The incident happened in Parkland Hospital in Dallas where authorities called the police after a complaint from a female patient that a man was in the women’s restroom. Witherspoon told the media, “This is 2012, and I’ve been transitioning since 2006, and I’ve never had a problem until I went to Parkland Hospital.” She says see did not meet anyone else in the restroom, but met a female patient when she was walking out. “There was a lady there that said, ‘That’s a man.’ I just ignored her and kept going.”
Soon after, a Parkland officer came and cited her. Witherspoon offered to show a letter from her doctor that states, “She is expected to use facilities consistent with her external presentation, which is female.”
However, her license mentioned her as a man, and the police said they have to follow that. According to the law in Texas, to be cited for disorderly conduct a person must have acted “intentionally or knowingly for a lewd or unlawful purpose.” Clearly the law did not call for ticketing in this case unless there was a complaint of “lewd or unlawful purpose.”
Witherspoon said, “I went to the bathroom, took care of my business, washed my hands and left … I didn’t even see anyone.”
Since the incident, Parkland Hospital has issued a statement mentioning, “Because of the complexity of the issue, the incident is currently under review. Parkland strives to treat patients, visitors and staff with dignity and respect, as well as provide a safe environment at all times.”
Please change the title of this article to “A transgender person ticketed in texas for using the ladies restroom.” The word ‘transgender’ by itself is not the proper way to refer to anyone.
Also, please correct the gender in this statement: “Something that a Dallas transgender woman found out to his chagrin on April 25 after being ticketed for disorderly conduct for entering a woman’s restroom.” Witherspoon is female and should always be referred to as she.
What struck me was the newspaper’s writer right out of the box, referred to Witherspoon as a “he” when actually a female.
this story actually shows just how discriminating people are, ask a woman if they want to be in a restroom with a person whom is not of the same sex as they are, and what percentage would say “yes”, so here we have the Court ? running a democracy ?, I say just because a person wishes to be something they are not should not over ride the law, if a person claims to be trans-animal would that mean that men believing they are gorilla’s should be allowed to run around naked, climbing trees and pooping on those below them, we are becoming so unrealistic on supporting those that are confused that we do not support those that are working, paying taxes, raising families, supporting their children, no the left would have us supporting the surgical alterations for a person to become a transgender ridiculous and stay out of my stall