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The hypocrisy of Springsteen's transgender bathroom crusade
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By Andrea Peyser
April 22, 2016

The hypocrisy of Springsteen's transgender bathroom crusade

Bruce Springsteen is a megatalented rock star of limited intelligence and outsize cultural influence. Now The Boss is throwing a massive hissy fit in protest of a North Carolina law that instructs individuals as to where they can and cannot pee and poop.

It’s come to this, tinkle-lovers. A millionaire music legend and self-styled ‘’humanitarian’’ who can afford to relieve himself in the privacy of his New Jersey mansion demands potty parity for people who claim they “identify’’ as belonging to a gender at odds with their genitalia.

It’s enough to make me long for the quiet dignity of Caitlyn Jenner.

No, wait! The narcissistic reality-TV babe, born the male athlete Bruce Jenner, has lately forced me to contemplate her nether regions by wavering publicly over whether she’ll undergo a sex-change operation.

I could have lived a long and happy life without knowing about Cait’s genital dilemma.

Earlier this month, Springsteen, 66, and his E Street Band canceled a concert scheduled in North Carolina, voicing the frontman’s displeasure over the state’s so-called “bathroom law’’ enacted last month, which bars transgender individuals from using public bathrooms and locker rooms whose signs — “Women’’ and “Men’’ — don’t correspond to their private parts.

“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them,’’ Springsteen lectured on his website.

“It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push backwards instead of forwards.”

Welcome back to the revolution, comrade! I haven’t heard Springsteen get so politically exercised since the presidency of his despised George W. Bush.

One by one, leftist members of the celebrity-industrial complex followed Springsteen’s lead and vowed to fight for people’s right to urinate (and the other thing) wherever they wish. Former Beatle Ringo Starr canceled a concert in North Carolina. Leftist filmmaker Michael Moore refuses to show his latest flick, “Where to Invade Next,’’ in the state, which might be a blessing in disguise to North Carolinians with taste. Filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner pledged that he wouldn’t make any more movies in North Carolina unless the state’s bathroom law is repealed.

The rock group Pearl Jam canceled a show in the state, as did the band Boston and the Cirque du Soleil troupe.

Heads of corporations (including PepsiCo and Hewlett-Packard) and performers (Bryan Adams, for one) piled on in protest.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month joined leaders of other states and cities and banned all “non-essential’’ travel by New York state employees to North Carolina.

Mayor Bill de Blasio did the same with New York City workers, although I haven’t a clue what “essential’’ travel entails.

Holy hypocrisy! Many of these conscientious bathroom objectors see no problem performing or doing business in places where same-sex marriage isn’t legal (such as Italy) or where homosexuals and transgender folks are routinely persecuted or killed (about all Middle Eastern countries, except Israel).

Maybe I’m a prude. But if you’re like me, you might be disturbed by the sight of people with penises doing their business, showering and changing their clothes inside female-only, multiple-occupancy bathrooms and locker rooms in government buildings. The thought of allowing anatomical males inside public school facilities used by young girls is enough to keep you up at night. (Owners of private property can make their own rules.)

I’m talking mainly about humans bearing junk who say they believe they’re really women trapped inside men’s bodies. But I imagine that the sight of people with lady parts using men’s facilities might be equally disturbing to bathroom users with the corresponding equipment.

Hey — I’m cool with sex changes. As readers know, I applaud an old friend who was born a guy, but grew so unhappy with the way God made him, my pal underwent gender reassignment surgery and transitioned into a gal. In North Carolina, people who’ve had themselves surgically transformed into the gender they believe they really are may use public facilities matching their altered states.

The question is: How can anyone tell genuine pre-op transgenders apart from garden-variety pervs? We can’t.

Bruce Springsteen & Co. should garner their resources to fight child abuse at home, famine in Africa — even the bullying of LGBT types.

Anything more pressing than the loo. It’s about the bathroom, stupid.

©2007-2024 Andrea Peyser and andreapeyser.com; No Reuse without permission.
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