Over the past couple of years, America has taken life-changing strides to allow those of the LGBT community equal rights. Unfortunately this March, North Carolina took twenty steps backwards when Governor Pat McCrory passed what has been nicknamed the “Bathroom Bill.” This law denies those of the transgender community the comfort to use the pubic bathroom of which gender they identify with.

After years of human rights progress in the U.S., such a law has actually been passed, and it’s quite disappointing. Since the US Constitution was created in 1789, the Preamble stated and still states that “we the people” must “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” More than 200 years later, “the blessings of liberty” are being denied for the transgender community by a single bill. Thankfully, the government of North Carolina is being sued for this discriminatory bill by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), providing a bit of hope in the protection of people’s rights.

Transgenders, young or old, already tend to be frowned upon and singled out because people disagree with who they are what they believe. Those who attend high school and need to use the bathroom, must go to the nurse’s office or a teacher bathroom. Oprah Winfrey produced a documentary about 14-year-old transgender, Jazz Jennings. Amongst the confessions of her transition, Jazz talks about having to go to the office to use the bathrooms. This shows that even at a young age, transgender individuals are singled out.

Many conservatives feel as though the “Bathroom Bill” is “perfectly reasonable” because “men should not be going to the bathroom with little girls,” as said by U.S. political candidate, Ted Cruz. In conclusion when bills and laws such as this blatantly skip over the rights of all people how can we call ourselves the land of the free?

Overall, this bill must be turned over. History does repeat itself. If we allow this discriminatory bill to be passed, then even worse bills will be passed that could potentially do even more damage. The “Bathroom Bill” could send this country back several years in the level of equality that has been worked so hard for.