A Cleveland Plain Dealer
writer has criticized a proposed Cleveland, Ohio ordinance that would
prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in public
accommodations.
Councilmen Joe Cimperman and Matt Zone
proposed the non-discrimination ordinance last month.
In first reporting the story on
Cleveland.com, Leila Atassi, a reporter for the Northeast Ohio Media
Group, which owns the Plain Dealer, described the proposal as
“an ordinance that would require businesses to make their
restrooms, showers and locker rooms available to both sexes.”
She was forced to defend her reporting
on
Twitter, where she said that she picked up the language from
comments made by Cimperman and Zone, though neither was quoted in the
piece as making such a statement.
“Council sponsor of this piece
literally said it means 'you can use the bathroom of your choice,'”
Atassi tweeted. “I did not interpret on my own.”
Commenters on social media and
Cleveland.com, the online portal for the Plain Dealer and
the Northeast Ohio Media Group, repeatedly pointed out that
the proposal would not force unisex facilities but allow transgender
people to access “facilities consistent with their gender identity
or expression.”
Despite this incident, Cleveland.com
last week published an editorial board roundtable in which several
writers repeated the claim, saying that the ordinance would give
“both genders … access to all bathrooms and locker rooms.”
“I am not comfortable with a broad,
gender-neutral bathroom ordinance that would make it easier for
heterosexual men with criminal intent or just kinky habits to gain
access to bathrooms used by women and children,” wrote Sharon
Broussard. “And they are out there.”
Kevin O'Brien wrote: “Just go by the
external appearance of the plumbing the good Lord gave you and keep
your 'expressions' to yourself.”
“I don't think opening up all
bathrooms to both sexes is the answer,” wrote Peter Krouse. “That
would deny people, males and females, the privacy they deserve and
possibly put them in uncomfortable or compromising situations. It
could also create a fertile environment for predators to strike.”
Writing at Equality Matters, Carlos
Maza said the comments “grossly misrepresent the proposed
ordinance.”
“In addition, the myth about sexual
predators sneaking into women's restrooms has been debunked by
experts, including law enforcement officials and sexual abuse
victims' advocate,” Maza
wrote. “States and cities across the country have prohibited
transphobic discrimination in public accommodations without
incident.”