I’m a baby boomer who grew up as one of four siblings. One of us is lesbian; one of us is transgendered. Since I grew up with little exposure to this topic, I’ve made it a point to learn something about gender identity.

I’ve learned that my sister’s sense of her gender, as she has come to understand and express it (after being born male), is as real and deeply felt as mine. The road that led her to understand, express and “be” herself has been challenging enough. Our laws should not further marginalize people like her.

Rather than posing a threat to the safety of others, trans-gender people are far more likely to be unsafe in public restrooms. That is exactly why human rights protections are necessary. Creating an exemption from non-discrimination law for bathrooms sends the message that it is acceptable to discriminate against the transgendered, making them even more vulnerable to stigmatization, harassment and violence rooted in other peoples’ prejudice.

Would we expect businesses to screen all people using the restroom for their biological sex? Or, since the assumption seems to be that gender is forever restricted to the one we’re born with, would they check birth certificates?

More likely, LD 1046 simply invites patrons to police the bathrooms for suspected gender outlaws, who would then be legally evicted (in itself humiliating).

The Legislature has twice considered such proposals and rejected them because they break down upon closer examination. LD 1046 is no better.

Marjorie Love, New Gloucester