By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | February 24, 2017 |
By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | February 24, 2017 |
There are people right now who don’t understand why trans people are fighting for the right to use the bathroom that associates with their gender identity, as opposed to their assigned at birth sex. These peoples’ frustration or confusion over the issue doesn’t necessarily come from a place of transphobia, but potentially from a place of ignorance, of simply not knowing any actual trans people, or of not understanding their experience. And so we share the stories of those who’ve had going to a public bathroom turned into a battlefield.
Speaking out in support of the trans, non-binary, and genderqueer community is comedian Rhea Butcher, who currently co-stars with her real-life wife Cameron Esposito in the Seeso series Take My Wife. Last night, Butcher took to Twitter to share some of her experiences, as a genderqueer-butch lesbian whose gender expression may not read as traditionally feminine.
I've spent my entire life terrified of public bathrooms 1/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
My parents were always divorced. My dad never took me to the bathroom, I had to go alone. Most visits, I held it 3/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
When I was 5 I went camping w/ my dad and went to a public bathroom alone, while he waited in his truck 5/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
I went into the restroom and as I entered, a furious voice bellowed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" 7/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
I don't know if I told my dad. I told him a bout instances later on in my life and his response was always "well, what'd you expect?" 9/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
It hurt me and changed me so deeply, it engrained in me a fear of adults that I still have to this day 11/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
This man was cleaning the women's bathroom and told me I was wrong. Incorrect. I shouldn't be there, I shouldn't be me. He was "Right." 13/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
Public bathrooms are a concentrated version of gender conformity. Not only are literally forced through a "woman" door or "man" door 15/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
I am serving jury duty right now. Moments ago, I had to reassure a confused woman that she was, indeed, in the women's restroom 18/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
And this law is about KIDS. Children. Little tiny people. Forced to enter a space that scares them. Told by adults they are wrong. 20/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
She told me I was perfect and I could do and be whatever I wanted. 22/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
My mom works at a convenience pharmacy in Akron, Ohio. She wears a safety pin to work every day. 24/
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017
And if you need someone to talk to, @Translifeline and @TrevorProject are there for you.
— Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) February 23, 2017