Poop is a body function. We take it for granted. Except when you cannot take it for granted. What if your intestines were so disease ravaged via a (NON COMMUNICABLE) auto immune condition such as an Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or, you are being treated for colon cancer, or, the medications you are taking for MANY CONDITIONS ... create bowel URGENCY. How many medication commercials and pharmacy instructions say COULD CAUSE DIARREAH?

All of them!

Most serious illnesses, chronic or curable involve continence issues as a course of treatment. Ever have chemotherapy? How would you like it if your mom, dad, child or spouse was in dire need of a restroom? Would you think the law a waste of time if you thought for a minute about yourself, or one of your own beloved people being humiliated and refused the use of a bathroom.

And - YES - people DO ask nicely. WE ARE TURNED AWAY routinely. Minimum wage workers are scared to death to lose their jobs. They only know how to say NO.

Would it be nice if people were automatically compassionate and allowed use when someone was obviously brave enough to ASK in the first place and said it was URGENT? Yes, it'd be great. Does believing that good will is enough incentive? Nope, it ain't!

Or - would you rather have them have an accident in front of you in the middle of your establishment? And being one of those people with Crohn's for 34 years, and an ileostomy for 21 years - I have been refused bathroom access more times than I can count. I have been humiliated when I had a colon still - and have done the unthinkable.

Picture yourself as a teen and losing your function in public. Picture that happening to YOUR CHILD.

When you gotta go - you DO gotta go. Ostomy appliances are not a big deal. If you Googled an image of what it is, what it is for - you would not be so freaked out.

Not that it is publicized, but do you wonder about Farrah Fawcett's colon cancer struggle? Would you like her to die earlier than she should? Perhaps, altho, it is none of our business, this Icon of Sex Goddess is sporting an ostomy appliance to save her life?

Take the fear and the shame away for a second of body function. Poop has to happen. Our bodies are machines. Parts break down. Science has caused after market parts replacement in the way of ostomy appliances.

Comics, commercials, reporters, radio jocks, and everyone uses BODY FUNCTION HUMOR. So - why be ashamed to speak about it? You have Jamie Lee Curtis doing adverts for yogurt to regulate your bowel function. You have Katie Couric and other celebrities speaking out for colon cancer screening.

The Bathroom Access law was passed because there was a need to do the right thing. Each state is making this legislation debate possible. YOUR MONEY IS NOT BEING USED - funds were raised to promote the laws, reason and juice behind getting it done.

If your utilities commissions can lobby with YOUR MONEY to raise your utility bills, why should you care if money, NOT out of your pocket - was raised over YEARS to make this law possible in every state?

Manners and good behavior has gone down the toilet in the last 20 years of this society. Be glad a 'dumb law' like this exists to save YOUR dignity. Because, you never know when it could be you, or someone you love in need.

You wanna talk gross or germ spreading? People are PIGS in public restrooms. How about a bar where you don't know what you are wading through. How about a discount store when the fog is so thick, your eye brows burn off? GERMS? You think sick people have more germs than healthy people? Believe me, using an employee bathroom is a concern for me too - but I can Purell myself from stem to stern if the kindness was extended when I needed it.