Mark Strama filed legislation today that would let anyone with a pressing medical condition use employee-only restrooms. The article talks about a 10-year old girl, Catherine Wicker, who has ulcerative colitis, a disease that causes severe cramping and diarrhea. Turns out Catherine - and likely many, many others in similar situations - has been repeatedly denied access to the privileged inner sanctums of employee-only restrooms, despite offering proof of her medical condition.

Now I'm not going to make fun of Catherine or anyone in her situation. It takes an enormous amount of courage for a 10-year old to talk publicly about the debilitating effects of ulcerative colitis. And as Jeff Neale, spokesman for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, says, "As we all know, when you've got diarrhea, often you need a bathroom urgently. Now, imagine having diarrhea for weeks, months or even years at a time. If you can't get access to bathrooms out in your community, you can't leave your house." A store manager that would deny bathroom access to a sick 10-year old needs to get kicked in the balls or ovaries, whichever applies.

What I am going to comment on, however, is a bit later in the article:

Maryland has had a law requiring restroom access for more than 20 years. Illinois lawmakers passed "Ally's law" last year, authorizing a $100 fine on stores that refuse restroom access. The change was named after a teenager with Crohn's disease who soiled herself after being denied a restroom visit.

So everyone raise a celebratory toast tonight to brave kiddos like Catherine and Ally. But in honor of them, make sure it's something lactose- and gluten-free. And you should probably take an Immodium with it, too.