After bathroom scare, ACLU leader resigns over transgender stance

Last updated on: June 3, 2016 at 10:59 pm by CNA Daily News

After bathroom scare, ACLU leader resigns over transgender stance 2016-06-03T22:59:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Atlanta, Ga., Jun 3, 2016 / 04:59 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The head of the Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has resigned after a scare with her daughters involving men entering a women’s restroom.

Maya Dillard Smith had been interim director of the chapter since 2015. She said she resigned because of the hostile reaction to her questions about the advocacy group’s participation in litigation on the use of opposite-sex public restrooms by people who identify as transgender.

“There are real concerns about the safety of women and girls in regards to this bathroom debate,” she said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It seems to me that instead of stifling the dialogue, we want to encourage a robust debate to come up with an effective solution.”

She said she had misgivings about the issue since the time her young daughters encountered three deep-voiced transgendered young adults over six feet tall in an Oakland, Calif. restroom.

“My kids were visibly frightened. I was scared. And I was ill-prepared to answer their questions,” she said in a statement published by the Atlanta Progressive News website.

Smith said that transgender rights have implications for women’s rights. She said that accommodations for transgendered people must “balance the need to ensure women and girls are safe from those who might have malicious intent.”

While she previously thought the ACLU aimed to balance competing rights and be mindful of unintended consequences, she now thinks she is no longer philosophically aligned with the organization.

Smith – who is African American – accused the legal group of promoting only “certain progressive rights.”

“In that way, it is a special interest organization not unlike the conservative right, which creates a hierarchy of rights based on who is funding the organization’s lobbying activities,” she said.

Smith has launched a website, Finding Middle Ground, that aims to voice her concerns in the current debate.

An ACLU spokeswoman gave Reuters a memo stating that the ACLU’s position is that “transgender people can use facilities and participate in activities that match who they are.”

The group’s North Carolina affiliate is challenging a state bill that officially establishes single-sex restrooms in the state’s schools and public buildings. It requires people to use the bathroom on the basis of the sex on their birth certificate.

The Obama administration recently sent a letter to all public school districts indicating that they should allow students who identify as transgender to use the bathroom that matches this self-perceived gender identity. Georgia is one of 11 states challenging the directive.

The American Civil Liberties Union is involved in civil rights work on racial issues and the misuse of police force, but it is also a staunch defender of legal abortion and LGBT causes. It is a critic of Catholic ethical standards against abortion in Catholic hospitals. It has also argued that religious freedom protections are discriminatory.

Previous Post

June 3, 2016

How to be a good shepherd – Pope Francis' guide for priests

Next Post

June 4, 2016 A Marian apparition has been approved in Argentina - and it's a big deal

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give to you"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peter John James Paul