Jailed For Existing: Trans Woman Arrested Under Florida’s Bathroom Ban
In a landmark Florida case, a young trans woman’s arrest at the Florida State Capitol has ignited national debate over the state’s controversial bathroom law.
It’s been two years since Florida passed the “Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act” in 2023, legislation that restricts restroom and changing facility access based on an individual’s sex assigned at birth. While the law has faced strong opposition from LGBTQ+ rights groups, it wasn’t until March 19, 2025, that it was enforced. On that day last month, Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old transgender woman from Illinois, was arrested for using the women’s restroom at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.
The Florida Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act states that individuals must use restrooms and changing facilities in schools, government buildings, and correctional institutions that correspond to their sex assigned at birth. The law has been widely criticized by groups like the ACLU of Florida, who argue it discriminates against transgender people and endangers their privacy and safety. Critics say the law exacerbates the risks of harassment and violence for transgender individuals, forcing them to choose between using facilities that may lead to public confrontation or avoiding these spaces altogether.
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In a letter sent to Florida officials ahead of her visit, Rheintgen announced her intention to use the women’s restroom as a form of protest. She also included a photo of herself to make her identity known and emphasized that the law was humiliating and unjust. Rheintgen made it clear that she was determined to take action against the law, signaling her intention to challenge it head-on.
When she arrived on March 19th, officers were already waiting for her at the front doors of the Capitol building, offering a counter-proposal: she could avoid jail time if she agreed to appear in court before a judge. However, Rheintgen refused to back down and proceeded with her plan. She entered the women’s restroom, washed her hands, and exited the facility without incident. But the officers deemed her actions a threat to public order and arrested her for trespassing, citing concerns that she might repeat the act.
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Rheintgen was taken to a men’s jail and kept in custody for 24 hours before being released. Her charge is trespassing, a second-degree misdemeanor that could lead to a sentence of up to 60 days in jail. Since her release, she has returned to school and is awaiting future court dates related to the charge.
Her arrest marks a landmark moment in the ongoing battle over transgender rights in Florida. It is the first known public enforcement of the Facility Requirements Based on Sex Act, and its outcome could set the tone for future legal challenges. For now, Rheintgen’s arrest has added to the ongoing national conversation about the legal and personal impacts of bathroom laws that target transgender people, raising questions about human dignity, civil rights, and the broader political climate for LGBTQ+ communities.
