Why This Gorgeous Bathroom Selfie is Technically Illegal

Last month, North Carolina passed a controversial new law that, amongst many other things, made it illegal for transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that do not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Since passing, HB2 has stirred national outrage, with many corporations going so far as to pull business from the state — but one trans woman has decided to take a stand in a much quieter yet equally powerful way. 

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BEd7a9EDJgv/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >​

On Friday, Sarah McBride posted a selfie of herself standing in a public women's restroom, along with a caption that perfectly skewers why HB2 is so problematic.

"Here I am using a women's restroom in North Carolina that I'm technically barred from being in," she writes. "We are all just people. Trying to pee in peace. Trying to live our lives as fully and authentically as possible. Barring me from this restroom doesn't help anyone. And allowing me to continue to use this bathroom — just without fear of discrimination and harassment — doesn't hurt anyone."

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BEd2khLjJma/?taken-by=sarahemcbride" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >​

According to Buzzfeed, McBride was traveling through North Carolina on a business trip for LGBT Progress at American Progress, where she works as the communications manager. After a meeting at the Mecklenburg Government Center, she had to use the bathroom, and decided to take a selfie in order to prove both how ridiculous and dangerous HB2 really is.

"This is about real people being able to access the bathroom and being able to participate in public life," McBride told Buzzfeed. "I'm a person just trying to make it through my day. Regardless of how I look I shouldn't be afraid of discrimination or violence."

Since posting the selfie, McBride's story has been covered on MSNBC's ​All In with Chris Hayes, ​further drawing attention to how problematic and harmful HB2 is for trans individuals everywhere.

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BEhue4zjJsD/" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >​

[instagram ]https://www.instagram.com/p/BEhukouDJsT/?taken-by=sarahemcbride" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" >​

​Follow Gina on Twitter.