In an alarming incident at a Tucson, Arizona Walmart, 19-year-old Kalaya Morton, a Black cisgender lesbian, was confronted by two male sheriff’s deputies while using the women’s restroom, sparking outrage and a demand for accountability.
Morton, who identifies as masculine-presenting or a “stud,” recounted the humiliating encounter that occurred when a store employee erroneously assumed she was a transgender woman. In an exclusive interview with The Advocate, Morton detailed her shock when the two deputies barged in, shining flashlights into the restroom stall.
“You have to get out of here. You have to come out. We need to talk to you.”
“I’m still using the restroom. I’m sitting down, I’m peeing. What is the issue?,” Morton incredulously told the deputies as she sat there.
Upon finally exiting the stall, Morton even lifted her shirt, thinking it would put to rest the police inquiries about her appearance. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. One deputy insisted she “looked like a man,” prompting Morton to start recording. In a now-viral TikTok video
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has announced an internal investigation into the incident
In Arizona, where there is no specific law dictating restroom usage based on gender identity, Morton’s case exemplifies the broader issues surrounding gender policing and restroom access—especially as lawmakers nationwide double down on restrictive policies regarding transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.