Marcy Rheintgen, 20, entered a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol after publicly announcing her intent as an act of civil disobedience. She told the Associated Press, “I am here to break the law,” before being led away in handcuffs by Capitol police, who had been alerted ahead of time. Rheintgen was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and faces up to 60 days in jail. Her court date is set for May.
Rheintgen, who was visiting her grandparents in Florida, said she penned letters to all 160 state lawmakers explaining her planned protest. “If I’m a criminal, it’s going to be so hard for me to live a normal life — all because I washed my hands,” she said.
Florida is one of only two states — along with Utah — where violations of transgender restroom laws can result in criminal penalties. According to ACLU attorneys, no one has previously been arrested under such laws.
The arrest has intensified debate over the law. Supporters, including the bill’s sponsors, argue the measure is necessary to protect women and girls in single-sex spaces. Opponents say it invites harassment and strips people of dignity.
“This arrest isn’t about safety — it’s about cruelty,” said Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. “Transgender people have been using restrooms aligned with their gender for generations without incident.”
If convicted, Rheintgen fears she could face more than just legal consequences — potentially being jailed with men, forced to cut her hair, and temporarily denied hormone therapy. She insists her decision to protest wasn’t to test the law, but to stand up for her identity.
“I know that you know in your heart that this law is wrong,” she wrote in her letter to lawmakers. “You can’t arrest us away.”
