HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-17 Public Comment - M. Maier - I-183 Bathroom BillFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Initiative 183
Date:Monday, October 16, 2017 11:21:26 AM
Chris Mehl
Bozeman City Commission
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: Bozeman, MT [webadmin@bozeman.net]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2017 10:56 AM
To: Chris Mehl
Subject: Initiative 183
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: Megan Maier
Site Visitor Email: meganmaierb@gmail.com
Dear Commissioner Mehl,
Please vote to fight I 183 tonight. I 183 claims to protect privacy, but would harm Montanans of all gender identities
— particularly those of an already marginalized population — by creating the imaginary problem it claims to solve.
I 183 requires a person to use a facility designated for their "sex." Intersex individuals are born with characteristics
that cannot easily be classified as male or female, and many transgender individuals hold birth certificates matching
their gender identity, not sex at birth. Thus relying on a birth certificate as "definitive evidence" of sex does not
work.
Studies show that 64% of transgender individuals have experienced sexual assault. No statistics show that
transgender individuals are more likely to commit sexual assault; in fact, sex offenders are more likely to be
heterosexual cisgender men. If anything, I 183 could increase assault against transgender women.
Transgender individuals are among the most targeted populations in the U.S., facing discrimination in every aspect
of life. About 41% of transgender individuals attempt suicide, compared to 1.6% of the general population. A ballot
initiative targeting this population — even its campaign — seriously harms them.
In response to HB 2 of NC, more than 1750 North Carolinians lost their jobs and more than $77 million of
investments and visitor spending was lost. Montana is a destination state; there is a growing tech industry in
Bozeman and a university that hopes to grow.
I 183 unduly burdens transgender and gender nonconforming Montanans by forcing them into unsafe situations; it
forces state employees to police restrooms to avoid a lawsuit; and empowers transphobic individuals to question
anyone they think isn't male or female enough. Transgender individuals are not dangerous and those pushing I 183
are trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.
Please fight this initiative!
P.S. Please say "transgender" not "transgendered."