Marcy Rheintgen was positive that there would be no consequences for breaking one of Florida’s laws.
He was wrong.
Rheintgen called Florida a “home away from home” and said he was disturbed by a 2023 law banning some people from using bathrooms in certain places, such as the Capitol, that do not match the sex into which they were born.
After alerting Florida authorities to his plan, the 20-year-old Illinois transgender was arrested on March 19 following his entry into the women’s restroom at Florida’s Capitol in Tallahassee.
The stunt was indeed advertised in advance by letters to Florida legislators.
Just to be sure there was no mistake about who was breaking the law, Rheintgen sent officials a picture of himself.
“I know that you know in your heart that this law is wrong and unjust,” Rheintgen said in his letter, according to the Miami Herald.
“I know that you know in your heart that transgender people are human too, and you can’t arrest us away.”
“I know that you know that I have dignity,” Rheintgen said. “That’s why I know that you won’t arrest me.”
But that’s exactly what happened.
When he appeared, his reception committee of two