Trans men protest in women’s bathrooms to show ‘absurdity of policing’
Trans men in Kansas are protesting the bathroom bill (KS SB244 Compliance Crew)
A group of self-described “bearded, burly” trans men have been protesting Kansas’ anti-trans bathroom bills in women’s bathrooms to highlight the “absurdity” of the laws.
Calling themselves the “KS SB244 Compliance Crew“, the men staged a recent protest at the Long Branch Lagoon Water Park in Kansas’ Dodge City on 8 August.
SB 244 requires trans people to use sex-separated municipal facilities like bathrooms and changing rooms that align with the sex they were assigned at birth as opposed to their gender identity.
The bearded men took to the women’s bathroom – in compliance with the law – while wearing bright yellow t-shirts reading ‘Compliance Crew’.
The manager of the water park reportedly screamed upon seeing the trans men in the bathroom before ushering out nearby children, reported Erin in the Morning.
The men kept their clothes on and didn’t make any crass comments, and police were called. They then had to provide “uncomfortable descriptions of their bodies” to the manager and police to avoid arrest.
“Supporters of SB 244, including Attorney General Kris Kobach and Senate Majority Leader Ty Masterson, billed it as a way to keep men out of women’s spaces; it clearly requires some men to enter women’s spaces,” the group said in a press release.
“Segregating people by suspected genitalia does nothing to improve public safety; it does quite the opposite by opening Kansans up to sexual harassment and discrimination. At no point should anyone be asking anyone else what genitals they have in public.”
The group regularly organises “pop-up protests across Kansas to peacefully showcase the absurdity of bathroom policing,” according to its website.
“As masculine people entering ‘feminine’ facilities, we hope to draw attention from the general public and educate them about the dangers of sex-based segregation.”
They say that their goal is “to reverse SB244, shame those who voted for it, prevent further degradation of Kansans’ rights, and redirect attention to matters that concern all residents.”
“Trans feminine people face the brunt of the KS Legislature’s demonization while trans masculine folks are infantilized and characterized as non-threatening,” the Compliance Crew website continues.
“We believe it’s important to use that relative advantage to work for change.”
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