Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Justice and Gender: The Milestones Ahead
Martine Rothblatt
http://transgender2transhuman.blogspot.com/2009/05/justice-and-gender-milestones-ahead.html (http://transgender2transhuman.blogspot.com/2009/05/justice-and-gender-milestones-ahead.html)
History is clear that sooner or later law must reflect the consensus of society. Equally evident is that over time the consensus of society always moves toward consistency with "objective reality," with what seems most true in life.
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It will take decades to fully indict and quash the apartheid of sex. Certain milestones can be anticipated along the way. The expected battles and final victories are (1) the elimination of sex on marriage applications, (2) the elimination of sex on all other government forms, including birth certificates, and (3) the elimination of sexually segregated public facilities, such as washrooms.
I don't see the elimination of gender-segregated washrooms as a step forward. For one thing, women don't pee on the floor, and nearly always flush. If I'm fixing my makeup in the mirror, I really dont want a guy standing behind me, leering at me, or telling me to hurry up because he wants to wash his hands. Plus, I don't think we can really count on guys not to peek
Of course people should use the restroom they think is appropriate for them to use, rather than have arbitrary standards applied to them.