Rep. Patricia Todd

By Rep. Patricia Todd, a Democrat representing part of Birmingham

I admit it. I'm frustrated and dumbfounded on the current "bathroom" issue.

Recently a fellow legislator wanted to talk with me on the issue and he said he supported the law in North Carolina that mandates people use the bathroom of their birth sex. I asked him how many transgender people he knew personally. His answer, of course, was NONE.

I have many transgender friends. I've witnessed a friend transition from female to male and I was in genuine awe of the strength it took to make that decision and to follow through. He's given me invaluable insight into transgender issues, what it means to be a transgender person in the south, and into simply living your authentic life.

I know many of you can't imagine a person feeling that he or she was born in the wrong body. But there are millions of people in every country around the world who do. I've witnessed so many friends struggle with the mainstream view of "male" and "female" and I've seen the emotional trauma, the isolation from friends, family, and society, and the pain this mainstream view inflicts on them. From my experiences with my transgender friends and loved ones, I became an outspoken advocate and activist for the transgender community.

All of us express our gender identity and gender expression in different ways. There are hundreds of ways that a person expresses his or her gender identity. To think that are is only two ways is ignorant, narrow-minded, avoidant of the truth. People are not "Barbie/female" or "G.I.Joe/male". Each individual is unique and therefore expresses every aspect of his or her uniqueness - including gender identity in myriad forms.

When a person doesn't conform to "traditional" norms, many of us are threatened simply because we don't understand and it is human nature to fear what we don't understand. We want an easy way to categorize people we meet; race, age, gender, size, etc. We want to fit people into boxes. Transgender folks don't fit easily into those boxes and all too often, they are ostracized, teased, disrespected, harassed, and in the worst cases - of which there have been many - physically abused and murdered because of it.

In order to calm our fear of the unknown, the things we don't understand, we need three things: education, an open mind and a willingness to get to know a person. A person who might be very different from ourselves but a person just like ourselves in so many ways.

In a way, I'm glad we're having this public discourse. Open discussion can open minds. Open minds absorb information, the letting go of misinformation, and to further frank conversations about things we once didn't understand or even feared. And once a person gets to know a person who might not fit into one of those neat little boxes, there's great potential for new insight, friendship and love for all people, which I'm fairly certain is what God asks of all of us.

I've heard some stupid things said by my legislative peers demonstrating a lack of education on transgender issues. It's far too easy to go with your current opinions or emotions - or the opinions and emotional statements of others - than it is to face your own lack of information, fears of the unknown, and long-held beliefs that may or may not have any basis in fact, than it is to do the research, get the facts, and then make informed decisions grounded in the facts. Unfortunately, the former happens all too often in Montgomery.

So for those too lazy to some investigating on your own, here some facts to consider:

No evidence has been uncovered showing that fears of transgender persons and "the bathroom issue" are warranted In In fact, most child predators are male (The National Center for Victims of Crime) and The Child Molestation Research & Prevention Institute The majority of child sexual assault occurs in locations where children gather, school, church, parks, etc.

Demonizing transgender folks is wrong. Instead of focusing on the facts of where sexual assault occur and who perpetrates these attacks, the right made up a problem that doesn't actually exist according to expert studies. The truth is that the only recorded incidents of violence in the bathrooms has been when opponents to transgender rights initiate it.

This is a classic diversion technique used in politics: If you know you can't win on facts or merit, throw out a damning statement that will appeal to the emotions of voters.

Most people don't have the pleasure of knowing a transgender person so they assume the stereotype promoted by the right is correct. Again, far easier to accept a 30 second sound bite than to form your own opinion by researching the facts.

Most caring parents accompany their children to public bathrooms. Some mothers bring their young male children to use the women's bathroom. Should that be legal? Will that become illegal?

Pay attention. Just read al.com every morning and look at the child predators in our state. They are NOT transgender people. In fact, more and more are teachers, coaches and faith leaders.

So if you really want to protect your children from child predators, don't take them to school, public parks, church or allow them to play sports or use the internet.

Get the point?