Facebook post ignites bathroom debate on Ga. campus

University of West Georgia junior Lans Carcioppolo posted these photos of Facebook showing himself tearing down paper fliers “liberating” a campus bathroom from the “gender binary.” Carcioppolo said the Facebook post reflected his conservative beliefs.

University of West Georgia junior Lans Carcioppolo posted these photos of Facebook showing himself tearing down paper fliers “liberating” a campus bathroom from the “gender binary.” Carcioppolo said the Facebook post reflected his conservative beliefs.

Earlier this month, a Trump-supporting student at the University of West Georgia took umbrage at a sign declaring a bathroom on campus to be “liberated” from the “gender binary.”

He tore the paper sign off, but first he had a buddy take photos of him doing it so he could post it on Facebook later . That earned junior Lans Carcioppolo a visit from college administrators, but he is unapologetic.

“I’m tired of liberal campuses shutting down a conservative agenda. This safe space is a sham,” he said in a Facebook Live video. “That is not how you learn. Because I’m a conservative does not make me wrong. Because you are a liberal does not make you wrong. We have two different opinions. We’re Americans. That is our right.”

But other students on campus say Carcioppolo's words and actions had consequences for other students who felt threatened by his Facebook post and the comments.

Shelby Hearn, president of Lambda at West Georgia, said the comments following Carcioppolo’s post were disturbing.

“There were definitely insinuated threats against (transgender) people,” she said.

Is this a case of protected speech or were Carcioppolo's actions out of bounds? Read the full article on myajc.com here.