Companies Grapple with New Sex-Change Rules

[LostInTime]

NJ Biz
Martin C. Daks
Reporter
6/11/2007

New state work force laws that take effect next week could force small businesses and others to reach deep into their pockets to build new restrooms, lockers and other facilities for cross-dressers and other transgender individuals.
Labor lawyers say companies that watch their step may be able to keep out of trouble, but experts point out that many small-business owners are clueless about the new legislation.

[mallard500]

NJ Biz
Martin C. Daks
Reporter
6/11/2007

New state work force laws that take effect next week could force small businesses and others to reach deep into their pockets to build new restrooms, lockers and other facilities for cross-dressers and other transgender individuals.
Labor lawyers say companies that watch their step may be able to keep out of trouble, but experts point out that many small-business owners are clueless about the new legislation.

While such legislation may cost some businesses an initial outlay, many will find that they already have the resources to not only meet such new requirements, but in fact will improve the working situation for everyone.

In my own workplace for example, we had three sets of male/female restrooms in the building.  Two of the sets were  multi-stall units, on the main floor of our 800 person Call Center, but the last set was in a back area, given to Training, IT, and support personal.

This set was actually just two single use bathrooms, with no stalls.  Typically, the one 'womens' restroom would be busy, with women waiting in line, while the 'mens' bathroom would be vacant.

As a Supervisor, and a ballsey 'woman', I would often use the men room there, not being willing to wait on a sign.  When I approached out HR Director with my decision to come out as TS, we discussed this issue.  The simple solution was that several weeks before my official 'date' of announcement, those two bathrooms were simply and quietly remarked as unisexual.

Immediately, many women were relieved (literally AND figuratively) as they were suddenly granted the "right" not to wait on one place, while another was empty.  What we've done was to simply make twice the bathroom space available to everyone, and it's benefited everyone.

Ironically, the Oregon legislature has also just passed a progressive bill regarding nursing mothers.  Because we already have two unisexual single use bathrooms, our business is already set up for full compliance in giving nursing mothers a space where they can do what they need to, without being in the middle of a multi-stall bathroom.

If you're in a position, talk to your HR and Management people about the real advantages of having unisex bathrooms.  They really DO work just fine, and with a little planning, can be a positive thing for everyone!

Scott
Mallard500

[cindianna_jones]

I really don't like this.  If we are integrate into society, we need to integrate.  Perhaps acknowledgment is the first step but I fear that this is just another version of white only segregation.

Cindi

[RebeccaFog]

I really don't like this.  If we are integrate into society, we need to integrate.  Perhaps acknowledgment is the first step but I fear that this is just another version of white only segregation.

Cindi

   I kind of see it as a middle step. Once this solution is fairly common and people are more comfortable in general, then it will be easier to to it the way you'd like.  Also, there may be some businesses that go straight to allowing gender variant people to use the correct facilities because it will be less expensive if they can get their employees to go along with it.

  I have no problem with applying the true solution that you'd like, but this middle step helps in that it will cause some people to consider us as a real population rather than an abstract entity that they never need to come to terms with.

[Hazumu]

They're fixing up the area of the building I work in where 'my' restroom is.  Currently, they have the men's torn apart and closed while they tear out all the recessed fixtures to texture and paint the room.

'My' room is next, the two-staller that's designated 'unisex' and has a lock on the door.  It's going to be out of commission for at least two weeks.  No one has thought about my need for a place to pee.  Indeed, many in the building do not know that that room is the only place I'm allowed to pee.

I was approached by and had a chat with 'Margaret' about that today (she's highly placed in the local food-chain, and is someone who can make a difference.)  She wasn't aware of my restriction, and thought I was avoiding the other two female facilities because I was uncomfortable.  I told her I was very comfortable using the women's restrooms, but that that there were several female members who were so uncomfortable they would lock the door on 'my' room just so I wouldn't walk in on them, and having no other choice, I would have to wait on them.  This was news to Margaret.  She's going to start working the issue unofficially, trying to get a consensus that I can use one of the other facilities along with the other females, while the other is designated 'Trans-free' (that's my desired outcome.)

I agree with Cindi.  I want to integrate, not segregate.  I can understand, though, that us trans folk give some sensitive, susceptible people the heebie-jeebies.  Okay, sure, I can understand that, being out to just about everybody in the building, a facility should be designated 'trans-free' for those who can't get past their fear/disgust/revulsion/whatever, in fact I support and WANT that to be the case.  But it will only slow my integration with and connection to those who are already accepting of me if I'm denied sharing in the conversations at the washstand or between the stalls...

Karen