Capitol Punishment on Beacon Hill

Capitol Punishment July 9, 2013

It was a long day Tuesday and I was happy to have Sarah, my new daughter-in-love accompany me to the Statehouse hearing. She helped me carry a portrait of my granddaughter, Jane, who is nearly three years old. I was doing this for her and for petite Sarah.

There were so many bills being discussed that hundreds of people showed up and were standing in the aisles so they moved the meeting to Gardner Auditorium which has seating for several hundred, part of which is bleacher style with no back rest. Sarah and I sat there for hours listening to one legislator after another give their statement on various bills ranging from capital punishment to animal cruelty. You might term this whole event "Capitol Punishment" Because we the citizens who care enough about an issue to make the trip into the state capitol to be heard on that issue must wait for hours in backless seating while legislators who already know each other's positions grandstand for the media on their issues. They are followed by career lobbyists and lawyers who make a living off these issues and are probably being paid nicely for their professionally prepared presentation.  We were seated in the peanut gallery where there are no cushions or backrests.

There were a lot of people wearing T-shirts for their cause having to do with immigration, animal rights or transgender rights but not that many of us representing family values or wearing "Privacy and Safety for All" stickers seemed to be present. We only found out late Friday that this hearing was scheduled for Tuesday and had to hastily prepare statement and rearrange schedules if we wanted to be present at the Public Hearing for many bills including HB 1589 Known as the Bathroom Bill.  This bill would throw open the ladies room door to any male who wanted to claim he was that gender at that particular moment. Should his presence be questioned or even commented upon fines up to $2500 and jail time could be imposed. Does that sound fair to grandma taking her grand-daughter on an outing? or what about Grandpa waiting outside?

I’d say the deck is stacked against individual citizens unfamiliar with these hearings where you will not be heard if you don’t have unlimited time and resources.

 I could only stay until 5 pm. As it turned out some were there until at least 11:30. The brave but lonely legislator, Sen. Lyons, who spoke up in opposition of the Bathroom Bill was mocked by the chorus who keep storming the Capitol for what they want regardless of the effect on the majority. HB 1589 is a destructive law that threatens the well-being, safety and privacy of all and gives protection to those who will surely litigate if a grandma comments on or questions the presence of men in the ladies room. 

To cap off the day, before leaving for home I used the ladies room. I shared a tiny 2-stall bathroom with Sarah and a 6' 2' transgender person who had the build of an athlete, wearing high heels, a pink sheath dress, long blond hair and make up. You could almost buy it was a lady athlete when the booming deep voice belied all the trappings of womanhood. From my vantage point in the stall with a faulty latch that would not stay shut, a man was washing up at the sink talking to my 5 foot daughter-in-law, as if he were a woman. I felt like we were leaving a nut house as we walked away from the Statehouse.

I recognized many of the trans-people from other events. I hold them no ill will; in fact I feel great compassion. What really bothers me about this bill is the fact that opportunists will use this law to take advantage of our most vulnerable children, teens and older women.

Human Trafficking is a huge industry and this will make it easier for pimps and criminals to intimidate girls. Predators and rapists will have a field day. It puts the fox in charge of the hen house.

This Bill 1589 allows those who feel questioned or harassed to litigate and the threat of hefty fines and imprisonment will make life extremely hard for the woman or man protecting their own. This bill should be tossed out so fast the proponents get the message that our time should not be wasted.

The man dressed as a woman was able to use the ladies room without abuse. This was not the first time this happened to me in the statehouse over the years. HB1589 will never solve their problems but will hurt the majority greatly. It is a case of the tail wagging the dog. If you agree you should let them know on Beacon Hill that you oppose HB 1589. 

 I know it was a long day for the Judiciary Committee members. Why can’t we let the people speak first and let the legislators speak to the Committee in a separate hearing?