dagblog - Comments for "It's time to rethink this whole "men's" room/"women's room thing"

Definitely only transgendered

HSG — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:54:18 +0000

In reply to Thank you for clarifying; I

Definitely only transgendered folks. I don't believe there are any legitimate questions about which rest/locker rooms non-trans gays and bis should use - they should use the room that corresponds with their gender.

Thank you for clarifying; I

barefooted — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:48:39 +0000

In reply to On the one hand, Barbara may

Thank you for clarifying; I think. Your blog refers to those of both genders transitioning, so though we've focused on Barbara, as you pointed out originally, it's not one sided. To be clear, we're not talking about lesbians, gay men or bisexuals.

On the one hand, Barbara may

HSG — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:22:43 +0000

In reply to What does your "On the other

On the one hand, Barbara may not want to see penises - even though she has one. On the other hand, there are men who may also not want to see penises.

What does your "On the other

barefooted — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 01:19:20 +0000

In reply to If Barbara uses a "Penis"

What does your "On the other hand ..." sentence mean, Hal? Are we still referring to transgender people?

If Barbara uses a "Penis"

HSG — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 21:44:00 +0000

In reply to Understandably she doesn't

If Barbara uses a "Penis" room as opposed to a "Men's" room, she's not being pigeon-holed as something she is not. It's true that she may not like looking at penises herself, even though she has one. I guess we'd have to ask her that question. On the other hand, some of the men in the Penis room might also prefer showering in the Vagina room but they don't get to indulge that preference. I don't see why an exception should be made for Barbara.

Understandably she doesn't

barefooted — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:14:41 +0000

In reply to I know personally three

Understandably she doesn't want to use the locker room designated for men since psychologically she's not one.

Changing the sign on the door from "Men's Room" to "those with penises" doesn't change the designation. If forced to stand at a urinal/in a shower with men I doubt the labeling on the entrance would be comforting. As a woman, Barbara would likely rather not see other male appendages, either.

Lila Perry a 17-year old

HSG — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 16:52:07 +0000

In reply to From all I've read on the

Lila Perry a 17-year old transgender girl, who wants to use the "Girls" restroom explains "I am a girl. I am not going to be pushed away to another bathroom." AFAIK, Lila is a girl with a penis. If the understanding becomes that bathrooms are designated based solely on anatomy - not gender - why do you believe she would she not accept this solution?

From all I've read on the

ocean-kat — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 01:25:22 +0000

In reply to I know personally three

From all I've read on the subject I doubt that your compromise would be acceptable to most transgendered.

I know personally three

HSG — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 13:10:00 +0000

In reply to I don't quite understand how

I know personally three transgender women - two are post-op, one is post-op. I am not aware of any transgender men in my circle of acquaintances. I did not know that either of the two post-op women were transgender until they told me. Since I get criticized for allegedly putting myself in women's shoes, I won't be too empathic but I am sympathetic to women who don't want to see naked male appendages. So when it comes to women's/girl's locker rooms, I stand by my original premise which is that we should designate people to them based on genitalia not self-identified gender self-identication. By being steered away from the "Vaginas Only" locker room, Barbara wouldn't be denied her womanhood since we are now at a place - because of brave transgender folks - where we no longer identify gender solely by anatomy.

I don't quite understand how

barefooted — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 06:58:31 +0000

In reply to It's time to rethink this whole "men's" room/"women's room thing

I don't quite understand how your idea helps Barbara and other transgenders. I get that if she has to enter a "male genitalia" restroom, etc. she won't be denying her ... no, actually I don't get it. I don't know anyone in her position (and I suspect, neither do you), but the letter writer says that Barbara "simply intends to claim her place as a woman". How does your solution allow her that?

I'm conflicted about this. Especially when it comes to gyms and showers where nudity is common. I don't necessarily feel the same regarding restrooms with stalls that are already designed with privacy in mind. It's an issue that deserves discussion in order to lead to fair decisions, so I appreciate that you've broached it.

I've got to say, though, that while I appreciate the debate on this on a state and federal level, it would be nice if at least a tiny bit of the same was directed toward LGBT employment and housing discrimination.