BRAE CARNES IS a Canadian transgender woman who is using the traditional bathroom selfie to highlight what she calls a ‘disgusting’ and ‘ridiculous’ new amendment to a trans-rights bill.
The 23-year-old launched a campaign to protest a bill that will make it illegal for transgender women to use female facilities. She explains on Facebook: “As a trans woman I’m not even safe from discrimination at the pub. What’s going to happen if I’m forced into a men’s change-room?”
She began posting selfies of herself in men’s toilets to highlight how ‘out of place’ she looks, claiming that it’s ‘awkward for everyone’ when she applies lipstick in the mirror or takes selfies while men use the urinals in the background.
The House of Commons passed a bill 2013 to add gender identity into the Canadian Human Rights Act. The state, led by Conservatives, then amended the act after it was approved last month to exclude sex-specific facilities, such as toilets and prisons.
Senator Don Plett said that letting transgender women use female bathrooms “allows for paedophiles to take advantage of legislation that we have in place”.
However, Carnes argues the exact opposite, saying:
I think it is actually giving predators a chance and an opportunity. People think, ‘Why’s this girl in the washroom? She must be looking for a guy.’
Using the hashtag #PlettPutMeHere , her posts have been shared thousands of times on Facebook already, with many other transgender women joining in.
Speaking to the Vancouver Sun, she said:
I’m giving them what they want. I’m actively showing them what it would look like if that became law and how completely ridiculous it is. It’s just not right.
