Civil Disobedience by Trans Student Sparks Debate Over Florida’s New Law

A biological male college student was arrested at the Florida State Capitol after deliberately attempting to challenge the state’s bathroom laws. What kind of man wants so badly to enter a women’s bathroom that he’s willing to get arrested over it?

At a glance:

• Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old transgender student, was arrested for trespassing after using a women’s restroom
• Rheintgen sent 160 letters to Florida lawmakers announcing intentions to break the law
• The student was charged with trespassing rather than under Florida’s bathroom law
• If convicted, Rheintgen could face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine
• Florida’s Safety in Private Spaces Act prohibits using bathrooms that don’t match birth sex in government buildings

Planned Protest Leads to Arrest

Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old biological male who identifies as transgender, was arrested after deliberately using a women’s restroom at the Florida State Capitol building. The Illinois college student orchestrated the protest specifically to challenge Florida’s 2023 Safety in Private Spaces Act, which prohibits individuals from using bathrooms that don’t match their biological sex in government facilities.

Before the incident, Rheintgen sent 160 letters to state officials announcing intentions to break the law and even included a photo for identification purposes – meaning he wanted to be arrested and become a martyr. Law enforcement charged Rheintgen with trespassing after warning rather than under the bathroom law itself, potentially preventing a direct legal challenge to the legislation.

FIRST ARREST UNDER FLORIDA’S TRANSGENDER BATHROOM LAW

Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old transgender student, has become the first known person arrested under Florida’s bathroom law after using the women’s restroom at the state Capitol in protest.

“I am here to break the… https://t.co/5dIQn87buR pic.twitter.com/zSKuoBdX08

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 4, 2025

Details of the Confrontation

The arrest occurred after Rheintgen spent between 30 seconds to a minute in the women’s restroom before being asked to leave by Capitol officials. “I am here to break the law,” Rheintgen reportedly stated before entering the facility.

Florida is one of more than a dozen states with bathroom laws restricting access based on biological sex, with Utah being the only other state to criminalize violations. The Florida law includes exemptions for unisex restrooms, maintenance purposes, accompanying children or disabled persons, and when facilities are out of order.

First Arrest Made Under Florida’s Transgender Bathroom Law

Marcy Rheintgen, a 20yo male student pretending to be a woman, is reportedly the first individual arrested under Florida’s bathroom law after entering the women’s restroom at the state Capitol in protest.

“I am here to… pic.twitter.com/OCw1Bj2E5A

— 南洋辉叔 Uncle Hui (@alexcmhwee) April 5, 2025

Legal Consequences and Enforcement

Rheintgen now faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge with potential penalties including up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine if convicted. The student has been released on pretrial conditions while awaiting further legal proceedings in what appears to be the first known arrest related to transgender bathroom use in Florida.

Critics of Florida’s law claim it’s vaguely written and could potentially complicate restroom access, while supporters maintain it protects the privacy and safety of women and girls in vulnerable spaces – which it obviously does. Despite liberal organizations condemning the arrest, Florida officials have defended their enforcement of trespassing laws after the individual refused to comply with instructions to leave.

A transgender college student declared “I am here to break the law” before entering a women’s restroom at the Florida State Capitol and being led out in handcuffs.

Attorneys say the arrest is the first they know for violating bathroom restrictions. https://t.co/nRv6q6tL7V

— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 4, 2025

Governor Ron DeSantis has previously championed legislation to protect women’s spaces from biological males, part of Florida’s broader push to maintain sex-based distinctions in government facilities. The Safety in Private Spaces Act affects bathrooms in legislative offices, schools, libraries, jails, state parks, and potentially certain airports and sports arenas across the state.