This article explains the possibility of a less favorable verdict in Gavin Grimm's case before the Supreme Court. Gavin Grimm is a transgender boy in his senior year of high school who wanted to use the men's room. Due to Trump's recent decision to remove former president Obama's transgender bathroom guidelines for schools, the Supreme Court seems less likely to hear the case or make a decision in favor of Gavin.
In another article over the same subject, the argument that some girls do not want "male anatomy displayed" in bathrooms or locker rooms was given. I find this somewhat questionable- actual genitalia are rarely "on display" in such places, and most transgender girls are not going to want their genitals visible- in my own locker room experience, there has been an extreme lack of genitals.
Arguments against transgender rights continue to demonize trans women and girls because of their anatomy at birth. Trans women are constantly ignored, objectified, and ridiculed, much like cisgender women (although I would go so far as to say it is worse for trans women, as they are so often ridiculed by cis women, instead of supported).
Society perpetuates images of what a boy is and isn't, what a girl is and isn't. When cisgender people break down these barriers -boys in makeup and dresses, girls in cargo shorts with short hair- they are hailed. When transgender people do the exact same thing, they are told that they aren't being the gender they identify as correctly.
If the Supreme Court rules against Gavin Grimm or refuses to hear his case, it will further cement the practice of ignoring transgender struggles and presuming everyone is cisgender.
Being transgender is not something widely accepted. This sunday at the movie theatre, a preview for a YouTube Red movie about GiGi Gorgeous' journey as a transgender woman was played. The two women next to me commented to each other that they "wouldn't be wanting to see that," failing to hide disdain as one let loose a scoff. Needless to say, I was not comfortable. The criticism was clearly intended to be towards the nature and message of the movie, and the entire nature and message of the movie was one of acceptance.
Being trans is not a constant burden, but it is not a light load. It is simply a part of who I am. My experiences as a trans boy will likely never be the same as the experiences of "regular" boys. But this does not mean I am not a boy. Genitals do not define who someone is any more than the nature of their nose, the color of their eyes, or the size of their nipples. It is how society perceives these attributes that give them significance.
Article:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/the-trump-administration-may-have-doomed-gavin-grimm/518676/
Not a day goes by when I am not fascinated by the incompetence of our government.
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