I’m writing to express my concern with the article “Dorm Renovation Complicates Religious Observance” that was published on April, 16, 2016, as I feel that some of the statements that student Abby Garfinkle made were inappropriate.

As someone who has spent the majority of her lifetime observing organized religion, I certainly understand how important it is and I hold a lot of respect for individuals who are able to remain faithful amidst the many complications of the twenty-first century. Doing such is undoubtedly a challenge, and Abby is certainly entitled to her religious views. What she is less entitled to, though, is to undermine the struggles of the transgender community by belittling their importance in comparison to her own.

Every year, 41 percent of transgender individuals attempt to commit suicide. This rate is even higher for transgender teenagers, who are often disowned by their families, friends and communities before they can even graduate high school. While present day society prides itself on being open-minded, evidence shows that this is not the case for this community. Just a few weeks ago, NC passed a law that prohibited transgender persons from using the restrooms of the gender with which they identify. To avoid a $200 fine, they must use the restrooms of the opposite gender. Take a moment to imagine the discomfort you would feel if forced to do that.

I’m aware of how difficult it can be to practice one’s religion, but for Abby to say that she was “jealous” of the transgendered community was in extremely poor taste. She was inconvenienced by the technical functions of certain bathrooms; transgender people are in constant fear of using almost all bathrooms, for at any given moment they can be attacked and told that they don’t belong there. Not only are they in physical danger, but they also face legal discrimination, in corporate, military and various other public environments. Do they receive support at Dickinson? Sure – once every year, when LGBTQ awareness week is held and the two restrooms in the HUB are marked as gender-neutral for a whopping 48 hours. At all other points in the year, the transgender community at Dickinson – and all over the country, all over the world, for that matter – constantly struggles with using restrooms.

Does Abby deserve the support of the Dickinson facilities staff? Sure. Throughout the course of this article, I have never even hinted that she shouldn’t receive such. At the same time, though, the transgender community deserves similar respect – and not to be undermined by a member of another minority. The struggles that transgender people experience on a regular basis should be taken seriously.