Tom Sisk: LGBT folks matter

Regarding the April 20 news article “4th Circuit rules for teen in Virginia bathroom case”: “And I don’t think it’s the traditional way we do things.” There lies the rub. For Gov. Pat McCrory and those like him, the “traditional way” is the way it ought to be – they rail against the change they see around them. But their view of the traditional way is fractured.

They saw things as people who didn’t have to worry where they went or who might see them, not having to worry about being judged harshly simply because of who they are.

Tradition meant that gay folk kept to themselves, living a shadow life. Traditionally, trans folk kept their gender confusion to themselves, going their whole lives thinking they were “broken” and wrong, somehow.

These people matter. They have value and worth and contributions to make to this world and the people around them. We have no right to condemn them to a life of fear and worry, a life where they suffer under a significant risk of violence just because they have to go to the bathroom.

I hope McCrory and others can learn to see beyond their own comfortable world and realize that there are other folks out there.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Tom Sisk: LGBT folks matter."