If they passed a bathroom law in your area, would you follow it?

[karenpayneoregon]

I have no documentation that says anything but female. Always use the woman's restrooms although once walked into the men's restroom at Walmart, several men in there and one spoke up, Miss I believe you made an error walking into the men's room, so I backed out with a smile. 

I think there is a turning point around the corner which will go our way only if we stand up to these people and laws yet remain silent and we will lose but there are enough of us to change many minds here.

[Debra]

I'm female. Period. Born Female according to my birth cert so until they have a chromosome test at the door of the women's bathroom, I will continue to use it.

[KathyLauren]

I am not transitining.  So, easy for me to say.  Anyway...

One thing to consider about these laws is that they will remain on the books until overturned.  To get them overturned, you have to: (0) find a sympathetic lawyer ($!), (1) break the law, (2) get arrested and charged, (3) go to trial, (4) plead not guilty on the grounds that the law is unconsitutional.  Until someone does that, courts will not look at them.

By all means stay safe however you need to.  But someone has to intentionally break the law in order to do something about it. 

[Jenna Marie]

I'm not sure I *could* follow it without the gender-neutral option - my birth certificate says "male," my legal ID (including Social Security) says "female," and I actually switched to the women's room when men were consistently telling me I was in the wrong place. One of the things these laws never seem to take into account is that there are a lot of trans people whose legal information/chromosomes/hormones/appearance/gender identity do not all line up (which is not surprising, but the people passing these laws are not interested in logic!), leaving them with NO acceptable choices.

Nor do I think they'd want me in the women's room if I had bothered to change my BC... the fact that no one would know I was trans in that case is one of the other major flaws in the law.

[Katiepie]

Debra,

Even a chromosome test would be faulty. There are XY females as well as XX males, Klinefelter, and Turner syndromes. Lots of chromosome imbalances and other variants to it.

Kate <3

[Eevee]

I am a strong believer in civil disobedience. It is the act that has won rights for several minority groups in the past and it will work for us too. If I got pushed to this extreme, I would suffer any consequences of an unjust law to help make things right.

[cindianna_jones]

I am a strong believer in civil disobedience. It is the act that has won rights for several minority groups in the past and it will work for us too. If I got pushed to this extreme, I would suffer any consequences of an unjust law to help make things right.

I am so upset at these laws that I will do anything legal to make a point. It's almost unfortunate that I live in California where this sort of thing doesn't happen. I really want to get arrested over this.

[Emileeeee]

I never liked public bathrooms at all and would always go to a gender neutral one if possible, even prior to being out. There didn't really seem to be an option for that on the list though. That being said, I'd do the same thing I've always done, favor the gender neutral, and use the women's if there isn't one.

I seriously doubt my state would ever pass such a law though. They're about as trans-inclusive as any could be.

[warlockmaker]

Today, I am a full female and all my ID say F. Before this I would only use the female bathrooms when I felt I was dressed too feminine to use the male one ....

I know this is a very sensitive issue and my views on use of bathrooms is not the majority viewpoint. I suggest that there only be gender neutral bathrooms. They work well in the night clubs ....then we have no argument.

[Midnightstar]

Would you use a gender neutral bathroom if the law forced you?
Would you use the bathroom opposite your gender if the law forced you?

I like using gender neutral bathrooms because other males intimidate me and the bathrooms are gross
so i'd go for the neutral bathroom if the law happened to be forced. However, i use gender neutral bathrooms anyways so it wouldn't effect me much even though i wouldn't like feeling restricted like that.

[veritatemfurto]

Hell no. stealth has its merits.

besides, trans people aren't as messy as cis people, and are more likely to remember to wash their hands when done! lol

[mac1]

This is why I feel that there is only one real and workable solution to this problem.  All public restrooms should be multi-user unisex with secure private stalls and a common wash (and other) area.

That would be the most space and cost efficient solution while providing equal access and security for everybody.

[cindianna_jones]

Today, I am a full female and all my ID say F. Before this I would only use the female bathrooms when I felt I was dressed too feminine to use the male one ....

I know this is a very sensitive issue and my views on use of bathrooms is not the majority viewpoint. I suggest that there only be gender neutral bathrooms. They work well in the night clubs ....then we have no argument.

This is certainly a viable solution in many cases. Many businesses currently have only gender neutral facilities and this is legal. It's a little difficult for schools to do this because of the cost of conversion. It is interesting to note how this issue has devolved from public accommodations to schools with children. The far right has found its niche to make a point.

If I were in transition in high school, I wouldn't want to shower with other girls. Give me a break. I would be far beyond embarrassment. Find a way for the trans student to get undressed in private. I'm sure that in each of these cases, solutions can be found to make sure everyone is happy. And that is what the DOJ is recommending.

[Debra]

Debra,

Even a chromosome test would be faulty. There are XY females as well as XX males, Klinefelter, and Turner syndromes. Lots of chromosome imbalances and other variants to it.

Kate <3

True. I was merely speaking for myself. I'm an XY female =/

[Tossu-sama]

My gender is man, not gender neutral. Therefore I'd use the men's room.

ID me all you want, every paper will tell you I'm male. It'd take some pretty deep digging to find out my identification number has changed couple years back.

[Loved_PrincessMPLS]

I am MtF, but am working very quickly on dressing female, but I'm not there yet.

At a minimum, I use the men's room and a stall only -- I will not use a urinal and would sooner pee my panties than use one.

[sparrow]

These laws are totally unconstitutional.  Civil disobedience is frequently the only way to make progress on civil rights.  I pee where I will.  If it gets me arrested, I'll fight the law.

[LatrellHK]

Well I identify as male. All my legal documents state that. The only city that'll know anything will be the city I graduated from, so I currently use the mens room. BUT I'll be that person to start to use the womens bathroom. Make sure a copy of my birth certificate is on me at all times. If you're going to pass a law like that it is showing me you really have no idea what's going on and it's flat out discrimination. I'll get arrested most likely, since everything but my birth certificate says male, but I'll fight the law with a stubborn attitude and an angry smile on my face.

And I dare someone to tell me that no matter what I'm still female and cop an attitude when I decide to use the womens bathroom. Just following laws and if it makes you uncomfortable, that's not my concern since you want to be uneducated.

[sparrow]

Latrell, you are my hero.  <3

[LatrellHK]

Thanks sparrow. Not trying to be, though. I just want people to see exactly what the law entails, if everyone were to be law-abiding citizens and listen. Especially since my old city is full of people who actually think that transsexual means 'man in a dress'. I'll really screw their fragile brains over and highly enjoy it as I do admit, I am an ->-bleeped-<-.