVERY sex and EVERY gender identity is protected.

But that would cost money so we all know conservatives would oppose that. However, it would be a great to see conservatives contort themselves into knots claiming they care about privacy and protection of women but not enough to have to spend one dime on it...[/font]

[usedtobedemgurl]

13. I cannot agree with you at all.....

how can they not be bigots? HB2 is a big ball of hate rolled into one bill. How anyone can support a bill that does what it does to transgenders, people of color, females, and people who are religious is beyond me. A bigot is someone who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance. (that is from Webster) When you take into consideration the bathroom part of the bill and then add on the fact that I can now lose my job because of my race, my gender or even my religious affiliation and this bill protects the person who is firing me, THAT is the definition of being a bigot. How can you support this bill if you are against any of those things? I have not heard a single person who supports the bill who then goes on to say except for the parts that are against women or blacks or Christians or even Muslims.

[uppityperson]

17. Yup, next thing you know they'll let people of different skin color use the same toilet

I hope you read this as the extreme sarcasm it is meant as.

I mean, since people might be frightened of doing that and we need to take that into consideration!!111

It is bigotry.

[uppityperson]

20. You are wrong. HB2 forbids transgender people from using public restrooms of their gender identity.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Facilities_Privacy_%26_Security_Act

The Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, officially called An Act to Provide for Single-sex Multiple Occupancy Bathroom and Changing Facilities in Schools and Public Agencies and to Create Statewide Consistency in Regulation of Employment and Public Accommodations, but commonly known as House Bill 2 or HB2, is an act passed in the U.S. state of North Carolina in 2016. It has been described as the most anti-LGBT legislation in the United States,[1][2][3][4] while proponents call it a "common sense bill".[5][6][7]

One contentious element of the law eliminates anti-discrimination protections for gay, transgender, genderqueer, and intersex people, and legislates that in government buildings, individuals may only use restrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates.[8][9] This has been criticized because it prevents transgender people who do not or cannot alter their birth certificates from using the restroom consistent with their gender identity:[8] in North Carolina, only people who undergo sex reassignment surgery can change the sex on their birth certificates, and outside jurisdictions have different rules, some more restrictive.[10] The legislation changes the definition of sex in the state's anti-discrimination law to "the physical condition of being male or female, which is stated on a person's birth certificate."[11][12][13]

The act also prohibits municipalities in North Carolina from enacting anti-discrimination policies,[14] setting a local minimum wage, regulating child labor, or making certain regulations for city workers. The legislation also removes the statutory and common law private right of action to enforce state anti-discrimination statutes in state courts.[15]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/05/16/north_carolina_s_hb2_puts_transgender_people_in_an_impossible_catch_22.html

HB2 conditions entrance to a multi-occupancy single-sex public restroom on sex as “stated on a person’s birth certificate.

[uppityperson]

24. I get the feeling you didn't know about the law this thread is about.

[FoisterForCongress]

22. My Republican Opponent

supports bills like this. I am running to replace John Boehner in the 8th. Special election is June 7th. Amazing how these Republican candidates continue to get worse.

[underpants]

25. Yes it is. Good luck.

I understand about sticking to talking points but these Repubs don't appaear to have a mind of their own. The next topic they hear from the dashboard they actually act on it.

[randr]

26. Anyone who does not follow the "Golden Rule"

can not claim religious rights.