One solution to the Charlotte ordinance would be to provide a single-occupancy bathroom option for anyone who feels uncomfortable using a multi-stall bathroom. This would be open to anyone who wants additional privacy– senior citizens, mothers with young children and yes, transgender people. These single-occupancy bathrooms would be available in all public buildings. If there is a need to construct them, do so at taxpayer’s expense. And in private facilities? Of course, government ought not dictate what private business owners do with their property. It’s a basic premise of property rights. But many businesses will choose to offer single-occupancy bathrooms as their customers begin to demand and expect them.
Instead of the outcry, indignation and threats of some large companies over the passage of HB2, what if they set an example, began to solve the problem instead of making threats? Has the NBA offered to construct single-occupancy bathrooms in stadiums where they play? Has Duke University and Davidson provided single-occupancy bathrooms across their campuses, dorms and locker rooms? Has American Airlines ensured there are single-occupancy bathrooms in airports for their customers? Do Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch provide accommodations for their transgender customers? Perhaps PayPal, Facebook and Goole could set up a fund for small businesses to construct facilities ensuring privacy for their customers instead of launching attacks and making silly threats. What have these companies done to accommodate their transgender customers? Anything they can share?
Perhaps there are options outside of front page headline bashing, bullying threats and national pontificating, and hiring lawyers. Do you want to address the problem, find workable solutions that protect everyone’s rights or will you use any excuse to make unfounded accusations and create unnecessary discourse? North Carolina is better than this.