US: Transgender Woman Kicked Out Restaurant for Refusing to Show ID to Use Bathroom

A transgender woman was asked to show her ID to use the woman's bathroom at a restaurant in Washington on Friday and was kicked out when she declined, the CNN has reported. 

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Charlotte Clymer, who identifies as female and works for the Human Rights Campaign said she was at the Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar in Washington with a group of friends for a bachelorette party when the incident occurred. 

Clymer took to Twitter to talk about the issue stating that she was having a good time with her group of friends until she went to use the bathroom when an attendant asked her to show her ID which needed to say "female" on it for her to use the women's bathroom, according to Clymer. She told the attendant "that's nonsense" and kept walking.

Clymer further stated that the attendant followed her into the bathroom as she entered a stall but left later. 

As she got out of the bathroom, the attendant and the restaurant manager both were waiting for her. The manager insisted she show him her ID, Clymer said adding tht she responded with "that's not happening." She asked him to tell her what city law he was referencing. 

Clymer pulled out the actual laws on her phone and told the manager that what he was doing was illegal. He said she was wrong and  threatened to call the police.   

"I told him he should absolutely call the cops. Please do," she wrote on Twitter. According to Clymer, he said: "You being in there will make women uncomfortable." 

"He humiliated me intentionally," Clymer told CNN affiliate WJLA-TV. 

The Cuba Libre restaurant has issued a statement since the incident, offering an official apology. "As a rule, we support safe bathrooms and welcome guests of all gender identifications," the statement said. Adding, "It is particularly disappointing that this has occurred during Pride month when we're undertaking efforts & events to support the LGBTQ community."  

In a tweet following the incident, Cuba Libre laid emphasis on retraining its entire staff to ensure something like this doesn't happen in the future. The CEO has also reached out to Clymer and asked to speak with her, the statement read. 

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser also tweeted an apology to Clymer. "It's not just illegal, it's against all we stand for," Bowser tweeted.