For most people, the question of where to go is a given. But for trans*folk, it can be a daily issue. Can this be fixed?
The battle of the bathrooms is ongoing in schools, businesses, public buildings. Who decides who uses what bathrooms? How many bathrooms should there be? What kind? They are the sites of stereotypes, assumptions, and gender-conformity policing, where what you look like can matter far more than who you are. Except when it doesn’t.
Enter Laci Green. She takes on the issue of toilet use, bathroom fear and discrimination, what really goes on in those stalls, and whether it’s time to answer the question: Should all bathrooms be gender-neutral?
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Find this and more from Laci Green here.
More on the bathroom question:
How Do You Label a Gender-Neutral Toilet?
I Just Need to Pee Really Quick
Coming Soon to a Bathroom Near You
Illinois State University’s Gender Neutral Bathroom Isn’t a PC Issue, It’s Humanity
@ Charissa @ Georgianna @ dizzy It happens to guys too. In my experience, it’s never been because I was trying to avoid a woman and it’s never actually kept a woman out of the men’s room anyway so I guess that really wouldn’t help us, but they could at least give us some privacy around the urinals. The funniest incidence was when I was chatting with my boss and decided to use the men’s room. I felt the conversation was over and (I guess) she didn’t agree. When we got to the urinals right before I unzip I turn… Read more »
How about the fear and mistrust men FEEL? Ever consider a random guy might not want you staring at his junk just as much as you don’t want him staring at yours?
Oh, right. We’re men. We’re not entitled to emotions other than anger or indifference.
I have noted the fear and mistrust of men in the above posts. Very important stuff for men to see. I see it a lot on this site.
I hear the need for transgender people to have a safe space. Single occupancy is fine as a gender neutral bathroom. Hovever, I strongly second Charissa’s comment above. I also want to add that as a parent to a young child, I can’t see good things coming out of sharing bathrooms with adult men. How many times have I had to change a diaper in a public restroom? Many. If it were an open bathroom, I would have to change the diaper in my car, as gross as that sounds.
I’m all for complete gender neutral single occupancy. However, multi-stall gender neutral scares me. I’m not scared of trans people using them, by all means please do! It’s cis gender male predators. You glossed over this in your video like it’s not that big a deal, but I have been creeped on and harassed a lot and sometimes going into the women’s restroom is my only escape. Having them able to access the restroom I’m in would make me feel incredibly unsafe and unable to use public toilets. I do like the idea of separate single occupancy toilets with a… Read more »
Yeah I can understand that, having been peeped on by the opposite sex while I was changing as well. Of course, the fact that it’s a “men’s” room doesn’t really stop women from using it now, so I’m not really sure what would change.
There should be 2. Urinals only and toilets only. I know it’ll probably make some believe that it’s unfair to women, but it’s a matter of utility. I heard it’s cheaper to have urinals and it takes up less space. It’s also in theory faster so I can’t see totally doing away with them, but those rooms should be reserved for people with the proper equipment since there is also less privacy. The toilet one should be gender neutral.