A transgender-identifying college student was arrested last month after entering a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol in defiance of a state law requiring individuals to use bathrooms that match their biological sex.
Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old from Illinois, entered the Capitol building in Tallahassee on March 19 and was warned by Capitol Police that using the women’s restroom would result in a trespass warning. Rheintgen, who reportedly declared “I am here to break the law” before entering the restroom, refused to leave and was subsequently detained.
Rheintgen now faces a misdemeanor trespassing charge that is punishable by up to 60 days in jail. A court hearing is scheduled for May.
The incident comes as Florida and several other states have implemented laws requiring bathroom usage in public schools and government buildings to align with a person’s biological sex rather than their so-called “gender identity.” At least 14 states have adopted such measures, with Florida and Utah being the only two states that have criminalized violations of such laws.
“I wanted people to see the absurdity of this law in practice,” Rheintgen told the Associated Press. “If I’m a criminal, it’s going to be so hard for me to live a normal life, all because I washed my hands. Like, that’s so insane.”
Rheintgen’s arrest is believed to be the first in the nation under one of these criminal statutes, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Rheintgen said the act of defiance was motivated by what was described as Florida’s hostility toward transgender individuals.
“I know that you know in your heart that this law is wrong and unjust,” Rheintgen wrote in a letter to lawmakers. “I know that you know in your heart that transgender people are human too, and that you can’t arrest us away. I know that you know that I have dignity. That’s why I know that you won’t arrest me.”
Rheintgen also expressed concern about being housed with men if convicted and potentially losing access to hormone treatments.
“People are telling me it’s a legal test, like this is the first case that’s being brought,” Rheintgen said. “It’s how they test the law. But I didn’t do this to test the law. I did it because I was upset. I can’t have any expectations for what’s going to happen because this has never been prosecuted before. I’m horrified and scared."
