Turns out Paul Scott, Michigan State Representative who has just announced his candidacy for nomination for Secretary of State, is a little bit hung up on bathroom politics. My fellow queer activists might say "Aren't we all?" But, who'da thunk it, he's not on our side.

Scott stated in his top four policy priorities:

I will make it a priority to ensure transgender individuals will not be allowed to change the sex on their driver’s license in any circumstance.

When asked why this was such a priority for him, Scott said it was to "[prevent] people who are males genetically from dressing as a woman and going into female bathrooms."

With just this simple statement, Scott has taken power over the fear and emotions of women, and fed into stereotypes and negative imagery of the trans community. By presenting the trans community as predators, it perpetuates the myth of victimization of cisgendered people under the power of transgender individuals, as well as the mentality that the only thing keeping individuals with malicious intent from entering a particular bathroom is the sign on the door.

For more information about bathroom politics, check out the Transgender Law Center's toolkit "Peeing in Peace: A Resource Guide for Transgender Activists and Allies" here: http://www.transgenderlawcenter.org/pdf/PIP%20Resource%20Guide.pdf

Oh, and don't vote Paul Scott. Thanks.