Rantz: Transgender rights activists should side with Trump bathroom roll back

If you’re concerned over the recent President Donald Trump move to roll back President Barack Obama-era transgender bathroom guidance, respectfully, you shouldn’t be. In fact, you should welcome this move because it will actually provide closure on an important issue.

Listen: Transgender issues explained

I admit this will be immediately derided controversial and half the lunatic tweets I’ll get criticizing me will be informed by an ideological bigotry on their part (they won’t even read this blog before getting angry). But hear me out: if this is a civil or human right, then you want the courts to decide this, not any one president.

The problem with guidance coming from any administration – Left, Right or Center – is that it’s subject to the person in office, not an absolute determination of law. Wouldn’t you rather there be one firm answer? You can’t claim something is a civil right, but not want the court to decide. Would you prefer each administration decide you’ll have bathroom rights for only four or eight years at a time?

Related: Stop whining about ‘joke’ and prove your point on transgender bathroom bill

Absolutely nothing has changed as a result of the Trump move. His position, as president, is that transgender bathroom and locker room use is a state’s rights issue. He made that position crystal clear when he ran; personally, he’s stated multiple times he doesn’t care who uses the bathrooms and has strongly criticized states that aimed to curb these rights. But his ideological position is that the states should decide, barring a Supreme Court review (it’s the same position that many Progressive activists seemed content with when they passed marijuana legalization, despite it being against federal law).

States like Washington have decided in favor of transgender bathroom rights; a decision I agree with. States that support this as a right are already implementing it. Other states activists find problematic? The guidance was held up in courts before going into effect and the issue will be heard by SCOTUS. Let it be heard if you’re confident in the right.

Related: Very troubling response to transgender bathroom issue

If it’s not deemed a right, then you were wrong. It’s okay to be wrong and it’s okay to actually try to enact change in other ways. In fact, rather than impose your will on people who are against it, how about you have the audacity to have civil dialogues with people who disagree with your position and win them over? LGBTQ rights have come a very long way through dialogue and exposure on the issues. We’ve seen these dialogues lead to great success. But too often, we hurl insults at people who disagree with our position then try to impose our views on those opposed. We’d all be better served if we talked more openly and honestly about it.

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