Local transgender woman weigns in on bathroom debate
Texas Senator Ted Cruz is criticizing Donald Trump for opposing North Carolina’s new bathroom law, saying his rival is giving in to “political correctness.”
Earlier Thursday, Trump said he’s against the state’s new law which mandates transgender people use public bathrooms that match their birth gender. Trump says they should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose. Senator Cruz called it “basic common sense.” Cruz added, “grown adult men, strangers, should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls.”
Meantime, Target is making a stand on the debate around what type of bathrooms transgenders can use. Officials with the Minneapolis based company say they’re free to use whichever one they’d like. Target’s statement comes as a national debate on the topic heats up.
Here in El Paso, ABC-7 spoke with transgender woman Claudia Delfin. She says back in 1986, she made the decision to live life as a woman. At the age of 16 and as a student at El Paso high School, Claudia says she began to use the girls’ bathroom.
“I was starting to look more feminine, ” Claudia said. “Starting to let my hair grow, I’d put it back in a ponytail and wear a little bit more makeup.”
During this time, Claudia says she began to feel unsafe using the boy’s restroom at school. “Guys would hit on me. Some guys would just look at me and stare at me or some guys would make derogatory comments, so i felt very awkward, ” said Claudia. Claudia says she hasn’t used a men’s restroom in 30 years and fears legislation that would make her do just that.
We also spoke with El Pasoans who have differing opinions on the issue. Daniela Gutierrez told us, “I think it’s kind of unsafe to be with a man in such a private area you know.” Brianna Estrada had this to say, “Acceptance depends on how far along a transgender person is in their transformation.”
We invite you to check out the kvia ABC7 Facebook page right now and share your opinion. Look for the discussion tonight on ABC-7 at Nine on the CW with Bob Harp and Nichole Gomez.https://www.facebook.com/KVIATV/
