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Mothers of transgender children take to the bathroom to fight ‘bathroom bill’
Quote:Joanne Schnurr, CTV Ottawa
Published Friday, March 27, 2015 6:21PM EDT
Last Updated Friday, March 27, 2015 6:59PM EDTMothers of transgendered children are launching what they’re calling a “bathroom movement” tomorrow. It’s in protest over an amendment to a bill that they say would prevent their children from using public washrooms.
For Ottawa-area mother Anne Lowthian, this bathroom protest is at the core of her fight for the rights of her daughter Charlie.
‘I have never been in a men’s washroom,’ Lowthian said from her Stittsville home, with Charlie by her side, ‘I don’t belong in men’s washroom.’
She says neither does nine-year-old Charlie, who is biologically male but identifies as a female.
‘These six other moms and my mom,’ says Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, are all going in the face of danger for us transgender people to save us from living a life of grief.’
That “danger” is using the men’s washroom in public places beginning this Saturday until a controversial amendment to Bill C-279 is dropped. Lowthian will be joined by another mother in Ottawa at the Museum of Nature for her noon protest. Two mothers in Toronto and two in Saskatoon will take part in the protest at the same time.
Bill C-279 would essentially protect transgender people from discrimination. That private member’s bill passed the House of Commons two years ago. Last month, though, Senator Don Plett introduced three amendments, including a controversial one dubbed the “bathroom bill” that the transgender community argues would prevent them from using public washrooms in federal spaces.
Charlie’s mom says if passed, it would prevent Charlie from using the women’s restroom, in places like the airport, post offices and military bases even though Charlie identifies as a girl.
Senator Plett did not agree to an interview today but maintained his amendment isn’t about access to bathroom; it’s about the safety of young children in public bathrooms.
“Whether or not it is called ‘the bathroom bill,’ he said during Senate debate, “it allows for pedophiles to take advantage of legislation that we have in place.”
Amanda Ryan is with a transgender support organization in Ottawa, fighting Plett’s amendment.
‘I see it as transphobic,’ she says, ‘it makes me a second class citizen, it makes me someone not allowed to use same facilities anyone else in Canadian society and why not? Why shouldn’t I be able to use the same facilities? We’re not causing difficulties.’
Charlie’s mother has vowed to use the men’s washrooms in public until this amendment is quashed. It’s a fight she’s willing to make for the sake of her daughter.
‘We are inspired by our daughter,’ says Lowthian, ‘She is a miracle to us and has been since day she was born.’
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3 Replies
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Jeez, there seems to be a lot of angst in the US about TG folk’s urination habits! Pedophile TG people ( dressing as priests perhaps?) and perving on children. It’s a lot of trouble to go to isn’t it? OR is it just another excuse to clobber a minority who are only now really fighting back?
FFS, there are evil bastards in Iraq and Syria who are crucifying people and these FWits are hell bent on stopping decent folk having a wee!! I despair at the state of human mentality these days.
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I really do wonder what goes on in some people’s minds and how those minds work. Focusing on the weeing habits of children is, to my mind is going a wee bit too far. I always considered the Canadians a little more progressive than the Yanks with a distinct difference in people between the two nations. I think it always comes down to one thing, power! It’s about people having power over others, it starts in the home environment, power of parent over children. In the workplace power of the bosses over the employees, and so on to wars where one nation seeks power over another nation. Its much the same as domestic violence in my humble opinion, usually the male having physical power over the female, which also is a display of cowardice. As an ex copper I have seen the domestic violence where the usual boot is on the other foot.
Getting back to ‘The Bathroom Bill’ I despair of the small minds of some politicians. Instead of dividing a community I think it is perhaps better to try and join than community with common goals. I can’t speak for NSW or other States or the Northern Territory, but in the ACT it’s perfectly legal to use the appropriate loo; wearing a frock, use the ladies! -
These two photos seemed appropriate
