Staff Reports
In a stunning turn of events, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) inadvertently stumbled upon a perfectly logical argument against allowing men who claim to be women to change in women’s locker rooms. During Thursday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing on the potential dangers of “gender affirming care,” former college swimmer Paula Scanlan shared her mortifying experience of having to change alongside a biological man, Lia Thomas, during her competitive days. This candid testimony prompted Rep. Cohen to propose a rather peculiar solution – putting up barriers in women’s locker rooms.
Now, wait just a minute, Mr. Cohen! Isn’t it amusing to see a staunch defender of transgender rights inadvertently highlight the inherent biological differences between men and women? By suggesting the need for barriers inside women’s facilities, it seems Rep. Cohen is acknowledging that men who identify as women are, in fact, distinct from biological women. And if that’s the case, why can’t we stick to the tried-and-true strategy of using separate locker rooms for men and women?
MIC DROP: @PaulaYScanlan DESTROYS @RepCohen on biological men using women’s facilities 🔥👇
"By Rep. Cohen admitting that we need barriers [in women's facilities] acknowledges there are biological differences between men and women.
And by acknowledging that we need to have… pic.twitter.com/TzA2EewCru
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) July 27, 2023
Paula Scanlan herself hit the nail on the head when she responded to Rep. Cohen’s proposal. She argued that his acknowledgment of the need for barriers implies a recognition of the privacy and protection women deserve from these men. So, if we’re all in agreement that men and women are different and require separate spaces, why complicate matters by blurring the lines in the first place? Let’s stick to what has been working for centuries – men’s and women’s locker rooms!
This unintentional revelation by Rep. Cohen just goes to show that even those who champion progressive ideologies can inadvertently prove the conservative argument against radical gender policies. It’s moments like these that remind us that common sense and biology cannot be dismissed with a wave of the social justice wand. Perhaps it’s time for a dose of practicality and a return to traditional values that prioritize the safety and comfort of all women – including those participating in sports and other activities that require the use of locker rooms.
So, kudos to Rep. Cohen for accidentally making our point for us. We must continue to advocate for policies that protect the privacy and dignity of women, while respecting the biological realities that have stood the test of time. It’s time to put an end to the absurdity of forcing women to share intimate spaces with men, regardless of how they identify.
