A transgender woman has been arrested in Florida after using a women’s restroom at the state Capitol, marking what could be the first known arrest under the state’s controversial 2023 bathroom law.
Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old from Illinois, was taken into custody two weeks ago and charged with trespassing, according to a report by the Miami Herald.
Rheintgen had previously sent letters to lawmakers, along with photos of herself, warning that she planned to use a specific women’s restroom in the Capitol in protest of the law. The legislation prohibits individuals from using bathrooms in public buildings that do not match their sex assigned at birth.
“I know that you know in your heart that this law is wrong and unjust,” Rheintgen wrote in her letter, as reported by the Herald. “I know that you know in your heart that transgender people are human too, and you can’t arrest us away.”
On March 19, Rheintgen arrived at the designated restroom, where she was met by two Capitol police officers. The officers initially attempted to deter her, but she entered the restroom anyway.
While police first planned to issue her a notice to appear in court, they ultimately arrested her, stating that she did not meet the criteria for a notice. She was booked on a second-degree misdemeanor trespassing charge, which carries a penalty of up to 60 days in jail.
Police reportedly described Rheintgen as “sassy” and claimed she implied she might use the women’s restroom again. She was released from jail after 24 hours.
Following her release, Rheintgen expressed regret about her arrest but remained steadfast in her criticism of the law.
“Everything that is politics seems very abstract and philosophical from far away,” she told the Herald. “This is the first time it’s really affected me. I got arrested and I got sent to jail because of Gov. [Ron] DeSantis’ policies—like, that’s crazy, that’s crazy!”
LGBTQ+ rights advocates have condemned the arrest, calling it an example of government overreach and discrimination. Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida Action Inc., issued a statement denouncing the incident.
“The arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is not about safety. It’s about cruelty, humiliation, and the deliberate erosion of human dignity,” Smith stated. “Transgender people have been using restrooms aligned with their gender for generations without incident. What’s changed is not their presence—it’s a wave of laws designed to intimidate them out of public life.”
She added:
“The true goal is intimidation. If you can’t safely or legally use a restroom, your time in any public space is limited. That’s the point. These laws don’t protect anyone; they push transgender people out of everyday life, shrinking their freedom and making them vulnerable to harassment and arrest.”
Rheintgen, who is now back at school, must return to Florida for upcoming legal proceedings.
The arrest has reignited debate over Florida’s restrictive bathroom law and its impact on transgender individuals. Advocacy groups have vowed to continue challenging the measure in court and through public demonstrations.
