# Puzzled by transgender bathroom laws. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498 "2016-04-17T20:00:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/101 "2016-04-18T22:42:59Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > I’m wondering what kind of men’s bathrooms you’re visiting that have nudity as commonplace occurance, unless it’s a gym bathroom. Other than gyms (where people shower and change clothes), I have never seen actually seen anyone go nude in a bathroom. This is an actual question, what is the business around the bathrooms where you see nudity routinely? I explained in a later post that it’s a bathroom at work. We have quite a few employees that use the lunch break to jog, bike or play pickup basketball games. The bathroom doubles as a makeshift locker room. I find it likely that occurs at many other workplaces too. Employee wellness programs encourage employees to get out and exercise. But, I don’t know and I’m not going to personally investigate. 😉 Some people may have a gym around the corner from their job and change there. My coworkers and I are not that lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/102 "2016-04-19T00:10:54Z")
> [@Totenfeier](#): > > Posting from NC, the hot center of the con-TROV-ersy: > > Nary a ONE uv ya’ll GETS it, as far as ah can see. > > It’s real, REAL EASY. > MEN are MEN. They go in the MEN’S room. > > WIMMIN are WIMMIN. They go in the WIMMIN’S room. > > Anybody else has a MENTAL PROBLEM,\*\*\* AND\*\*\* needs to git rite with GAWD, mighty QUICK!!! > > …Any questions? 😕:smack::mad::dubious::D:rolleyes::(:(☹ Exactly. And since TRANSMEN are MEN, they go in the MEN’s room. Likewise, TRANSWIMMIN are WIMMIN. They go in the WIMMIN’S room. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/103 "2016-04-19T00:15:16Z")
I can’t even imagine a bathroom at WORK (that isn’t an actual locker/shower room, like if you work at a gym) where people get naked out in the main part. For any reason. It would probably shock the hell out of me if I stepped into the men’s room at my work and saw naked people changing clothes out in the open. ---
**Author:** ![Melisande](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@Melisande](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melisande)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/104 "2016-04-19T00:17:31Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Even still…multiple threads on this, with multiple people asking multiple times about transmen taking their burly, bearded selves into the ladies’ room, and I STILL have never seen any of the objectors answering those questions. Not here, not elsewhere. No one. Even when shown photos of said transmen. Nothing. Wouldn’t they just think that trans men are not really a threat, since they are actually women? Or maybe there are more pervy cis men in NC than there are trans men, so which would be the bigger problem. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/105 "2016-04-19T00:19:23Z")
> [@Melisande](#): > > Wouldn’t they just think that trans men are not really a threat, since they are actually women? That’s possible, but they don’t even appear to acknowledge that the questions were asked. They’re just ignored, time after time. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/106 "2016-04-19T00:39:35Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > When I have to change any part of my more intimate clothing, I too go to the wheelchair toilet. There is more room, there is a place to put clean clothes down :mad: They are not changing rooms, they are handicap accessible toilet stalls. Given that for many people the handicap stall is the **only** option, I’d kindly ask you to tolerate a minute or two of awkwardness and please use the non-accessible stalls for changing. > [@vivalostwages](#): > > I’ve actually never seen any woman change clothes in a bathroom. If she does, she would go inside a stall–some are roomier than others–or into the bigger stall for the disabled. Well thank god for those big roomy stalls, right? Otherwise, things might get…slightly awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/107 "2016-04-19T00:48:02Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > :mad: They are not changing rooms, they are handicap accessible toilet stalls. Given that for many people the handicap stall is the **only** option, I’d kindly ask you to tolerate a minute or two of awkwardness and please use the non-accessible stalls for changing. > > Well thank god for those big roomy stalls, right? Otherwise, things might get…slightly awkward. Relax man. In my entire life I have never been in any washroom where the handicap stall was actually in use by someone in a wheelchair. Yes, that’s what they’re for, but I’ll bet the utilization rate for handicapped stalls is about 0.5%. And if we’re changing in there, we’ll be in and out in 2 minutes. Chill. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/108 "2016-04-19T00:56:12Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Relax man. In my entire life I have never been in any washroom where the handicap stall was actually in use by someone in a wheelchair. Yes, that’s what they’re for, but I’ll bet the utilization rate for handicapped stalls is about 0.5%. > > And if we’re changing in there, we’ll be in and out in 2 minutes. Yea, in the time _you’ve been in the restrooms_ you haven’t seen someone in a chair need the stall. So what? How about the fact that just about _everybody_ has this same mindset? Guess what happens? The big, roomy stall becomes the default choice for most people. How about the fact that it is a rarity that I don’t have to (unnecessarily) wait, any time I need to piss or shit , because there’s one guy sitting in the handicap stall who just wanted to stretch out while taking a dump. Sorry for the hijack but those stalls are stalls of necessity. For everyone. Don’t use them unless you have no other option. Very simple. ☺ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/109 "2016-04-19T01:12:03Z")
No offense, but can you at least start a new thread? Because this always veers off into total hijack. (I mean, I agree with you, it should be for people with who legitimately need it, but that’s not for this thread, kay?) Unless, of course, you’re a handicapped person who needs to change. Then it’s cool, I’m assuming. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/110 "2016-04-19T01:24:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > No offense, but can you at least start a new thread? Because this always veers off into total hijack. (I mean, I agree with you, it should be for people with who legitimately need it, but that’s not for this thread, kay No need darling. I already apologized for the hijack and have nothing more to say. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/111 "2016-04-19T01:33:12Z")
If you’ve killed a handicapped person and need a place to chop up the body is the handicap stall appropriate? Asking for a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/112 "2016-04-19T01:33:27Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > No need darling. I already apologized for the hijack and have nothing more to say. Apologetic PM sent. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/113 "2016-04-19T01:58:20Z")
It’s the Cadillac of the poopin stalls. Gitter done. I once saw a naked man washing in the sink of a public restroom of a mall department store. Security escorted him away, not sure of the absolute outcome for him. Late 80s or early 90s ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/114 "2016-04-19T02:16:02Z")
It’s quite easy to change your clothes in a regular stall. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/115 "2016-04-19T02:18:48Z")
I’m pretty sure anyone getting naked in the men’s room outside a closed stall would have been disciplined in any workplace I’ve worked in. Many of the buildings in this area have shower/locker rooms specifically targeted at bicyclists and daytime exercises. Even if such a room is unavailable in a specific building, I can’t see employers tolerating the open area of a restroom being used to actually get naked. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/116 "2016-04-19T03:00:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I explained in a later post that it’s a bathroom at work. We have quite a few employees that use the lunch break to jog, bike or play pickup basketball games. The bathroom doubles as a makeshift locker room. > > I find it likely that occurs at many other workplaces too. Employee wellness programs encourage employees to get out and exercise. But, I don’t know and I’m not going to personally investigate. 😉 Some people may have a gym around the corner from their job and change there. My coworkers and I are not that lucky. I’m still not totally clear on this. When you use the work restroom to change, at any time do you not have underwear on while standing next to the sinks? And this is a bathroom in which the main door doesn’t lock, so someone could walk in at any time and see you changing, right? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/117 "2016-04-19T03:42:16Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > It’s much easier for transmen to pass, so they don’t appear on these people’s radars. That would depend a lot on when they started transitioning and what kind of genes they have. I’ve seen a guy with a real nasty case of Mediterranean hips, and he was below 5’. From the back he looked like a woman. That particular model tends to develop early: that guy would have needed to start hormonal treatments about age 10 or 11 in order to avoid getting that figure. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/118 "2016-04-19T17:18:41Z")
This thread is a really good illustration of how exhausting it must be to be trans. I’m exhausted and I barely participated. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/119 "2016-04-19T18:09:29Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m still not totally clear on this. When you use the work restroom to change, at any time do you not have underwear on while standing next to the sinks? > > And this is a bathroom in which the main door doesn’t lock, so someone could walk in at any time and see you changing, right? yes, underwear is left on. We’re changing dress shirts and pants and wearing sweats. If you’re familiar with boxers. You know theres a long slit in the front. I wouldn’t want to be in the woman’s bathroom and have a 7 or 8 year old girl wander in. They typically stand at waist height to an adult. A very unfortunate eyeline. I know unisex bathrooms are coming. Theres no stopping them. Doesn’t mean that I or millions and millions of other Americans have to like it. this film crew certainly wasn’t happy with them. No one dares say anything because of the PC groups out there. > **['Transparent' -- Crew Up in Arms Over Trans-Friendly Toilets (PHOTOS)](https://www.tmz.com/2016/04/19/transparent-transgender-bathrooms/)** > > "Transparent" is a forward-thinking show about transgender acceptance, but the kumbaya spirit stops at the bathroom door. > [@](#): > > The beef is that men, women and transgenders can all enter as they please, making it uncomfortable for some of the crew. Women are particularly worried about walking in and seeing a dude peeing at the urinal. > > Now this is interesting … we’re told several crew members are too scared to complain, for fear they’ll be labeled “transphobic,” which would be the kiss of death on that set. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498/120 "2016-04-19T18:24:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > yes, underwear is left on. We’re changing dress shirts and pants and wearing sweats. > > If you’re familiar with boxers. You know theres a long slit in the front. I wouldn’t want to be in the woman’s bathroom and have a 7 or 8 year old girl wander in. They typically stand at waist height to an adult. A very unfortunate eyeline. > > I know unisex bathrooms are coming. Theres no stopping them. Doesn’t mean that I or millions and millions of other Americans have to like it. this film crew certainly wasn’t happy with them. No one dares say anything because of the PC groups out there. > > ['Transparent' Crew Up in Arms Over Trans-Friendly Toilets](http://www.tmz.com/2016/04/19/transparent-transgender-bathrooms/) So what is your point? I guess kudos to you for using a source other than The Daily News, but nonetheless, what is your point? Unisex bathrooms are really a separate issue to the topic of this thread. As usual, you are on the wrong side of it, but there it is. Here is the reality. Your experience of it being common behavior for men to be naked or near naked in the common (outside the stalls) part of an workplace men’s room is not the norm. I’ve worked for multiple companies over the years and have not seen this. I’ve never once been in a restroom and seen another dude’s privates. Your experiences (and I believe exaggerations) tell us more about you than they contribute to this discourse. Oh, and I get it. “PC groups” is your code for anyone who doesn’t have the same exact set of hang-ups you do. What’s in like there in the 1950s? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzled-by-transgender-bathroom-laws/752498.md?page=7)