Thanks for the responses, folks. This truly is horrific, and from what I just read this morning it seems this woman's rights might get trampled on again because the law is not suited to protect her.
The transwoman has not been named at this point, but Equality Maryland has apparently confirmed that yes, she was a 22 year old transgender woman. Two arrests have been made thus far of an 18 year old woman and a 14 year old girl.
And then the story just goes downhill. Apparently recently the state of Maryland refused to pass a bill that would allow trans people to use the appropriate washroom. The attack apparently occurred over the use of the McDonald's bathroom, and the article speculates that the case will be dismissed because she won't be seen a as a woman trying to use the women's washroom, but as a man. If they dismiss this case they're pretty much giving the green light to any asshole to go beat up a trans person and get away with it. There is no excuse for assaulting someone like this.
Quote:
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If this is a case of a 22 year old man entering a bathroom while a 14 year old girl was using it – get ready for a legal showdown. Any sleazeball criminal defense attorney will have enough facts to argue for a dismissal. I am sure the two girls have already been called by attorneys willing to take the case pro bono, trying to make a name. LGBT rights will spend more time on trial during this soon to be circus than the girls will. Still all must agree the assault without a doubt is heinous.
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http://www.tmrzoo.com/2011/24106
If a state is not going to allow laws protecting trans people as far as which bathroom they can use, then it at least needs to address the issue of...which fucking bathroom is it safe to use? Make more gender neutral washrooms if you're not going to protect people's basic right to use a washroom. This could have just as well have happened had this woman tried to use the men's bathroom. What is she supposed to do?
Just last week or the week before there was a rally by the SanFran lgbt community over the beating over another transwoman, and I hope this brutality brings people out to speak out against it in the same way. There needs to be a way for the entire community of lgbt folks everywhere to come together against this kind of violence, and put up a fight to end this kind of violence.
And I agree, this is a problem that faces the entire lgbt community and all gender variant people.