FROM OUR PRINTED SEPT. EDITION:
Repealing the Bathroom Bill:
A Bad Bill That Goes Too Far
Keep MA Safe VOTE NO ON QUESTION 3
by Debby Dugan
Chairwoman, Keep MA Safe
Currently with this law on the books, dangerous predators and registered sex offenders have used this law to enter women’s bathrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms. There are dozens of cases where this has happened in Massachusetts and the U.S. As reported by ABC news (http://www.wcvb.com/article/customer-says-man-photographed-her-inside-tj-maxx-bathroom-wqizs1xk/8560257), there was one such instance of abuse of the law in a TJ Maxx restroom in Plainville. When the victim asked staff to call police, they said “no” because of store policy. Security tapes revealed he was in the restroom for over 30 minutes, staff could do nothing, and he may have taped multiple women. You can watch the coverage of this news story at: bit.ly/ABC-TJMaxx.
As a grandmother of young children, I feel that my safety as well as the safety of other women, children and vulnerable minorities is at risk because the Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bathroom and Locker Room Law was poorly written and has too many loopholes. There is little or nothing that can be done if a predator wants to take advantage of this law to stalk and prey upon victims. The way this law is written, any attempt to block a man from entering the women’s locker room, dressing room, or bathroom could result in individual penalties of up to $50,000 and a year in prison.
Businesses are also affected, like a female spa owner who faced a legal discrimination suit for declining to wax the genitals of a man identifying as a woman. No law should force a woman to touch a man in a place she doesn’t feel comfortable, and she shouldn’t be forced to choose between her livelihood and touching the genitals of someone she doesn’t want to touch.
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a law that goes too far, even refusing to include a provision to exclude convicted sex offenders from hurting people. The Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bathroom and Locker Room Law needs to be repealed, so that the Legislature can make a better law that protects everyone.
That is why I will be voting no on Ballot Question 3 this November, and so should you. ♦
