Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law is Thought to be a First

A transgender college student, Marcy Rheintgen, was arrested last month at the Florida State Capitol for using a women’s restroom, making it the first known case in the U.S. where someone has been charged under a state law restricting transgender bathroom use. The 20-year-old from Illinois told officers, “I am here to break the law,” before entering the restroom, fully aware she was defying Florida’s new legislation. Police had been alerted ahead of time and were waiting for her at the Capitol in Tallahassee. After using the women’s restroom to wash her hands and pray, Rheintgen was given a trespass warning but refused to leave. She was then taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor trespassing, a charge that carries up to 60 days in jail. Her court date is set for May.

A Personal Protest

Rheintgen said her actions were a form of civil disobedience, aimed at exposing what she sees as the harmful and absurd consequences of the law. During a visit to her grandparents in Florida, she penned letters to all 160 state lawmakers, informing them of her intent to enter a public women’s restroom. In the letter, she urged them to recognize the humanity and dignity of transgender people, saying, “I know you know this law is unjust.” Her protest was fueled by frustration over Florida’s growing hostility toward trans individuals, and she hoped her arrest would highlight the issue, even though she didn’t intend to be part of a legal battle.

Florida Among the Few to Criminalize Bathroom Access

Florida is one of just two states—alongside Utah—that criminalize transgender people using bathrooms that don’t align with their sex assigned at birth in certain public buildings. Other states have similar laws but don’t include criminal penalties. Many, like Alabama and Kentucky, lack clear enforcement rules altogether. Civil rights attorneys, including those from the ACLU, confirmed that Rheintgen’s arrest is the first known case of its kind. Some states have even seen backlash to enforcement attempts, like in Utah, where activists overwhelmed a state reporting hotline with false tips to prevent real reports.

Growing Pushback and Legal Uncertainty

LGBTQ+ advocates argue these laws don’t make anyone safer—instead, they fuel harassment and discrimination. Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, called the arrest a deliberate act of humiliation rather than a measure for safety. She said transgender people have used gender-appropriate restrooms for years without incident. Now facing an uncertain legal outcome, Rheintgen fears the consequences of a conviction could go beyond a fine or jail time. She’s concerned about being held in a male facility and being cut off from her hormone treatments. While some view her case as a test of the law’s enforceability, Rheintgen says her protest wasn’t meant to make legal history—she simply acted out of anger and heartbreak.