Let’s talk about these so-called “bathroom bills.” On the surface, they might sound harmless, maybe even administrative. But scratch that surface, and you’ll find laws designed to keep trans people from using public restrooms that align with our gender identities. These bills aren’t about plumbing or public safety. They’re about control. They send a message loud and clear: Some of us aren’t welcome here. And it’s not just dehumanizing—it’s exhausting.
In 2023, over 500 pieces of legislation restricting the rights of LGBTQ people were introduced in state legislatures. Nearly as many bills have been introduced or remain under consideration thus far in 2024. A substantial percentage of these bills specifically target transgender youth, such as by limiting access to gender-affirming care, participation in sports and school programs, access to bathrooms and other facilities, or by discouraging the use of gender-affirming pronouns for transgender youth.
Imagine planning your day around where you can safely go to the bathroom. (As an entertainer that often works in bars, pubs, and small off-the-beaten-path venues, this is something I think about more than I'd like to admit.)
Do you skip drinks at a restaurant because you’re afraid of harassment? Do you hold it during a long shift at work because the “designated” restroom is miles from your identity—or worse, marked as a political trap? Do you risk it and pee in the alley when you find out the only stall is out of order, and accidentally piss all over yourself when you try to pull your pants up before a cop car passes by? What am I supposed to do?
These bills foster a culture of fear, where even the most mundane acts feel loaded with danger. They also make occupying public space both an inconvenience and a danger.
The stakes aren’t just emotional: denial of safe bathroom access has been linked to higher rates of UTIs, kidney infections, and other health issues for trans folks. It’s more than discrimination—it’s harm to our bodies, our minds, and our dignity.
And the consequences don’t stop there. Bathroom bills embolden bigotry. They perpetuate dangerous myths about trans people—framing us as threats rather than fellow human beings. This fear-mongering has real-world repercussions, from verbal harassment to physical violence, for anyone perceived as “not belonging.” It’s not just trans people who are targeted. Anyone who doesn't fit traditional molds have faced the fallout of these laws. "Transvestigation" was seen extensively in the last Olympics, and not only costs us our dignity but sometimes. our lives. The bathroom becomes a battleground, and everyone loses.
Think about it: the act of going to the bathroom is universal. We all do it. No exceptions. (If you don’t, congratulations on ascending to a higher plane of existence) And yet, for many of us, that basic human experience has been politicized into something far from private. It’s a bizarre kind of irony. A human necessity so fundamental, it should unite us, instead used as a weapon to divide.
Cue the “Here to Pee” Comedy Tour. (In case you haven't been hearing me scream it from the rooftops for the past few months.) The tour brings trans comedians to stages across all 50 states, turning this absurd fight over bathroom access into something we can laugh about. After all, humor has always been a powerful way to cut through fear. And sometimes the best way to respond to discrimination is to hold up a mirror to its sheer ridiculousness.
Here’s the thing: when you laugh at the absurdity of denying someone a bathroom, you’re laughing at the very heart of how silly discrimination can be. It’s a shared laugh, one that opens the door to bigger conversations. Because if we can agree on one thing, it’s that we all need to pee. It’s biology, not politics. And let’s face it—potty humor is timeless.
The “Here to Pee” tour is about more than bathrooms. It’s about taking up space. It’s about reclaiming the narrative from those who want to push us out of public life. We’re here to laugh, to connect, and to make it abundantly clear that this fight isn’t just ours—it’s everyone’s.
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