The Most Dangerous Year

Seattle-based filmmaker Vlada Knowlton offers a personal take on the struggles of transgender people fighting for equal protection under the law. She and her husband have three children, including a transgender girl. When her daughter was a toddler, Knowlton turned for guidance to Aidan Key, a trans educator. After the battle for gay marriage had been won, Key predicted that opponents would switch their focus to trans people, which is exactly what happened: in 2016, bathroom bills proliferated. The members of Knowlton’s gender diversity support group express surprise that this could happen in liberal Washington state. Proponents of SB 6443 argue that sexual predators will take advantage of trans-friendly bathrooms to give in to their worst impulses. After a public hearing, the bill heads to the state senate. Knowlton speaks with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib, Republican State Senator Joe Fain, and others who confirm that transgender people are historically more likely to be victims of abuse. Worse, they tend to avoid public restrooms—even at the risk of physical distress—for fear of harassment. Although the bill doesn’t pass, the vote is close (a similar bill, HB2, passes in North Carolina), and shortly after that Washington’s Family Policy Institute creates the "Just Want Privacy" campaign to put another bathroom bill initiative on the ballot, while the Washington Won’t Discriminate coalition comes together to counteract their efforts. An instructive and heartfelt account of the challenges trans individuals face and the ways that they and their allies can fight back, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)