“As a trans man, I have the immense privilege of blending in. But these laws force me to choose between safety and obeying the law.”

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65235734

On August 8, police arrived on the scene of Long Branch Lagoon Water Park in Dodge City, Kansas, to the sight of three self-described “bearded, burly men” who had been in the women’s bathroom and changing area. The manager of the municipally run property allegedly screamed and rushed children out the door.

The men knew this was likely. They didn’t agitate any of the women; they didn’t remove their clothes or make crass comments. They simply used the gendered spaces that the state of Kansas requires them to use by law, because these men are transgender.

“Supporters of SB244, including Attorney General Kris Kobach and Senate Majority Leader Ty Masterson, billed it as a way to keep men out of women’s spaces; it clearly requires some men to enter women’s spaces,” a press release sent to news outlets reads. So, these men took action—using malicious compliance to prove their point.

“Segregating people by suspected genitalia does nothing to improve public safety; it does quite the opposite by opening Kansans up to sexual harassment and discrimination. At no point should anyone be asking anyone else what genitals they have in public.”

The men, dressed in yellow “Compliance Crew” shirts, were part of a small group of trans-masculine Kansans who used the women’s room at facilities across the state that day in a coordinated action. They were also spotted at a zoo, a library, a museum, and other parks. They were in Emporia, Great Bend, Garden City, and Dodge City. At the library, at least one patron complained; at other places, the men used the bathroom and received dirty looks, and simply left the space without confrontation.

But at Long Branch Lagoon, members of the Kansas Compliance Crew resorted to having to describe their genitals to police in order to resolve the matter and avoid arrest.

“The men had a discussion with the manager and police and explained the situation, including uncomfortable descriptions of their bodies,” the press release said. Furthermore, both the manager and the police reportedly said “they had never heard of SB244 nor been notified by any government entity of its passage.”

“I could easily continue using the men’s restroom under the radar,” said Ray Vieux, who participated as one of the demonstrators.

  • Canaconda@lemmy.caEnglish
    91·
    10 hours ago

    lmao a piss trough in a baseball stadium is quite the strawman my dude. Nevermind that you’re forgetting about poop.

    But sure lets set the bar as low as possible. ‘Tis the libertarian way I guess. That and eating popcorn with other dudes’ piss all over your hands.

    Not gonna yuk your yum but microdosing golden showers is not something most people are into.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      43·
      10 hours ago

      lmao a piss trough in a baseball stadium is quite the strawman my dude.

      I don’t think you know what a strawman is. But this need to hide people from one another while they piss and poop is a big part of what feeds the anti-trans hysteria.

      Not gonna yuk your yum but microdosing golden showers is not something most people are into.

      This is why people traditionally wash their hands after using the toilet.

      • Log in | Sign up@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        9 hours ago

        But this need to hide people from one another while they piss and poop is a big part of what feeds the anti-trans hysteria.

        I don’t know why you’re trying to use that as part of an argument for why we ought not to have a whole bunch of separate cubicles. No one sees anyone peeing or pooping then, at all. No problem.