Gender Neutral Bathrooms: Victory on Campus

[Kaimialana]

So, last thursday my campus passed a resolution. In addition to now having non discrimination policies for gender identity and expression, every building that is revamped will be required to have gender neutral bathrooms in them.

This made the front page of the school paper today, and the largest article, with a good sized picture of a gendered bathroom sign with tape x-ed over it. My friend jacob was quoted several times, and they used the gender neutral pronoun Ze. I even got to explain the whole thing to some people today.

Hows that for visibility?

Too bad I won't be at this campus to see it happen.

[Simon]

For me personally, it isn't relevant, like my body isn't relevant to the rest of my behaviour, but, still, that's big news. Great!

Not long ago I was looking through my uni's by-laws (because of an alcoholic event I was organising) and I saw rulings against "being a man" and entering a "facility for women" and vice-versa. I'm not sure how they understand that. I definitely wouldn't say that an FTM is "being a woman" but would they?

[Kaimialana]

don't know. I personally wouldn't have to care at this uni, except that there is a large fine for using the "wrong" bathroom.

Otherwise, with the non-discrimination policy, I could dress however I wished within reasonable limits (meaning, running around naked streaking on campus prolly wouldn't be smiled at) and anyone who harrases me on campus can get filed full suit for it, sexual harassment. Its pretty awesome like that. And now that there is this ruling on bathrooms, everything is basically in place that should be, aside from lifting the ban on gay marriage and upping domestic partnership benefits.

And actually getting the bathrooms set up, of course.

[Simon]

Some gay friends of mine were filling a government form and ticked "Yes" when asked, "Are you living in a marriage-like relationship?" They assumed that covered them, since they'd been living together monogamously for several years. They were rejected because apparently that's not what the government meant.

[Kaimialana]

Thats because the government is full of shit.

[DysPerDis]

Gender-neutral bathrooms are awesome. Unfortunately, there are only 2 on campus (both are in the same building), and since I don't feel comfortable using either the Men's or Women's bathrooms, I end up having to run across campus. It's frustrating, especially when I'm running late for class.

[Kaimialana]

Wish I had that option. Sadly, the one that is truly available is too out of the way, and the one that is more available isn't right now because the building is not open for use.

Maybe that doesn't make sense cause I screwed up what I was saying....

[Wing Walker]

Thats because the government is full of shit.

Well-spoken.

I have a problem with a government that grants the dissolution of a contract, namely marriage, yet will not allow members who are gender-equal to enter into it.

Paula

[Kaimialana]

Also, the student union is open now. The bathroom is awesome, clean and private. I plan on using it lots in the coming semester.

[Rebis]

I hope the only benefit of being us is not that we get a clean bathroom at our disposal. Though I do like that. But can't there be more? Like no one can sit next to us on a bus?


Rebis

[Izy]

Lucky. I have nearly gotten suspended for going into the men's room, but if I go into the women's room people scream because I have always passed as male enough. I have a special bathroom pass that allows me to use the teacher/nurse bathroom.

[Wesley_Lexi]

Poor Lexi just lets me take over when nature calls. She can't stand urinals, because she can't sit down and ignore the fact that unwanted bits are there.

[MiaAndMarq]

Incidently we take a different stance, Mia has on more then one occasion said that if there was one thing she really liked about the male body is being able to stand when you need to pee. Its so much faster and more efficient, especially in crowded places like ballparks or malls.

She just considers it an opportunity to make the best of the situation. Marq, he doesn't care either way.

Mia and Marq

[Recursive Paradox]

I actually like peeing my initials in the snow.

Peeing standing up in the bathroom is problematic though for one main reason, because of the lighting (and the fact that I'm not keeping things safe from the cold wind) my parts are 100% visible and noticeable to me. So peeing standing up runs a high risk of dysphoric breakdown.

Of course I'm also pee shy. I can't urinate when people are around me easily and if there's nothing separating me from them I can't pee at all. So I always used the stalls even before I realized I was transgendered.

[Liv]

I think that all sounds really positive Kaimialana. I wish my university had been like that

Poe, I can;t stand men's loos where there are urinals with nothing - or almost nothing - seperating the different parts. It seems really undignified. I pretty much always use the stalls too. On this topic, one thing I have noticed before in Britain, that is quite odd, is that cisgendered men who go to the "gents" and find the urinals are occupied will often instead use a stall, but with the door open. I am not sure if this is just because they can;t be bothered to close it or it is some sort of male ritual which implies they are not going in there because they are embarassed to use a urinal, but just becasue one wasn;t available. There must be something really manly about getting your private parts out in public. Maybe it is because if you "hide," it might be because you are embarassed someone might see your penis and think you are not well-enough endowed?

I also hate it when male changing rooms have communal showers.

[Recursive Paradox]

I think that all sounds really positive Kaimialana. I wish my university had been like that

Poe, I can;t stand men's loos where there are urinals with nothing - or almost nothing - seperating the different parts. It seems really undignified. I pretty much always use the stalls too. On this topic, one thing I have noticed before in Britain, that is quite odd, is that cisgendered men who go to the "gents" and find the urinals are occupied will often instead use a stall, but with the door open. I am not sure if this is just because they can;t be bothered to close it or it is some sort of male ritual which implies they are not going in there because they are embarassed to use a urinal, but just becasue one wasn;t available. There must be something really manly about getting your private parts out in public. Maybe it is because if you "hide," it might be because you are embarassed someone might see your penis and think you are not well-enough endowed?

I also hate it when male changing rooms have communal showers.

Yanno for a relatively homophobic (at least in terms of males) society (The West basically) our culture sure does create an awful lot of homoerotic situations for men as manly ritual.

[Liv]

Yeah, I guess it is quite funny that way.

[LemonBlossom]

So, last thursday my campus passed a resolution. In addition to now having non discrimination policies for gender identity and expression, every building that is revamped will be required to have gender neutral bathrooms in them.

Neat. My campus has a few gender-neutral bathrooms, but not enough and no sign of being likely to increase the number.

[AlexTheSane]

The closest thing to neutral bathrooms 'round here are the faculty bathrooms in the Middle School (I use them at home meets because that's where the track and XC course are). They're one-person bathrooms, but they are marked male and female because one has a tampon machine in it. For some reason most of the guys I know have a problem with peeing next to a tampon machine. *shrug*

[RilianXI]

For me personally, it isn't relevant, like my body isn't relevant to the rest of my behaviour, but, still, that's big news. Great!

Not long ago I was looking through my uni's by-laws (because of an alcoholic event I was organising) and I saw rulings against "being a man" and entering a "facility for women" and vice-versa. I'm not sure how they understand that. I definitely wouldn't say that an FTM is "being a woman" but would they?

Well, I think that if you were in what they considered to be the wrong bathroom and you said, "I am that gender," they would probably have some stupid hearing in which some asshole got to determine your gender. Either that, or they would just laugh at you and tell you to go to the other bathroom or pay the price.