Unisex restrooms

[gilligan]

I was wondering what you all think about unisex restrooms. My school LGBT center has a list of them on campus, although some of them are hard to find even with the list, so I try to use them when I'm in a building that has one (so much more comfortable than using the ladies' or gents' rooms). But I'm always worried what people think when they see me walking in and/or out of a unisex restroom.

Do you think people are suspicious, as I seem to get paranoid about? or What do you all think?

[Sharky]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a unisex bathroom that wasn't a single. I wouldn't think anything, if I noticed.

[Nygeel]

I LOVE UNISEX BATHROOMS!!!! They just make me feel all sorts of comfortable. I don't have to look at myself, my surroundings, etc to figure out what bathroom to use, I just go. I feel weird using the women's room but since I'm still not read as male it's the safest route. If I had a bit more confidence and was read as male more often I would use the men's bathroom and feel a little better.

I still don't understand why bathrooms are separated by gender. When I'm in the nearby city where every Starbucks has a unisex bathroom, that's where I tend to go. Starbucks won't hassle me into buying something to use the bathroom and when I am in the bathroom they won't hassle me for using it.

[gilligan]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a unisex bathroom that wasn't a single.

Not sure I have either, but family bathrooms are basically the same thing but with multiple toilets. The local shopping mall has three major bathrooms: men's, women's, and family.

Family restrooms also scare me.

[Adio]

I love unisex bathrooms and try to find them when I'm out.  I like my privacy, so they're perfect for that.

I have had several odd looks, though, from people passing by as I go in/come out.  Especially if there is a male toilet right next to it or nearby.  I get the feeling they think I'm up to no good (drugs, sex, stealing).  Why else would a younger guy use a unisex bathroom?  But I don't let it phase me.  I feel more at ease knowing no matter how the law reads, I'm in the right toilet.

[SnailPace]

I like unisex bathrooms.  A lot of people use them if the gendered washrooms are busy, anyways.

I've just recently started using the mens' room and I haven't run into any problems even though I don't pass whatsoever.  It is a little stressful when there are other people in there, but I just avoid eye contact and book it for the stall (or sink then door).  I think that most men don't want to make eye contact in the bathroom anyways, so they'll feed off your body language and avoid looking at you if that's the vibe you give off.  I may have gotten some double takes, but I'm not sure (I was too busy not looking at anyone!).

[Sharky]

Not sure I have either, but family bathrooms are basically the same thing but with multiple toilets. The local shopping mall has three major bathrooms: men's, women's, and family.

Family restrooms also scare me.

I don't think I've ever seen a family one either. I always go before leaving the house so I don't use public restrooms that often.

[Nikolai_S]

I'm very fond of unisex toilets. There was a period of time when I would exclusively use them, and if there wasn't one I'd just hold it. I was worried people would find it odd, too, if there was another option around... but I thought it would look less weird than a guy going into the women's bathroom or vice versa, depending on how they saw me. Now I use the men's, but I still feel appreciative every time I see a unisex.

[xAndrewx]

I tend to use the men's room myself unless I'm at the theater near my house which after a movie has about 30men in it. Then I use the unisex room. I see plenty of non-trans and non-disabled people use it so I'm confident going in there. I think a lot of people just tend to use whatever is quicker or easiest

but I used to have a bio-male friend that used them when he could because he was pee-shy so people don't really question it. If they do the people around them are probably gonna feel sorry that any one is harassing you instead of questioning it. 

[BloodLeopard]

I love unisex bathrooms as well.

I just... love the privacy. I don't really care what people think either. If I'm not stealing, then I can prove it. And I would totally offer them to do a blood/drug test if they really thought so.

I have a huge phobia that deals with bathroom-related things, so having that "I can't hear the next stall" is great, and puts me to ease. I always always try to use the single stall restrooms. Always.

[marte]

I think they're a great idea, BUT. I do think they shouldn't be created with a lot of publicity surrounding the LGBT aspect of it all.

Agreed.

The concept seems very cool, it can be so uncomfortable having to pick one. I've never seen unisex restrooms around here though.

[Thatman]

like some of the other guys i've never seen nor used a unisex bathroom before. I've seen and used the family bathrooms tho. before transition i would just about let my bladder burst before using the restroom in public. Now I pass 100% so I use the mens room, i'm not comfortable enough with my STP to use it in public so I always use the stall, still get insecure tho that some guy will be able to figure out that i'm peeing sitting down lol. My dad tried to assure me that a lot of bio guys pee sitting down when they take have a B.M. lol.

[Lee]

I lucked out this semester.  All of my classes are in one building and centered around a unisex bathroom.  It's nice to not worry about it.

[r e m]

I had never heard of a unisex bathroom outside of Thailand or Vietnam before I read this article.. I wasn't even sure if they were legal in my province. I just stumbled upon a neat site though: Safe2Pee, that lists known unisex restrooms in your area.

I pretty much exclusively use disabled restrooms though..I'm not sure if able-bodied people are really supposed to use them, but I've had lot more girls tell me I was in the wrong restroom than I have cripples. If anyone I'm around at the time questions me, I just tell them I like the extra space and that I can use any toilet i want.

[straightedgechris]

I LOVE unisex bathrooms. I use the men's confidently now but still choose the Unisex quite often; I like the privacy I guess; I've found they are always "onesies".

The only time I've felt any guilt is if I walk out of the Unisex / Family restroom to find a person with a kid in a stroller or someone in a wheelchair waiting...then I feel terrible (especially if they give me a dirty look! LOL)!