Transgender people are not predators

In the height of anti-transgender rhetoric in 2016, a coalition of over 250 survivor advocate organizations against sexual assault and domestic violence wrote a consensus statement in support of full and equal access for the transgender community, including restrooms and locker rooms.

It was written by the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. The letter notes that in the 18 states and over 200 municipalities that have nondiscrimination laws protecting transgender people's access to facilities, it has not led to an increase in sexual violence or public safety issues.

Nondiscrimination policies do not change that. It is against the law in all 50 states to enter a restroom or locker room to assault or harass women. When school districts and other governments protect transgender students' access to facilities, it is still illegal to assault or harass women (or anyone).

Every survivor should be believed, loved and heard, and this includes transgender survivors of sexual assault. Anti-transgender initiatives actually put transgender people at risk for more assault.

We must work to end all sexual violence and we should treat all people, including transgender people, with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Daniel Crusius

Arlington Heights