Posted on 07/13/2013 5:13:09 AM PDT by Salman
Relieving yourself outside the comfort of your own bathroom will give even the overly confident some understandable anxiety. But for transgender people, it's more than just nerve-racking, it's dangerous, according to a survey released this week.
The survey, published in the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, found that 70 percent of responders have been denied entrance, were harassed or assaulted when attempting to use a public restroom of their identifying gender.
And it's no surprise that these traumatic experiences affect the daily life of transgender people, the survey points out. More than half of respondents reported having physical problems, including dehydration or kidney infections, because they "held it" to avoid using public bathrooms.
More than half also said they have skipped leaving the house because they didn't feel safe in public, the study says.
In addition, more than 25 percent of respondents say they experience problems using bathrooms at work, which, in some cases, was the reason they left or changed jobs. About 10 percent of respondents who attend school reported having excessive absence rates or dropped out.
Although the survey focuses on the Washington D.C. population, researchers say the problems could be more widespread as transgender people become more visible.
The Transgender Law Center found similar results in San Francisco when it completed a a similar survey in 2002. Herman said she is not sure how much has changed in the City, however this problems seem to occurring nationwide.
"Just because it took place in D.C. doesn't meant they aren't having those problems elsewhere," she said.
The survey concluded that cities should adopt laws that explicitly give transgender people legal protection in bathrooms. Additionally, it recommends creating unisex bathrooms to avoid the problem altogether.
Yipes!
That's very intolerant of you, Sir/Madam Neanderthal!
You need to be open and accepting of courageous Hank Bauer and Dick Butkus types who are willing to get their freak on and publicly flaunt their feminine side in a "Lady's Room." After all, isn't THIS the freedom and liberty that makes America great?
“Confused men who use the women’s bathroom in public are harassed and assaulted? “
Opposite of what happened to me. One drunk night in my debaucherous youth I accidentally stumbled into the women’s bathroom at a bar. The ladies were waiting their turn and gently turned me around, passed me down the line and back out the door.
Can somebody help me find my way to any chapter of the 'Freakishly Normal Law Center'?
Shouldn't be much of a problem. The 'Pedophile Law Center' will be glad to help out.
Would a Chianti be an appropriate pairing or white? (and does it taste like chicken?)
When the Left finds a tactic that works, they run with it until it's dead.
Unisex school bathrooms should be interesting. I wonder how many kids will be able to hold it all day?
But...where then do delicate flowers, Janet Reno and Janet Nappy go?
When I was in high school, you couldn’t use most of the bathrooms because they were full of kids smoking and taking drugs. There was one, on the second floor way at the back of the Office Skills wing, that was too inconvenient for the smokers, but you might not be able to reach it during a break unless you were taking typing or shorthand.
My family hates to go on car trips with me, because I never need to stop!
Good times... good times.
God help you if you deliberately left out the /sarc tag.
Unnngh, I'd forgotten that! I try to avoid thinking about school: I'll probably have nightmares now.
Hmm. All wee-wee'd up.
Mmm. Urban oysters.
“I once, in a sleep-deprived haze, went into the men’s room at Walmart “
I’ve done that! I was sleep deprived plus I was at a different wal mart than the one I usually go to and the doors were reversed.
Can’t they just use the handicapped bathrooms and have this ‘issue’ done with? It’s not as if they don’t qualify as mentally handicapped.
If I saw them in the bathroom, I’d run!
Who, the Aerosmith guys? LOL!!
Not a transgender story, but amusing.
In the early 80s, in China, a “ladies room” had stalls with very short doors-— about waist high. Problem was that the “men’s room” was just beyond this room, so the men had to pass these stalls to get to it. You can imagine the looks in the faces of the men when they realized where they were! They were just following signs to the “ men’s room” and found themselves among sitting ladies!! The looks on their faces was priceless! We told them just to keep walking!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.