In Minnesota, a customer went to the bathroom at a Buffalo Wild Wings only to be followed by a server who demanded proof that she was a woman. With no options left, the teen decided to lift up her hoodie and show her bare chest to the server, which made the server walk away. Now the teen has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant company.
The incident occurred in April when Gerika Mudra, 18, had accompanied a friend to a Buffalo Wild Wings outlet in Owatonna. Reportedly, Mudra just took a routine trip to the bathroom, where she was followed by a server who then proceeded to bang on her bathroom stall. The server allegedly told Mudra from behind the door that she was in the women’s bathroom and needed to get out.
Mudra notes that this wasn’t her first time being treated in such a manner in a public restroom. According to Mudra, she usually just has to gently point out that she’s not transgender, but owing to the rise of anti-LGBT sentiments during the second Trump term, this time the server did not listen and still insisted she leave the bathroom. That’s when Mudra reportedly unzipped her hoodie to show the server her breasts.
This is not an isolated case. There have been incidents all across America, from Phoenix to even the U.S. Capitol, where people are being policed about which restroom they can and cannot use. Scrutinizing each other’s gender has also become commonplace, with the most famous example being Candace Owens’ endless accusations about the First Lady of France.
NBC now reports that Gender Justice has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination. The advocacy group pointed out that Minnesota protects people from discrimination based on nothing but stereotypes and assumptions. The group held a news conference through their senior staff attorney, Sara Jane Baldwin, who said, “Businesses have a legal obligation not to just have antidiscrimination policies on paper, but to train staff and ensure that those policies are followed in real time. When that doesn’t happen, the business is liable for the harm caused.”
The Trump administration has been doing all it can to clamp down on trans rights since the beginning of his second term. He has threatened to even defund universities in California for what he terms as an out-of-control trend of people in gendered sports changing their category. Governor Gavin Newsom has, however, consistently challenged him throughout these threats.
Even if Mudra were transgender, under Minnesota law, she would still be able to file a discrimination lawsuit. The state explicitly prohibits discrimination targeted at people for their sexual orientation. When reached for comment, representatives of Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants chose not to respond.
That unpleasant ordeal reportedly made Mudra decide to avoid public restrooms altogether. Mudra said, “After that, I just don’t like going in public bathrooms. I just hold it in. … I want to be able to use the bathroom in peace.”
Ironically, this wave of discrimination began as a step to “protect” women.
