A teenager from Minnesota has filed a discrimination complaint against a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant after a server confronted her in the women’s restroom. The incident occurred when 18-year-old Jericamdra was dining with friends in Owatonna, where the server accused her of being male.
The server allegedly insisted, “This is a women’s toilet. Men need to get out of here,” while knocking on the restroom stall door. She prevented Jerica from exiting the bathroom until she lifted her hoodie to reveal her breasts, according to reports from gender justice advocates.
Despite follow-up emails, Buffalo Wild Wings did not respond to inquiries about the incident or the claims of discrimination.
The complaint cites a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which is considered one of the strongest civil rights laws in the U.S., particularly regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“What happened to Jerica Mudra wasn’t just wrong; it was illegal,” stated Sarah Jane Baldwin, a senior lawyer at Gender Justice. In a statement on Tuesday, she emphasized that Minnesota law protects individuals from such discrimination in public facilities. “They shouldn’t have to prove anything just to use the restroom.”
In a video released by Gender Justice, Mudra clarified that she identifies as interracial rather than transgender, noting that this incident isn’t the first time she’s faced questions about her gender in public restrooms. “This wasn’t the first time this has happened, but it’s definitely the worst,” she remarked, expressing discomfort with using public restrooms since then.
Her stepmother, Shauna Otterness, described the situation as “cruel and humiliating,” highlighting that Jerica was unfairly targeted based on her appearance. “She didn’t do anything wrong; she just didn’t match the server’s perception of how a girl should look,” Otterness stated. She also mentioned being heartbroken to see others share similar experiences online, emphasizing that this should not be the norm.
Currently, 19 states have laws preventing transgender individuals from using facilities that align with their gender identity in K-12 schools, resulting in restrictions on access to restrooms in government buildings. A proposed ban on transgender students using bathrooms that match their gender identity failed to progress in the Minnesota Legislature in 2017.
Megan Peterson, executive director of Gender Justice, noted that such gender policing is not a new phenomenon. “What if Jerica had been a trans person?” she asked, pondering how the response might have differed. “It’s a frightening reality that transgender individuals face every day.” Peterson further observed that Jerica’s situation highlights issues of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, racism, and rigid gender norms. “Those who don’t conform to narrow definitions of femininity are often the targets of control and scrutiny,” she said.
