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Showing Original Post only (View all)Georgia ACLU director resigns over transgender fight [View all]
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The head of Georgias ACLU chapter opened a new rift in the debate over restroom rights this week when she stepped down in protest of the civil rights groups support for controversial efforts to let transgender people use the restroom that matches their gender identity.
Maya Dillard Smith said Thursday she resigned because she was met with hostility when she questioned the organizations stance on the policy, adding that she risked being branded a homophobe by even raising her critique. There are real concerns about the safety of women and girls in regards to this bathroom debate, Dillard Smith said in an interview. It seems to me that instead of stifling the dialogue, we want to encourage a robust debate to come up with an effective solution.
Many Georgia conservatives have aired similar concerns, but Dillard Smith adds a prominent liberal voice to the mix. She said shes had misgivings about the bathroom debate since her young daughters shared a restroom in Oakland, Calif. with three transgender women with deep voices.
My kids were visibly frightened. I was scared. And I was ill-prepared to answer their questions, she said. Ive been asking those same questions, and now I want to raise an honest conversation about them.
Read more: http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/06/02/georgia-aclu-director-resigns-over-transgender-fight/