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Bathroom issue is about discrimination

Every summer, my husband and I love walking up to both the 4th of July Hometown Festival, and again in August for the Palatine Streetfest. We enjoy a brat or corn on the cob, as we stroll through the local vendors' booths while people watching.

At both events, there are always a number of porta potty's placed in a designated areas in order to accommodate the large number of people who partake in the festivals over the span of several days.

I've never see anyone being asked to identify themselves by gender, ethnicity, race, nor religion before they are able to use a toilet. Therefore, I assume that people from all walks of life are using the facilities when needed. That includes boys, girls, young, old, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, straight, gay, bisexual, transgender and handicapped.

People simply want a place to go to the bathroom, and then quickly return to their families and friends to engage in the fun and festivities.

Recently, President Trumps Executive Order rescinded federal guidelines that allowed transgender students to use public school bathrooms matching their chosen gender identity. Allow me to remind everyone what occurred in the 1960s. There were designated drinking fountains for white people, and separate drinking fountains for people of color.

It was never about drinking fountains in the 60s, and it's not about bathrooms now. It's about discrimination and shaming human beings. It's not about states' rights, it's about civil rights.

"We The People ...". That should mean everyone.

Lisa Goranson

Palatine

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