The Gender Gestapo: Still Lurking

[ReineD]

Perhaps I am being overly sensitive, but as some of you probably know, being a CD can be a bit awkward at times.

I understand there are many reasons for CDs to feel awkward, but in this case I do think you are being overly sensitive. You have no reason to believe that the security person was referring to you, especially since Macy's has such a progressive policy regarding transgenders.

The security person might have been concerned about the possibility of theft, for example a young girl choosing to try on clothes in the men's room because it is not well attended, and walking out of the store with some of the items of clothing under her own clothes. Maybe the "camera on C" refers to the entrance to the store. There might be other scenarios that he was thinking about as well.

You should have tried on the clothes in the women's changing room since Macy's supports people who use the changing rooms that match their gender presentation.

[Stephanie47]

I think you're being paranoid. What the store loss prevention person spotted was something out of the ordinary. That usually elicits some sort of inquiry. I suspect he was doing his job. As to the cameras all the store I frequent do have cameras in areas that would be suitable for shop lifting, tag swapping, etc. I've accompanied my wife to various stores and have seen store policy is to take (X) number of garments into the changing area and come out with the same number. I've seen employees run to check the changing cubicles when a customer does not bring out the same number of garments. Did the customer just leave them in the cubicle or stuff them into a large purse, shopping bag, etc? I'm sure most stores have instructed their employees on transgender issues.

[GeminaRenee]

You should have tried on the clothes in the women's changing room since Macy's supports people who use the changing rooms that match their gender presentation.

I was presenting as a guy, though. I generally don't go out shopping en femme. I would expect that if I had been en femme, I would have gone for the ladies' side.

[Jenny Gurl]

I came out of the dressing room at a Kohl's store with a skirt and top and an older lady was going in the room next to mine.She glared long and hard at me and said that is disgusting. I said yeah the top looked cuter on the rack I hope you have better luck.
My SA friend was laughing at me the whole way out into the store,she said OMG that lady looked pissed huh? You ready to try on the other stuff I picked out?
We both head back in and the lady comes out. Now the SA is telling me " girl these are going to be soo cute on you let me see each outfit now no cheating sugar".
My guess is we blew that ladies mind.

Thanks, your story made my day. Why some people think they have the right to pop off like that and ridicule someone else is beyond me. I'm glad you both put her in her place. I'm sure you both had fun with it.

[Lorileah]

The guard didn't say anything to you personally (you were eavesdropping on him BTW). His comments didn't even intimate that he was in anyway anti-TG.

He was doing what he was paid to do, protecting the store's merchandise

Macy's should commend him. I have to ask were you harmed in any way? Did you lose money or any personal property? Were you inconvenienced? (besides having your feelings hurt).

If Macy's apologizes I would like to know why. They will of course. Because they want you as a customer...who tries on women's clothing in the men's dressing room.

[Amy Fakley]

it probably went down something like this:

Security Guard to Home Base: "something here doesn't make sense, check out the camera"
Home Base: "we checked out the camera, it's just a crossdresser"
Security Guard: "damn. Imma get me a cinnabon"

just sayin'.

[I Am Paula]

There are NO cameras in the dressing rooms. That would be a human rights violation of such humungous magnitude that it would bring down the retail industry. It's not even an issue.-Celeste

[Chickhe]

I was in a Sears before and they told me I could not take items from one section to another, but I've done it many times also. I think there could be a couple things going on... maybe the sales person gets a commission based on the register sales, maybe security starts following anyone taking clothes out of the local dept, maybe you looked like you were hiding them. Could be someone else reported you taking clothes because they never saw a male grab a pile of clothes before and the security guard was just saying no problem the clothes are outside the mens change room.

[Beverley Sims]

I mentioned a camera in an earlier post, it was in a staff recreation room and not in a dressing room.