Travel to States with Bathroom Laws

[Karen_A]

I will be retired by the end of this year and hope to do some traveling before I get too old.



While I am many years post-op and all my ID says female, I am readable, and voice is not great...So in this day and age wonder if doing the tourist things in such states is a good idea.

One place I have never been but thought in the past I might want to visit was the Florida Keys...I've been to Orland and Cape Canaveral/Kennedy many years ago and was post-op at the time and had no issues)... but that was then. Not sure where else yet I might want to go...

I have not worried about such things for a long time... but times have changed.

- Karen

[KathyLauren]

You have to do what is best for yourself. 

But I will not go to states or countries that have that kind of discrimination.  There are places in the US that I would like to visit, but it is simply out of the question.  I will not go anywhere where the only safe place to pee is squatting in the woods.  I would love to visit my brother in California, but what if the plane has a mechanical problem and has to land in South Dakota or Idaho?  Not worth it.  I'll spend my tourist dollars where I am respected.

[Devlyn ✅]

Well, the question you asked is if doing tourism things in such states is a good idea. I would say it isn't.

My wife refused to go to her company headquarters in Miami because:

A. It's not hospitable to her.

B. She doesn't want to contribute to the finances of Florida.

[KathyLauren]

She doesn't want to contribute to the finances of Florida.

I stopped buying Florida orange juice.  I have a nice glass of Canadian apple juice with my breakfast now.

[Devlyn ✅]

I thought Canadians only drank maple syrup. 😁

[Liz K]

Personally, I would avoid states that have harsh legislation targeting the trans community.  Florida and Texas come to mind but I know there are plenty others.

Do a search for Erin In The Morning.  She's a trans journalist who publishes a risk map for the trans community.  She updates it regularly.  I refer to it whenever I expect to cross state lines.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

The Movement Advancement Project also has maps related to LGBTQ+ laws. This is their 'bathroom' map:

https://mapresearch.org/equality-map/bans-on-transgender-people-using-public-bathrooms-and-facilities-according-to-their-gender-identity/ 🔗

I try to avoid states who don't want me. My money should stay in states who want me.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[Karen_A]

While Florida is avoidable,if one wants to take an X-country road trip to see a lot of the famous sights, at least crossing some of those states (thus needing to stop and eat use, restrooms and an some overnight hotels) stays would be hard to avoid...

I guess I am wondering how much risk there actually is for post-op with ALL ID (including Birth certificate) that says F even if some suspect...

I turn 71 soon and have done very little traveling in my life and i don't have a lot of years left when I would be in good enough physical shape to do it.... so I can't wait for the times to change again.... I do wish I was more passable <sigh>.

BTW those past trips to florida were work related ones where I took a few extra days off to see the sights as my employer at the time was paying for most of the trip.Did the same for New Orleans.

- Karen
 

[Lori Dee ✅]

I haven't lived in Florida since high school, so I am guessing here. But I honestly think you will be okay. If you are just traveling and sightseeing along with other tourists, I doubt you will be confronted, and all your documents are in order.

I suspect that the places where confrontation might be more prevalent are in bars. Alcohol fuels ignorance and tough-guy syndrome, so I would avoid them. Restaurants, truck stops (with showers), and hotel/motels, I would expect to be just fine.

Perhaps someone has a better perspective than I, but I believe you would be okay.

[Devlyn ✅]

Please just remember, if you run into a single bigot who reports you for using the "wrong" restroom in one of those states, you ARE in violation of state law.

Florida has had one test case as far as I know.