I used the ladies room.

[Lady Catherine]

Today at work when I felt nature call, I put down my things, blew off, (I work with fiberglass and didn't want to itch down there.) and walked right in to the ladies room. Never even looked at the other door. When I came out, a little boy on the dock loudly exclaimed, "That man just came out of the ladies room!" I just smiled and went back to work. What else was I going to do? Funny thing is, I don't go out a lot, so why did I go in to the ladies room to begin with?

[Bo-peep]

Your subconscious maybe was in feminie mode even though you were physically at work?

[AllieSF]

Probably you really had to go, and as we all know, when nature calls, we need to listen and act accordingly.

[kimdl93]

When you gotta go....

[RADER]

Back in the Day when I was working, I would go into the Ladies all the time. Some one
has to install all the Stall partitions.
Rader

[LadyPilot]

Why not use the ladies room? Sounds like nobody got hurt by it. My wife used the mens room today only because she had to go and go right then.

One time I was at a Starbucks wearing a dress, hose, heels but no hair or make-up and the men's room was out of order so I slowly opened the womens restroom door and ther wer two women fixing make-up and stuff at the sink. I said "sorry" and stepped back out and one of the women opened the door and told me to come in and use the bathroom, these two women remained in the restroom the entire time as I was in there then they moved over to share the sink with me. Now that is accepting!!! LP

[Diane Smith]

At the tire and battery shop my dad managed, the ladies' room was up front right off the showroom, and near his office. The gent's (and I use the term loosely) was way at the other end of the building, in the shop area. Aside from being far away, it was dirty and smelly most of the time. As far as I know, there was never a female employee there in the entire history of the business, so the women's bathroom was exclusively for the occasional customer, or just to meet legal and customary requirements -- it was hardly ever used.

So my dad got in the habit of using the ladies' almost exclusively at work. I can assure you he didn't have a crossdressing thought in his head and would have found the idea absolutely disgusting. But he was a practical guy, and knew where the two bathrooms were, and how they smelled ... the choice was pretty easy, I think.

- Diane

[tiffanyjo89]

Yeah, I think I've heard that in many states they require separate restrooms (if there are only two, one must be labeled men's and one must be labeled women's) but that many companies get away with only having one and saying it's not for public use. Of course, I've been in a state run building and they have two restrooms, but both are labeled as unisex. I went in both and they were just mirror images.

I've also been in the women's restroom at a local fast food chain (I worked there at the time, it was part of the job...ho hum. Never used it, though I felt tempted to at least once) and they were almost mirror images. The only difference was that in the women's restroom, there was a small metal box right there at the toilet. I will let y'all guess what it was used for.

Personally, I would be just fine if they eliminated public urinals and made restrooms unisex. I mean there are gonna be issues with undesirables, but I feel that having unisex restrooms makes it less awkward on parents with opposite sexed children who need to use the restroom (I was taken into many a women's restroom by my mom and forced to stay in the stall while her and my sister did their business, and I even did my business in front of them. This was out of fear of abduction). Heck, I was in a local thrift store that requires that you get a key to use the restroom, and they are (I'm guessing here) single occupancy restrooms, and a mother stood there opening the door to the women's for her son.

[Miriam-J]

I'm seeing more and more businesses just marking both restrooms unisex. For a single stall with no urinal, why not. Works well for both varieties of human.

Miriam

[I Am Paula]

At the mall recently, nature called, and the line for the ladies went out the door. For all kinds of reasons, including politics, I always use the ladies. Canadian law says I should use the ladies, and I'm always ready for a fight (not physical) should somebody have issue with it. However, as the need got worse, and with the line barely moving, I stepped out of line, and used the mens. Call me a hippocrite, sorry, the needs of the bladder outweigh the needs of the militant. Luckly, other than a few looks on exiting, no confrontations.-Celeste

[NathalieX66]

I used to work in the boatbuilding industry many years ago I know what the fiberglass itch feels like. I also smoked a pack of cigs a day, while grinding fiberglass &and laying decks.......not a good feeling, especially when your chest feels cold, and you can't catch a solid breath. The stuff is lethally toxic.

Happlily, those years are long over, including the fiberglass lay-up, and the cigarettes. I no longer smoke. I can breathe.

[Kat42]

Heh... many many moons ago I was out for lunch with the 'rents. After lunch dad headed to the loo, and I followed close behind. Noticed he turned left when he should'a turned right. I held fast and guarded the door. He didn't realize until he emerged he'd picked the wrong door and asked how did that happen. No harm, no foul.

Fast forward a couple more moons, I'm at a Micky D's and feel the call of nature. Made the same accidental left turn and stopped at the first step. The sight confused me. Where are the urinals? My confusion was broken by a grandmother & granddaughter attempting to enter... Of course her glare was daggers on full. I had no friggin' idea why I'd turned left instead of right. Obviously no perverse intent in either case. Still could have been a big problem if someone had a wild hair.

[tiffanyjo89]

Heh... many many moons ago I was out for lunch with the 'rents. After lunch dad headed to the loo, and I followed close behind. Noticed he turned left when he should'a turned right. I held fast and guarded the door. He didn't realize until he emerged he'd picked the wrong door and asked how did that happen. No harm, no foul.

Fast forward a couple more moons, I'm at a Micky D's and feel the call of nature. Made the same accidental left turn and stopped at the first step. The sight confused me. Where are the urinals? My confusion was broken by a grandmother & granddaughter attempting to enter... Of course her glare was daggers on full. I had no friggin' idea why I'd turned left instead of right. Obviously no perverse intent in either case. Still could have been a big problem if someone had a wild hair.

You see, that's why I like the idea of unisex restrooms...and I feel they will take over in most big cities and even eventually in smaller areas. In a way, it actually decreases the chances that bad things can happen in restrooms.

A) Opposite gendered parents don't have to feel awkward when taking their young child to the toilet.
B) If a guy with ill intent wanted to hang out in the restroom and wait for a woman to enter, it would probably fail as there would be more chance of a guy coming in and actually stopping it or the awkwardness of a guy being in the restroom when another guy comes in and it was obvious he wasn't in there peeing.
C) It would eliminate urinals, the bane of my existence (never liked using them growing up, never do now).

I have an idea for how unisex restrooms could be implemented in places like Walmarts too...
Instead of having to make two of the same, but eliminate about a third or a half of one to add something different, you make the same one a half or twice as big and put the sinks on the outer walls and have a communal area.

Most Walmarts (at least ones I have been in) have the type that have all the toilets and sinks run along one wall (cheaper on plumbing, I know) and have no doors but rather a fancy hook opening. Well, move the sinks to the opposite walls, replace the urinals with toilets and beef up privacy between the stalls and then knock out the unused wall. Instant unisex restroom. In future ones have it where the toilets are along one side and the back, and the sinks are along the other wall. Hey, it's just an idea.

[Rhonda Darling]

Heartily agree that they should be either single user and available to all, or unisex. In Europe and on most cruise ships, the restrooms are called "water closets" -- British, I believe -- and they consist of an area with sinks for cleanup, and a series of individual stalls that are built with solid back and side walls, and full height doors with something close to a real lock on it. You go in and you could strip naked and no one in the general area would have a clue. No looking over/under the door or side walls, no peering through cracks. IT IS VERY VERY CIVILIZED -- so obviously it will never catch on in the USA. The only places I've seen it used in the USA are at casinos, so that someone can't easily grab you at a vulnerable moment and rob you.

Whomever came up with urinals, or the worse-yet pee troughs that are sometimes found in parks or state highway rest areas, should be shot. Why are men expected to pee with no privacy? I hate it, and mostly hate it at crowded sporting events. I'll wait for a stall no matter what, rather than attempt to coax my bashful bladder to perform while a bunch of rude, drunk, pushy, beefy guys are snorting behind me urging me to hurry it up.

Sorry for the small rant.

Rhonda

[Gwinnie]

I did that once at a restaurant. I had taken a very strong allergy pill so my mind was a bit off. I went in and did everything I had to do. I was washing my hands when I thought, "there sure are a lot of women in here" Didn't say a word and just walked right out.

[Beverley Sims]

I have found it hard to discern some of those fancy icons/signs for the sexes.
Often make a mistake and go the wrong way.
Come to think of it I have been going the wrong way all my life. :)

[Karren H]

At the mall recently, nature called, and the line for the ladies went out the door. For all kinds of reasons, including politics, I always use the ladies. Canadian law says I should use the ladies, and I'm always ready for a fight (not physical) should somebody have issue with it. However, as the need got worse, and with the line barely moving, I stepped out of line, and used the mens. Call me a hippocrite, sorry, the needs of the bladder outweigh the needs of the militant. Luckly, other than a few looks on exiting, no confrontations.-Celeste

One of the advantages of "dual citizenship" lol

[Missy]

oops just was not thinking. Could not hold it any longer. more reasons for using lady's restroom

[BillieAnneJean]

I was at the Rose Bowl for the game. The line for the women's can was about fifty long and not moving. This was before I became enlightened. While enguy and draining myself at the twenty foot long stainless trough, two angry women came in and began tugging at the stall doors. I finished my task before they were successful. That was about twenty years ago. It still won't fly inthe heartlands.
One thing to consider: If the toilets are unisex and all stalls with doors, we enlightened, when not dressed as enlightened, will be waiting in the same long lines as the women.
So there is at least some advantage to being enguy and using the typically filthy men's room.

If dressed as a guy and you are confronted by a woman as you exit and she enters the women's toilet just say the maintenance is completed and the toilet is now back in service. It has worked for me for decades.
Billie

[LindaAllen]

Hi, I started using the ladies room at clubs two years ago when I first went out en femme. My friends, GG and CD, said go according to how you are presenting. I wa nervous about it at first and waited as long as I could. Even then I watched the door looking for a time when it might be vacant. Now I'm used to it in that setting. But then a couple of weeks ago in a restaurant I had to go and walked right into the ladies room while dressed as a male. I saw the sign but it just didn't register. Once inside I thought they had remodeled the restroom because it looked different. I didn't realize until I was done and leaving that I was in the "wrong" room. Fortunately no one came in while I was in there and no one seemed to notice when I came out.
I have been in this particular restaurant many times and know the layout. So why did I make this mistake? The the door signs for women used to set off an alert that meant Do Not Enter to me. I think that effect has been dulled by my use of the ladies rooms when dressed en femme. I guess I'm going to have to be more thoughtful in the future.

[DanielleT]

When I an "en femme" I use the ladies room all the time. Even at home, I p** like a girl all the time, because, I am one.

[Kate Simmons]

I guess the world didn't end, right? Usually we are more concerned with others' sense of propriety. In any case, who's counting my friend? :)

[jarts55]

I have seen women use the male restrooms at work all the time and no one says anything about it.

[alwayshave]

I have seen women use the male restrooms at work all the time and no one says anything about it.

Many years ago I worked at a high tech company when I went to use the men's room. I was in a stall when I hear the click clack of heels on the tile floor. I was thinking "oh sh*t I went into the ladies room by accident, how do I get out without being charged as a perv." I finished my business, opened the stall door and right across there were the urinals. I guess I was not the one in the wrong place.

[missmars]

I think This iss not a problem.

[VickiTheGamer]

This is one of my most terrifying thoughts. I have not gone out of the house yet and the fear of needing to use the restroom when dressed is so bad. I just keep envisioning going off to use the restroom and walking into the Men's room as a women. I mean, for me, if I go out (finally) it's going to be when I feel I look right. I look (and feel) like a women, but then the inevitable will happen. Do I use the woman's restroom and chance someone causing me a problem as if I were a pervert and were using CD'ing as a ploy to be in there, or do I use the Men's restroom and destroy the image I worked so hard on before I finally went out into public.

Aaaaaaaaaa

[Maria S]

When I am out in male mode I have to stop myself from automatically going into the ladies loo.

Maria

[Maria S]

This is one of my most terrifying thoughts. I have not gone out of the house yet and the fear of needing to use the restroom when dressed is so bad. I just keep envisioning going off to use the restroom and walking into the Men's room as a women. I mean, for me, if I go out (finally) it's going to be when I feel I look right. I look (and feel) like a women, but then the inevitable will happen. Do I use the woman's restroom and chance someone causing me a problem as if I were a pervert and were using CD'ing as a ploy to be in there, or do I use the Men's restroom and destroy the image I worked so hard on before I finally went out into public.

Aaaaaaaaaa

Vicki, when you finally go to a ladies loo you just keep cool and calm and act like any other lady there. Go to the loo. In the cubicle make sure you put the seat down again afterwards. Don't tinkle into the water in the pan (obviously women pee in a different direction) as it is amazing what a sound it can make if you don't. When you come ALWAYS wash your hands some men don't but women always do. Adjust your lipstick and brush your hair and walk out.

Maria

[linda allen]

Where I used to work there were more women than men so if the woman's restroom was in use, many of the women would use the men's restroom. Of course, when the men's room was in use, I was tempted to use the women's room but I never did.

[Emogene]

Thread after thread concerning the use of the women's restroom en femme basically repeats the same suggestions and express the same fears on site after site. As a newbie, this is real fear. My first experience in Las Vegas was fast, easy, no problem. No one even looked up! And I'm not exactly what you would call a fashion plate.

Have any of you ladies ever been arrested?

Have any of you been accosted by management or security?

Have other's using the restroom ever said anything to you?



It would be nice to see a real poll so we could judge if there is in fact a problem or simply the perception of a problem with crossdressers using a water closet specifically designated as a woman's restroom.

[Jamie001]

Many years ago I worked at a high tech company when I went to use the men's room. I was in a stall when I hear the click clack of heels on the tile floor. I was thinking "oh sh*t I went into the ladies room by accident, how do I get out without being charged as a perv." I finished my business, opened the stall door and right across there were the urinals. I guess I was not the one in the wrong place.

It may have been me in that men's room since I wear high-heels quite often.

[*ROXY*]

To men it doesn't matter about having unisex toilets but just eliminating the urinals won't stop men splashing all over the seats (because they've got rubbish aim and refuse to lift the seat). Wouldn't take long for them to end up in the state most gents toilets end up in :-)

[brandi.tgurl]

i was a at a convention once, and had to find a loo. I swore there was a picture of a guy on the blue sign on the door, and burst into the bathroom foyer. if it wasn't such a big place, or me a vendor, i might have continued, yet i didn't want to cause a potential scene. but, i distinctly remember coming to a halt, almost tripping over myself because where there should have been a wall of urinals was nothing but sinks - and what should have been a quite busy restroom, as i've never seen one empty at these conventions, was silent as the hour before dawn. i actually, had a moment where i had to take in and replay the scenario in my head (which came out like a very dramatic movie), before determining, that yes, i had in fact burst into the ladies room. i made an about face, giggled at my error, and slipped out, undetected. then i realized, this side of the hall had 2 entries to the ladies', and the mens' was on the other end of the hall.
there are times where i have made the decision to use the ladies' room just because it was there, and i could. however, they have almost always been the single stall type with locking doors. regardless of the label on the door, i have always considered these to be unisex. but this time, was not one of those... :|

Also, the rules about using a restroom labeled for your opposite gender/sex very from state to state. And, probably in some cases city to city. For, example, i have read, but never experienced, that Disneyland in Anaheim forbids CDs presenting as women from using the ladies' loo. However, in general, California, has pretty loose legal regulations when it comes to public restrooms; ie. single stall, locking restrooms may be used by either gender, if the loo matching your own gender is already in use (of course, be a gentleman, if you're a guy using a ladies' toilet: lift the seat, don't splash on the porcelain, and wipe down any mess you make, AND PUT THE SEAT DOWN WHEN YOU'RE DONE!); also, CD/TG/TS persons may use group public restrooms of opposite of their genetic gender, as long as it can be reasonably determined that the CD/TG/TS is presenting as the gender of the restroom (s)he is using. Of course, this leaves a little interpretation, but basically, a man with hairy legs, a beard, and a ball cap in a ball gown would legally be better off using the mens' room over the ladies' as he is not presenting female. But, if you're cleanly shaven, your make is done up right, and you're using shapers to give you curves, a GM could presumably use the ladies room in a pair of hiphugger boot cut jeans, high heels, and a blouse - as he is presenting female. And, of course don't dilly dadle. Go in; locate an available stall; sit, don't stand; do your business; wash your hands; maybe a quick check in the mirror, and some make up touch up; and leave. Staying any longer than that, and depending on your company, or geographic location, may give the wrong impression. when i am out as brandi, i feel much more comfortable using the ladies' room if i have to go potty, than the men's, and my own experience has been that using the ladies en femme is much less dramatic than using the men's, too.

[Maria S]

Sometimes when in male mode when I go to places that I go more in girl mode if I need the loo the times I have just stopped myself going to the ladies. It's as if my auto pilot has had it's settings changed.

Maria

[Angie G]

You know you wanted to do it Catherine. We all do.:hugs:
Angie

[ambigendrous]

Many years ago I worked at a high tech company when I went to use the men's room. I was in a stall when I hear the click clack of heels on the tile floor. I was thinking "oh sh*t I went into the ladies room by accident, how do I get out without being charged as a perv." I finished my business, opened the stall door and right across there were the urinals. I guess I was not the one in the wrong place.

Had this happen to me one Halloween. The group I worked with was really into costumes for Halloween so one year I decided to go all out - nice conservative office attire consisting of a gray pencil skirt about knee-length, white sleeveless top with a jacket that matched the skirt. Pushup bra, slim-slip, off-black hose, and a pair of white Chinese Laundry 4" heeled sandals completed the ensemble. Still had my ugly mug in plain view - beard, moustache, and balding short hair so there was no way I was trying to pass. Had a great time all day - people would come by my cubicle with all kinds of excuses just to get a look at me, and my boss managed to reschedule a meeting so I had to attend.

Anyway, it was time to answer nature's call and I decided that since pretty much everybody knew me I would go ahead and use the men's room. I'm sitting in a stall taking care of business and my heels are plainly visible under the walls and door. I finish my business and go to wash my hands and a guy comes out of the stall next to mine and says "Well, I guess I'm in the right room after all - I wasn't sure for a while!" We had a laugh and he congratulated me on my "costume" and we left.

All day I had nothing but positive reactions, but I guess that's to be expected for Halloween...

[5150 Girl]

When aproaching a rest room, I have to somtimes touch my chest, before I decide which side to turn into....

[Deborah Kaye]

I used the ladies room for the first time just last week while at the Mall. I used to visit the Macy's there as a stop in a contract delivery job. I knew right where the facilities were and did not even consider which to go into. I mean I WAS presenting as a woman so where else would I go?

[Paula T]

I was just going into the local "fleet and farm" store one day for something (in drab) or course and I had to go so bad that I blundered in the wrong door and realized it right after I sat down. Well what can one do, finished and got the heck out of there didn't wash my hands either.:)

[Kimberly Renee]

Thread after thread concerning the use of the women's restroom en femme basically repeats the same suggestions and express the same fears on site after site. As a newbie, this is real fear. My first experience in Las Vegas was fast, easy, no problem. No one even looked up! And I'm not exactly what you would call a fashion plate.

Have any of you ladies ever been arrested?

Have any of you been accosted by management or security?

Have other's using the restroom ever said anything to you?



It would be nice to see a real poll so we could judge if there is in fact a problem or simply the perception of a problem with crossdressers using a water closet specifically designated as a woman's restroom.

Recently in Baltimore MD a pre-surgery TS got a major beat down by 2 girls so yeah, there are dangers.

[Eryn]

I think that the bathroom gender anxiety stems from the fact that one of the first things that a small child does independently is use a public restroom. As soon as Mommy (sexist, but it usually is Mommy) takes the child out in public she carefully teaches the child to use only the restroom for the correct gender. The importance of this impressed upon us when our psyches are still malleable and we don't question things, so we tend to give it undue importance.

When I first went out I was very nervous about restrooms but now they hold neither excitement or fear for me. My main concern is finding a stall that isn't dirty and has a supply of paper. I don't interact with anyone beyond a smile and "excuse me" if appropriate.

I remember visiting a restaurant in Nevada that had a bit of fun with Bathroom Gender Anxiety. As you left the Men's room you could see clearly through the glass door the word "WOMEN" painted in reverse! Of course it was an optical illusion, but it was fun to watch the people emerging from the restroom, turning, and carefully examining the outside of the door to make sure that the were Using The Right Facility!

[Kimberly Renee]

Toward the end of a 12 hour car trip and late at night (should've been 10 but there was snow) I stopped for gas, coffee and relief. Went into the first restroom door I came to, didn't even look at the sign (which was on the wall a little ways after the door, btw).

I didn't realize until I saw that little metal bin on the side of the stall. I was so tired the thought process was like - hmmm, that's a container they usually have in the women's room ... I wonder why they put one in here ... wait a minute ... I don't remember seeing any urinals when I walked in ... OMG! I finished up fast, not wanting to be caught with my pants down (literally!). As I exited I glanced at the sign, threw a verbal "sorry" into the air and headed for the coffee center.

I quickly got my coffee and went to the counter to pay. The female cashier said I didn't have to pay for the coffee. I thanked her and left, not knowing if the coffee was free with a fill up or because she saw what happened and thought it was funny. :)