Restroom-access proposal is bad policy

Across the country, transgender individuals, including schoolchildren, are under attack by legislative initiatives that isolate and stigmatize them. We have seen such legislation proposed right here in Illinois. Whether these bills are the result of fear, outright hatred or a lack of education, they are discriminatory. And our state is better than that.

Introduced earlier this year in the Illinois House, HB 4474 would force transgender students to seek single-occupancy school facilities separate from their peers. If the school refuses, transgender students would have to use the school facilities of their sex assigned at birth. That can be incredibly dangerous for transgender people.

What the proponents of HB 4474 don't acknowledge is the strong medical and mental health consensus against the bill. HB 4474 is opposed by many respected organizations representing pediatricians, psychologists, psychoanalysts, and social workers, among others. These are the very organizations committed to serving the best interests of all youth. That should be a clue right there that HB 4474 is bad policy.

We understand these are emerging issues and sometimes challenging to grasp. But rather than isolating, rejecting, and stigmatizing transgender people with knee-jerk and harmful policies, we suggest putting aside preconceived notions, banishing unjustified fears and making a commitment to understanding the experiences of the transgender community.

The biggest myths are the claims of sexual violence and invasion of privacy by transgender people. Such claims have previously been debunked by the experience in states with transgender-inclusive non-discrimination protections, including here in Illinois.

And, on April 21, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women shut down these arguments as the basis to separate and isolate transgender people from the rest of society. The national coalition of more than 250 anti-sexual assault and domestic violence organizations said: "As rape crisis centers, shelters, and other service providers who work each and every day to meet the needs of all survivors and reduce sexual assault and domestic violence throughout society, we speak from experience and expertise when we state that these claims are false."

In fact, by isolating and stigmatizing transgender children, policies such as HB 4474 actually make them less safe and more likely to be targets of violence. A shocking 78 percent of transgender individuals report discrimination and harassment in grades K-12, according to a 2011 survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

The survey found that 41 percent of transgender individuals have attempted suicide, versus less than five percent of the general population.

On February 19, seven national medical and mental health organizations released a letter to the nation's governors expressing opposition to legislation such as HB 4474, writing, "Transgender kids are already at heightened risk for violence, bullying and harassment, and these bills exacerbate those risks by creating a hostile environment in one of the places they should feel the safest and most supported. In addition, students who would be affected by these bills are among our most vulnerable to experiencing depression and engaging in self harm, including suicide."

These are real numbers and informed organizational positions that reinforce the fact that discrimination and violence against transgender individuals are a pervasive problem. And, by forcing transgender students to use other facilities, legislation like House Bill 4744 doesn't even attempt to find solutions to these issues.

In fact, HB 4474 is out of touch with what is happening in education. More schools across Illinois, and across the nation, are adopting humane policies that respect and affirm all students, including students who are transgender and gender non-conforming.

Let's be empathetic as we strive to build a better Illinois. There are many organizations, such as Equality Illinois, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, and PFLAG, that can help you understand these issues. We ask you to join us in our work to ensure lived equality and justice for all Illinoisans.

Michael Ziri is director of public policy at Equality Illinois, an agency advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Illinoisans and their families.