Transgender Student Arrested in Florida for Defying Bathroom Law

Marcy Rheintgen, a 20-year-old college student, faces a misdemeanor charge in the first known prosecution under a statute criminalizing bathroom use inconsistent with biological sex.

Marcy Rheintgen, a transgender-identifying student from Illinois, was arrested on March 19, 2025, at the Florida Capitol for entering a women's restroom in protest of a state law.
The law requires individuals to use bathrooms matching their biological sex, with Florida and Utah being the only states to criminalize violations of such policies.
Rheintgen pre-announced the protest to state lawmakers, calling the law unjust and discriminatory against transgender individuals.
If convicted of misdemeanor trespassing, Rheintgen could face up to 60 days in jail, with a court hearing scheduled for May.
The arrest is seen as a politically charged test case for laws targeting transgender rights, sparking concerns over enforcement and personal consequences for those affected.