Poll: Majority of Americans oppose trans people using preferred bathroom

[BGking]

And a lot of those 59% probably have already used the bathroom in the presence of a transgender person and did not know it.

Hahah yes! I think it's funny how many of these anti-trans people are unaware of how many people around them in everyday life are actually transgender.

[BGking]

It would cause more commotion and problems if trans people were to use the bathroom of their birth sex. If Buck Angel walked into the ladies room all the women would say he was a perv and had no right being there and probably call security or the cops. Not a good idea. Plus a lot of us already have high nerves using our current gender's rest room so it would elevate the stress or possibly getting the cops called on them, not to mention out them. No bueno. :l

[mac1]

An easy solution would be to make all public restrooms "multi-user unisex" with private stalls.

[Rachelicious]

"Preferred" gender just baits the question for ~600 morons of the ~1000 people they polled to give ->-bleeped-<-ty answers. They could have said "natural" gender, or "confirmed" gender, "actual" gender (because post-transition is in fact one's actual gender.) Can you imagine how awkward it would be to get asked this over the phone? Especially some layperson at dinner thinking, Wait, preferred gender? Hey, what gender do you prefer today? Is that what this is?

It's as bad or worse as "religious preference", "sexual preference", etc. I've long lampooned the use of those terms... ex."We do not discriminate on sexual preference. If you don't prefer to have sex we'll still have sex with you."

[Aiden In Progress]

Maybe what we do is put a group of assorted cis and trans people in front of legislators and poll them on whom should be using which bathroom based on looks alone and illustrate how farcical this can be. 

I like to play this game I call Trans or Cis with a few of my close friends for this very reason. I'll gather some pictures of trans men and women and cis men and women and have them guess which is which. They often get most of them wrong. The ones they do get right, they typically guess the opposite of their gut instinct (i.e. if I show a picture of a trans male, they think cis but say trans) because they know how the game works. It kinda helps destroy the idea that there's a "trans look" and all that.

[Mark3]

I like to play this game I call Trans or Cis with a few of my close friends for this very reason. I'll gather some pictures of trans men and women and cis men and women and have them guess which is which. They often get most of them wrong. The ones they do get right, they typically guess the opposite of their gut instinct (i.e. if I show a picture of a trans male, they think cis but say trans) because they know how the game works. It kinda helps destroy the idea that there's a "trans look" and all that.

I do that in my head a lot when we go out shopping, dinner, etc... I have nobody else I could play a game like that with though..? Its weird to have lots of trans friends on the computer, but in real life have nobody.?? The first time I ever thought of it though, was back on those TV shows like jerry springer, they used to take CIS guys from the audience, bring out 10 women and tell him to tell which 3 were CIS female, they never got it right..

About the restrooms, its like beating a dead horse, we know the truth from actual experiences, and the rest of the public is comotose as usual on these subjects, saying the same ignorant things over and over,. 

I know where there's always a genderless bathroom anyone is welcome to use... My house..!! 

[Going4Miles]

I realize this is an old thread, but I am a new member and only just discovered it and wanted to comment.

I can't help but wonder if the results of this poll would have been different if the question was phrased differently?  I would have removed the words "students" and "locker rooms", and only asked if Americans oppose trans people from using their preferred bathroom?  "Locker rooms" have showers and nudity and "students" come in all ages.  Thoughts of nudity and minors probably came to the minds of at least some of those people who were polled. IMO, we shouldn't worry ourselves over this.   

[mac1]

If all bathrooms were single occupant family-friendly facilities that accommodated both genders the problem would go away for everyone...

That would greatly increase the cost and space requirements as well as the waiting time. Just make all public restrooms multi-user unisex with adequate privacy for the stalls. It will minimize the cost and space requirements and equalize wait times for everybody.

It would even lessen the likeyhood that women and frail boys and men would be attacked as they would be less likely to be in the restroom alone with a predator.

[Going4Miles]

I agree with you on the idea for there to be all multi-user, unisex bathrooms with privacy in the stalls.  With that, I still believe there needs to be family restrooms as well.  Parents with small toddlers and infants need that family environment.  The downside of unisex bathrooms with private stalls will more than likely increase the likelihood for there to be sexual activities in those stalls.        

[Miss_Bungle1991]

The downside of unisex bathrooms with private stalls will more than likely increase the likelihood for there to be sexual activities in those stalls.      

Well, that just shows how stupid people are.  Considering how gross and disgusting most restrooms can be. There is no way in hell that I would want to hang around. I do what needs to be done and get the hell out.

[suzifrommd]

I agree with you on the idea for there to be all multi-user, unisex bathrooms with privacy in the stalls. 

Just make all public restrooms multi-user unisex with adequate privacy for the stalls. It will minimize the cost and space requirements and equalize wait times for everybody.

What would you say to (the very large number of) people who feel uncomfortable using a restroom with someone of the opposite gender? "Sorry, but we've decided you have to be uncomfortable"?

[Myarkstir]

We clearly need monitors in all bathrooms now to inspect genitalia at the door.
/sarc

Can you imagine Buck Angel being forced to use the ladies' room? 

What this proves is that most Americans remain completely ignorant when it comes to trans* issues.  The good news is that I'll bet we can sway 10% of them within 10 years and the majority will be with us.  Look at same-sex marriage stats now vs. 10 years ago.

You can also sway it right noiw with he following survey:

Would you agree to go to the bathroom with someone looking of the opposite gender, because thery were born the same gender as you.

[Clhoe G]

What a dodgey poll, like if the poll was about opposing us from using the toilets of our birth gender, the numbers would be no different.

Haha Buck Angel in the girls room haha.
I might have to bubble the water if I'm ever in an American public toilet 

[Wynternight]

The image of Buck Angel walking into the ladies' loo is going to be in my head all day...

[Jill F]

The image of Buck Angel walking into the ladies' loo is going to be in my head all day...

These days, me walking into the men's room sounds equally absurd.   I think male fail must have happened ages ago.

[Wynternight]

These days, me walking into the men's room sounds equally absurd.   I think male fail must have happened ages ago.

I've been getting "The Look" for years walking into the gents but it's even more pronounced now with almost four months of HRT. I must admit to a bit of amusement when I see people walk in and stop, take a glance at the door sign before walking in and I once had someone tell me I was in the wrong one. I just said oops and walked off, giggling madly.

[PPatrice]

11th June 2014, 1:38 PM, Nick Duffy
The poll, conducted by SSRS on behalf of CBS News, asked participants to pick between the statements "Transgendered students should use the bathrooms/locker rooms of their birth gender", and "Transgendered students should use the bathrooms/locker rooms of their preferred gender".
More: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/06/11/poll-majority-of-americans-oppose-trans-people-using-preferred-bathroom/

Hhmmm....so we're talking about students/kids here, right?  Not the general/adult population...right??  Is there a disconnect between what was being measured and the conclusion/results of the poll???

[Steph34]

I have several issues with the conclusions being drawn here. Most of them have been pointed out already, but I think it would be helpful to put them in one place:

1) They use 'transgendered' instead of 'transgender.' The -ed suffix is a negative cue because it implies that something "happened" to them.
2) People tend to be overprotective of their children and young people in general, and therefore these results are not generalizable to transgender adults.
3) This poll included locker rooms as well as bathrooms, and locker rooms are a much less private setting where the 'wrong' body is likely to be much more evident.
4) There could be selection bias, because this poll only included those who were both contacted and interested in responding. I would think that the number of people who respond due to ignorant outrage would likely outnumber those who respond because they care about us.
5) The results also reflect a fundamental ignorance about transgender issues in the population. Although the religious right may be stubborn in this kind of prejudice, many other people would feel differently if they were properly informed.

[awilliams1701]

Unfortunately this happened:
http://roygbiv.jezebel.com/christ-michelle-duggars-transphobic-robocall-actually-1669603380

In reply to those questioning the accuracy of this kind of survey....
The sad thing is, that assuming a normal +/-5 variance this is probably the opinion held by most Americans.
But don't despair as irrational and uneducated as these people are, the reality is most of those people
a). Aren't smart enough to write, let alone vote... and most of them don't
b). Have no real power over the law
considering the law is mostly in our favour...mostly... it is going to take a lot of work
by the religious right to make any changes on 'bathroom policy' (Giggles to self over how ridiculous that sounds)
so long as we have substantial 'bathroom' support (over 30%!!!!!) than we don't have that much to worry about.

*Also point to note:
All things considered I would have expected that percentage to be much higher, especially given the amount of coverage bathroom use has had in the mainstream media.... and Fox.
I kinda see those numbers as promising... although I see I'm in the minority <3

[rachel89]

Why is it that we are in the 21st century and we are are having to fight for the right to use a totally gross public restroom that simply corresponds with our gender. It seems like like the trans-phobes  have stolen the narrative when we are are having to discuss why we have a right to go to the loo, instead of discussing the many other issues that affect trans peoples lives. BTW, I like the idea of Buck Angel walking into the ladies room. He should do it in a State Capitol building where many of these LGBT-phobic neanderthals congregate (sorry, actual neanderthals). A turning point for us will be when trans-phobes are mocked, humiliated, and made the butt of jokes on late-night television. A big part of the problem is that people who hate us are treated as though they are somehow taking a reasonable, logical position, and are therefore taken seriously by the general public. I think a little humor would be very helpful, to both illustrate the experiences of trans people and make and delegitimize those who hate us, also, the world simply needs more people who can help other people laugh