Dear Editor:
Although I am not transgendered, I am a woman. I use the very same washrooms that New West Community Church pastor Paul Dirks is so concerned about. Let’s get real. The alleged issue that he is concerned about where transgendered men who self-identify as women cause problems in women’s washroom is a non-issue.
He is a cis-gendered man speaking for a two populations: women and transgendered people, that have not been asked about their experiences with one another in the context of washroom etiquette. I can tell you that during the course of my life I have never had a negative experience with a transgendered person using a washroom with me. I am far more concerned about whether people wash their hands and are kind to one another.
The issue here should be focused on why a cis-gendered, white man, who is supposed to represent care for his community, is so up in arms over the clothing that someone chooses to wear, or how someone views their own sexuality. The idea that men would dress as women to victimize someone in a washroom is not in line with the statistics around such attacks, there are zero cases. ZERO. Of more concern are the far greater statistics of attacks by cis-gendered men on women and children. Cis-gender refers to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex.
Please stop vilifying parts of humanity to make your tirade look more acceptable. As a pastor, your religious community looks to you for leadership. I hope your teachings encompass human equality and kindness and the resiliency of the human spirit. If all people deserve human rights, transgendered people deserve to pee in peace, it's really the least we can do. Please do not criminalize the intentions of transgendered people who just need to use the washroom.
Jules Davis, by email
