Moses Lake reacts to new restroom/locker room rule

MOSES LAKE — Last week, The Columbia Basin Herald published an article about the new rule the Washington State Human Rights Commission had passed, WSR 15-11-104, that is intended to protect people with gender dysphoria from discrimination when using restrooms or locker rooms.

When the Herald posted the article on Facebook, people throughout the community shared the article nearly 50 times and 22 people offered their opinions in the comments section.

Three people said the headline "Women’s locker rooms and other facilities now open to men" was misleading.

The first commenter said he felt misled because the rule is intended to allow only men with gender dysphoria into women's facilities, while also allowing women with gender dysphoria into men's facilities.

In response to a comment about the misleading headline, one man said, "you are high. If I identify as a pickle, that does not make me a pickle. We should not be compelled by law to participate in someone's delusion."

A female commenter said she thinks this will lead to women arming themselves before using public restrooms. "This is just way too easy to be misused."

When asked how a man with (or without) gender dysphoria could meet the legal burden of proof required to use women's facilities, Laura Lindstrand, policy analyst for the Washington HRC, said an individual simply had to "identify as a woman."

When asked how one could prove their womanhood, she said, "by shaving, changing their voice..."

More than half of those who commented on the post were women who oppose the rule. "This makes me very uncomfortable," said one commenter, while another woman saw the potential for sexual assaults and future lawsuits, stating, "I think I might even sue a company for a man doing something inappropriate in a locker room or restroom to me...we just opened the doors up to all of them they just have to say they identify as a woman."

As with many debates on social media, someone chimed in with, "Ignorant ... get educated!"

The only female commenter who supports the rule later repeated her plea for people to "get educated" and "read articles on transgender."

When asked by others to elaborate, she did not cite any articles, scholarly or otherwise.

One man with significant education pertaining to gender dysphoria is Dr. Paul McHugh. Dr. McHugh, quoted in the article saying "Sex change is biologically impossible," is the former chief of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, ranked third on U.S. News' list of "2016 Best Medical Schools," for research, behind only Stanford and Harvard. McHugh graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1956.

The only man who voiced his support of the new rule, pointed out that "men's locker rooms and other facilities would also be open to women," and made the claim that "gender and sex are not the same."

One woman said the new rule makes it tempting to enter men's rooms. "I'm so identifying as a man so I can hang in men's locker rooms."

One man said he understood the first commenter's defense of the rule, but invited him to see the increased risk women will face. "... [Y]ou have to admit there is cause of concern for those who may fake a condition and may even hurt the cause even more. If you cannot see a possible issue with this, I'm sorry."

"This is a stupid law and the first time I see one of these guys in the ladies restroom, I'm going to run his a** out!" said another female commenter.

"The Legislature can (and should) change this," added another woman.

"Ridiculous," said another.

"Why is it OK for them to push there (sic) issues or beliefs on everyone else or involve everyone else in it. Besides just wanting to be accepted and a status," asked another commenter.