The bathroom bill!

[Pinky188]

What is everyones opinion on the transgender restroom bill? I for one always use the womens room when in girl mode. Some of the clubs I hang out in "make" me use the girls room! So, you know where I stand on the matter! ;)

[JessHaust]

I think I'm glad it died!

[Eryn]

I'm not sure which bill you're referring to. The one that has been discussed lately was one from a Southern state where the legislator who introduced it promised to "pound a mudhole" into any male that dared use a woman's restroom or dressing room near his female relatives. Such a thoughtful individual!

[Pinky188]

Well it must just be a Virgina bill. I would allow trans people and people that dress as the opposite sex to use public bathrooms that match the outward apperance of said person. I do that, but I don't know for sure if its right. I can see both sides of the debate.


I think I'm glad it died!
So Texas killed the bill? Why do you disagree with the bill Jess?

[joanna marie]

Unless there are womens restrooms that don't have doors on the stalls,I don't what the big deal is
the most you will see is someone in front of the mirror fixing hair and makeup

Now if the rest rooms looked like the ones I had in Basic training that would be a different story! lol

[RenneB]

I say use what ever restroom suits you the best. I've seen some interesting folks walk into the ladies room that don't present as female. I saw one some time ago, get stopped by a SA in a store and say that those facilities are for women. The not very presentable GG answered back, "I am a women you want to see my ....". With that the SA turned beet red and left saying a bunch of sorrys along the way...

Since, us humans come in all shapes, sizes and appearances, use whatever room suits you.

Renne.....

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Pinky, Baltimore Co. Maryland is working on one now.

[JessHaust]

So Texas killed the bill? Why do you disagree with the bill Jess?
Texas did not have the bill, surprisingly, and if it had the punishment would surely have been death! (before I get blasted, I'm just poking fun at my home state)
It was Tennessee that had the 'anti-transgender bathroom bill'
I disagree with any discriminatory legislation. Look, If I'm out en-femme, going into the mens room can be dangerous. The whole premies of the bill was just paronoid stupidity.
If a pedophile wants to go into a bathroom and prey on children, A:he's most likely not going to dress en femme and B: no law will stop a him, that's why they are called criminals, they break the law.
So the only people effected by the bill would have been people like us, and we, well at least I, am not a threat to anyone, and I don't think anyone here is either.

[Pinky188]

Texas did not have the bill, surprisingly, and if it had the punishment would surely have been death! (before I get blasted, I'm just poking fun at my home state)
It was Tennessee that had the 'anti-transgender bathroom bill'
I disagree with any discriminatory legislation. Look, If I'm out en-femme, going into the mens room can be dangerous. The whole premies of the bill was just paronoid stupidity.
If a pedophile wants to go into a bathroom and prey on children, A:he's most likely not going to dress en femme and B: no law will stop a him, that's why they are called criminals, they break the law.
So the only people effected by the bill would have been people like us, and we, well at least I, am not a threat to anyone, and I don't think anyone here is either.
Oh. Im confused why you said, " Im glad it died".

Here in Virginia, the bill is for the T.G. rights to use the approprate room.

[Nikki A.]

I think this is more of an US issue than in Europe. That said I use the bathroom appropriate for the way I dress. I don't linger, I do my business and then a quick wash and out I go. So far no problems in NY. NJ, Pa or Colorado.

[JessHaust]

The Tennesse bill just died. It would have provided a penailty to transgendered people if they used the bathroom opposite of their sex at birth, the opposite of Virginia. Once a law gets in place in one state, it often migrates to others.
Make sense?

[sissystephanie]

If you are dressed and look like a woman, you should use the ladies restroom. And use it just like any lady, sitting down! Now when I go out in public dressed enfemme, I am not wearing a wig or makeup. So I don't look like a woman. Therefore I use the men's room. Actually that doesn't happen very often, because it could cause me some problems!

[Eryn]

I saw one some time ago, get stopped by a SA in a store and say that those facilities are for women. The not very presentable GG answered back, "I am a women you want to see my ...."

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense! :)

[Jacqueline Winona]

Funny, another member and I were discussing this topic a few days ago, about how CA law would arguably protect a CD using a women's restroom. I'll summarize the key thoughts as much as possible, but my friend Acastina can do the topic more justice than I could -it's about gender identity, and what yo uidentify with at the time you are using the restroom. Gender identity discrimination is prohibitted in CA, and it should help any CD who identifies as a woman use the female restroom when she is dressed. There are never any guarantees that this will work, but Acastina made a very compelling argument in favor of it, it sold me and I'm skeptical by nature.

[ArleneRaquel]

When enfemme I always use the ladies restroom.

[linda allen]

What is everyones opinion on the transgender restroom bill? I for one always use the womens room when in girl mode. Some of the clubs I hang out in "make" me use the girls room! So, you know where I stand on the matter! ;)

What "bathroom bill"?

[Kristy_K]

Females don't use the men room unless ?? and there can be exceptions.

[Babette]

Perhaps the simplest but not the least expensive measure is to do what many new business locations are doing now - install family or unisex restrooms. Just don't forget to put the lid back down.

Babette

[KaTanya]

If you're going into a bathroom to evacuate bodily waste or clean up, who cares? If you're going in there to "get bizzay", there are laws on the books prohibiting public sex- just enforce those as appropriate.

If Virginia wants to make a positive rights law, I'm definitely cool with that for two reasons. 1. It's positive rights (as opposed to negative rights, ala Tennessee), and 2. It's Virginia.

[Sammy777]

I use the bathroom appropriate for the way I dress. So far no problems in NY. NJ, Pa or Colorado.
New Jersey has had a bill on the books for sometime that in part covers gender identity/presentation and restroom use.

I do not know with certainty about New York [state or city] or Colorado though.

[Renee W]

I did a lot of searching on the Virginia legislative site ( http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm ) for active bills and did not find one concerning restroom usage. I even checked prior sessions.

I did however find several bills where they are proposing to ammend several human rights and discrimination laws to include specifically gender identity and sexual orientation.

In House bill 694 it is propsed to add "sexual orientation, gender identity" as safeguarded classes under subsection 2.2-3900, the Virginia Human Rights Act. Section C of the bill defines these 2 classes as:


"Gender identity" means an individual's self-conception as being male or female, as distinguished from actual biological sex.

"Sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality. Sexual orientation shall not include any person's attraction toward persons with whom sexual conduct would be illegal due to the age of the parties.

Note the phrase "individual's self-conception", to me that means "what I think of myself at the time"

House bill 977 and Senate bill 263 both propose to add "sexual orientation" as a protected class under various employment and discrimination laws. On these, the term sexual orientation is defined as:


"Sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression. Sexual orientation shall not include any person's attraction toward persons with whom sexual conduct would be illegal due to the age of the parties.

I'll have to try and keep my eyes on these.

[TGMarla]

My random opinion on this is that people who present obviously as a woman take their lives into their hands when they use the men's room. Obviously they need to use the ladies' room. Anyone who would assume that such a person is dressing as a woman only to practice voyeurism really doesn't have a clue about transgender issues. I think it's a very blurry line at times, though, and to judge when one steps across it is pretty tough. I think it's safe to say that we cannot simply allow all people to use any old restroom they desire, or we invite perverts to abuse the law. But if I'm out wearing a dress and high heels, I'm going to use the ladies' room regardless of the law.

I think it's likely that eventually laws will be passed that ban trans people from using the ladies' room, though. The excuse given will be that to allow such people to use the ladies' room will invite abuses of the law, leading to sexual predators invading women's restrooms under the excuse that they are transgendered. If one is passed that allows those presenting as women to use the restroom of the gender they present, the argument will arise as to just what exactly constitutes such presentation. Dresses? Boobs? Long hair and lipstick? Purses? Hosiery? None hold water under scrutiny. In my opinion, therefore, this is probably an issue that does not need definition under the law, and should just be left alone, especially since such occurrances are rare at best, and ultimately harm no one. Unless a person presenting as a woman (or not) enters a restroom intended for those not of one's gender, and causes mayhem and breaks existing laws, then I say no harm - no foul.

[sonna]

i agree with TGMarla because as soon as something happens, the press will be all over it.
and if the person is dressed!!!!!! OMG you know what will happen (more bad press for us).
some places you take the risk of going to jail if you use the womans bathroom.

look just please be carful on whatever you do......safty first

[JessHaust]

Girls,
we all live in different places and the laws vary greatly. So I found this fairly comprehensive list of laws across the country.
http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/index.htm

[Cheryl T]

I say ... "When in Rome..."
Always the ladies room when I'm out dressed. Never had an issue with anyone, even with children around. Just take care of business, wash up and leave. If you linger at the mirror redoing your makeup and such then you risk unwanted attention.
Be nice, be quick and begone....

[kellycan27]

I personally don't have an issue with where people do their business, but I would like to pose a question. There are always tons of threads regarding tg rights and acceptance. People want to be accepted and to be able to dress as they see fit without fear of ridicule or their personal safety. People are forever saying I am a man who happens to like to dress as a woman, and I want the right to do so. So... when it comes right down to "civil" rights would it be better to gain the right for a man dressed in women's clothing to use the ladies room, or for him to be able to use the men's room no matter how he is dressed? Is the fear of ridicule or personal injury actually skirting (pun intended) the actual issue of civil rights? History has shown that change is born of sacrifice especially in the area of civil rights. In the long run might John Q become more accepting and respectful of tg people if instead of wanting to be treated as special they want to be treated equally?

[Daphne Renee]

I am glad Virginia is considering such a bill. I think for most its fear of personal injury when dressed that the issue with using the mens room. Riddicule would be annoying but not a huge deal.

[vikki2020]

Girls,
we all live in different places and the laws vary greatly. So I found this fairly comprehensive list of laws across the country.
http://www.transgenderlaw.org/ndlaws/index.htm

nice link, thanks, Jess!

[Tara D. Rose]

The restroom bill? you mean we will get charged for it?

[jillleanne]

I have a problem with any bill that continues to identity in gender in binary. Why not remove gender from public washrooms altogether? Good heavens, we had genderless washrooms in university in 1970 in Canada. If a freak wants to commit a crime in a public washroom do you really think gender appearance will stop them? NOT!