2016 Bathroom's

Policy is the 3rd Humanities course in the Global Government series, after Rhetoric and Argument. The first unit was called Legislative, I learned about the three branches of U.S. government, learning about its structure and purpose, researching its role in historical policy-making, and evaluating those decisions that have affected people that live in the United States. For our first Action Project we were ask to write a letter to a legislator that address an important issue that has to do with policy. What I struggled with was the whole project in general. I couldn't find a topic to write about that connected to me. This caused me to have writers block. I do like the topic that I picked, but I think if I really took the time to pick a better topic my Action Project would have came out a lot better.

nymag.com. 2016

Jacinda Vargas

GCE Lab School

1525 N. Dayton

Chicago, IL 60642

April 23, 2016

The Honorable President Obama
The President.
The White House.
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500.

Dear President Obama: 

Out of all the important issues that are happening all over the world, people want to fight about bathrooms. Bathrooms are considered a private area, and people tend to get really uncomfortable when LGBTQ get put in the mix. LGBTQ deserve to feel equal just like every human being does. Nobody should be denied their right to view themselves how they want to be viewed. Conversations have came up all over the country that the LGBTQ community want to be able to walk into any bathroom that they identity themselves as. “North Carolina became the first state to require transgender people to use restrooms assigned to the sex on their birth certificate.” I think this is unfair because people don’t agree with the sex that they were born with. North Carolina, and Mississippi have opposite views on this topic, and I believe that you are able to change that. 

My name is Jacinda Vargas and I am a Junior at GCE Lab School located in Chicago, IL. I write to ask you to fully support this topic. I hope to see some improvements about this issue before you leave office. I believe that you can do great things before your term ends, because the ones who are running now, might push America back. “Most people take reasonable access to restroom facilities for granted. However, transgender people often face the burden of being confronted or questioned about which gender's restroom they should use.” I find it funny how people don't know that transgender do use the wash room without anyone knowing their transgender. But once someone knows a transgender is in the washroom they become uncomfortable. Some issues have sparked in North Carolina about anti-LGBTQ bathroom laws. "A male police officer enters the ladies' rest room to demand identification from a woman wearing jeans, a baggy shirt, and a baseball cap." The girl was yelled at and forced out of the bathroom because she didn't have ID to identify herself with, and because of her appearance.

My sister is lesbian, she has a tomboy style and some even mistake her for a boy at times. My sister can walk in to either bathroom and not once has she be discriminated for it. My sister is lucky enough to live in an area where she feels accepted, I want other LGBTQ members to feel accepted all over the world just like my sister does. What is mind blowing to me is that different parts of the United States have very different view points. Being LGBTQ is wrong to some people, and that causes people to be treated badly. I don't know how America is going to be great again, if some people can't accept the fact that all humans are different. I want the anti-bathrooms policy to stop, I want people no matter what sex be able to use any bathroom as they please, I want them to feel safe, especially safe when entering a bathroom. President Obama you can make true change to the United States, as you have already. Let this last term be the best one, lets change the way American has been thinking, lets make America great.

Sincerely,

Jacinda Vargas.

Citations: 

"Watch Cops Drag Lesbian out of Bathroom for “Not Looking Like A Woman” usuncut.co-bathroom.  Nathan Willman. 27, April 2016. Web 29, April 2016. 

"North Carolina Passes Sweeping Anti-LGBT Law Over Transgender Bathroom Fears." nymag.com. Margaret Hartmann. 24 March, 2016. Web. 29 April 2016. 

Weak Bridge

The first unit is called Load. In this unit I learned about about weight, load, and the forces that act around us. I also learned about Newton's laws, and how his laws relate to everyday life. I also learned about bridges. On our first FE, we went downtown to see good urban planning, and bad urban planning in Chicago. We also looked at some bridges that are downtown as well. For our first Action Project we were paired up in partners, and asked to create our own version of a Truss Bridge out of popsicle sticks that could hold 10 pounds. What I struggled with was building the bridge as it was very frustrating because our planned design didn’t come out the way we expected it to. We also struggled with figuring out our design. What I am most proud of is completing the project.