Here’s the truth about the anti-LGBT ‘bathroom predator’ myth.
North Carolina continues to appear in news coverage following the passing of HB2, a bill known for being extremely anti-LGBT. It is the first state in the country to pass a law aimed at broadly controlling transgender people’s access to public restrooms.
Supporters claim the law is needed to prevent sexual predators from sneaking into the women’s bathrooms by dressing up as women and pretending to be transgender.
The talking point of the “bathroom predator” is a myth. Experts and people that work with victims of sexual assault have labeled the law “beyond specious” and “the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
In fact, in the 17 states and 200 cities where transgender people are currently protected from discrimination and allowed to use public bathrooms that correspond with their gender, there have been zero proven incidents.
However, news coverage continues to be dominated with the “bathroom predator” myth. Viewers are left thinking that LGBT non-discrimination protections might lead to sexual assault because reporters are not debunking the talking point.
An attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, Chase Strangio, criticized news networks’ uncritical acceptance of the “bathroom predator” talking point.
He said, “Journalists who talk about this as two co-equal sides are essentially letting proponents of these talking points get away with mythic narratives about trans predators or non-trans predators having access to bathrooms and locker rooms. And that story is incredibly damaging and really undermines efforts to protect trans people and the whole LGBT community.”
Carlos Maza of Media Matters’ discusses the truth about the anti-LGBT law in the video below.