# Would you be comfortable sharing a dressing room with a gay person?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005 "2013-06-27T01:58:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/301 "2013-07-01T15:08:45Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > No, you just divide change room into two parts, one is for the guys who are comfortable showering with gays, and the other for the ones who are not. > > If you guys think I’m the only guy who isnt comfortable with this, you really need to get out more So what’s to stop The Gay choosing to use your special little ‘straights only’ room? ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/302 "2013-07-01T15:10:38Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > So what’s to stop The Gay choosing to use your special little ‘straights only’ room? Maybe his word?? But it sounds like that wouldnt hold much bond ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/303 "2013-07-01T15:10:59Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > You wouldnt have to pay for four, smartypants. You just divide the present men’s change room into two parts Ah, so walls are free in your universe, growing on trees and such. Well, I’m most comfortable among my fellow left-handed people. I demand _three_ divisions! Actually, four… straight-right, gay-right, straight-left, gay-left… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/304 "2013-07-01T15:12:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Actually, four… straight-right, gay-right, straight-left, gay-left… Worst Twister-variant EVER. Or maybe the best, after a few beers… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/305 "2013-07-01T15:13:41Z")
“We at Acme Gym are sensitive to the needs of our clients. We have arranged our facility to have 500 individual private changing areas, each with its own locker, shower and toilet.” “Great!” “Your annual gym fee is now $180,000.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/306 "2013-07-01T15:14:03Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Maybe his word?? But it sounds like that wouldnt hold much bond Yeah, I’ve always had a better response with using GorillaGlue. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/307 "2013-07-01T15:20:01Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > No, you just divide change room into two parts, one is for the guys who are comfortable showering with gays, and the other for the ones who are not. > > If you guys think I’m the only guy who isnt comfortable with this, you really need to get out more I really don’t think you are going to find _that_ many people admit that they are afraid of undressing in front of gays, so maybe you won’t need that much space. Maybe something small and personal where others can’t see you. Like a closet. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/308 "2013-07-01T15:22:40Z")
You all need to stop needling each other immediately. If you want to discuss the issue, fine, but stop this childish sniping. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/309 "2013-07-01T15:24:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I really don’t think you are going to find _that_ many people admit that they are afraid of undressing in front of gays, so maybe you won’t need that much space. Maybe something small and personal where others can’t see you. > Like a closet. Right, so now you’re telling me to go “into the closet”. Ultimate in hypocrisy, werent gays the ones who hated being told by society to go into the closet??! ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/310 "2013-07-01T15:25:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > “We at Acme Gym are sensitive to the needs of our clients. We have arranged our facility to have 500 individual private changing areas, each with its own locker, shower and toilet.” How exactly does dividing a change room into 2 = 500 individual private changing areas?? Did you skip math in school?? . ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/311 "2013-07-01T15:28:24Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > I never said segregate the gays. I would never wanna force someone to move away from me. > > However, I should be allowed the freedom to move away myself if I should choose to do so. In this case that would imply moving to a different dressing room myself You are free to move to a different dressing room. It may not be in the same building, mind you. And it doesn’t matter who “moves”; if there are separate dressing rooms for gays and straights, you’ve got segregation. And your justification for imposing this segregation is that you don’t like the way things are. Well, tough. The world is not required to cater to your every whim, particularly where your whims are without objective merit, and you are not being persecuted by its failure to do so. > [@Esco](#): > > Okay, lets try this again. WE ALREADY DO THIS FOR WOMEN RIGHT NOW AS IT IS!! > > Sorry for putting it in bold, but you dont seem to get it 😉 No, we get it. Consider the level of harassment and assault women receive from men when both parties are clothed. Now imagine them naked (no, not like that). There’s a genuine, evidence-based reason not to have unisex changing rooms. Assuming that you’re not getting changed in a prison, is there similar precedent for actual (not imagined, but genuine) systemic harassment and assault of innocent straight men by gay men? If so, I’m sure you can provide a cite for it. And if not, your attempt to equate segregation of changing facilities by gender is irrelevant. Seriously: unless you are being required by law or your business or similar to use those changing rooms, you still retain the choice to change and shower elsewhere. No one is forcing you at gunpoint to shower with gay people (at least I hope not). Your personal hangups about getting ogled are neither the fault of the gym nor their responsibility to resolve. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/312 "2013-07-01T15:30:54Z")
He is extending your argument. A business that caters to your whim will probably find itself deluged with requests, so instead of a men’s locker room and Esco’s locker room; there will be the men’s locker room, and Esco’s locker room, and a locker room for people who don’t like Bioshock and a locker room for people who wear briefs and a locker room for people with tattoos and a locker room for people who drive mopeds and a locker room for people who never drink tea and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/313 "2013-07-01T15:32:50Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > He is extending your argument. A business that caters to your whim will probably find itself deluged with requests, so instead of a men’s locker room and Esco’s locker room; there will be the men’s locker room, and Esco’s locker room, and a locker room for people who don’t like Bioshock and a locker room for people who wear briefs and a locker room for people with tattoos and a locker room for people who drive mopeds and a locker room for people who never drink tea and so on. It’d be simpler to just add a gym to a self-storage facility. Change inside your own locker! Genius! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/314 "2013-07-01T15:34:46Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Right, so now you’re telling me to go “into the closet”. > > Ultimate in hypocrisy, werent gays the ones who hated being told by society to go into the closet??! No-I’m saying that giving you closet space should be the most any establishment should do to accommodate your prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/315 "2013-07-01T15:40:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No-I’m saying that giving you closet space should be the most any establishment should do to accommodate your prejudice Right, so you want me to get into a closet ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/316 "2013-07-01T15:40:17Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > How exactly does dividing a change room into 2 = 500 individual private changing areas?? > > Did you skip math in school?? Yes,because the teacher was right-handed and that made me uncomfortable. I can’t help it - it’s how I was made. Stop oppressing me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/317 "2013-07-01T15:44:12Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Right, so you want me to get into a closet Not necessarily. Does the establishment have any toilet stalls? ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/318 "2013-07-01T15:45:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You are free to move to a different dressing room. It may not be in the same building, mind you. And it doesn’t matter who “moves”; if there are separate dressing rooms for gays and straights, you’ve got segregation. > > And your justification for imposing this segregation is that you don’t like the way things are. Well, tough. The world is not required to cater to your every whim, particularly where your whims are without objective merit, and you are not being persecuted by its failure to do so. > > No, we get it. > > Consider the level of harassment and assault women receive from men when both parties are clothed. Now imagine them naked (no, not like that). There’s a genuine, evidence-based reason not to have unisex changing rooms. Assuming that you’re not getting changed in a prison, is there similar precedent for actual (not imagined, but genuine) systemic harassment and assault of innocent straight men by gay men? If so, I’m sure you can provide a cite for it. And if not, your attempt to equate segregation of changing facilities by gender is irrelevant. > > Seriously: unless you are being required by law or your business or similar to use those changing rooms, you still retain the choice to change and shower elsewhere. No one is forcing you at gunpoint to shower with gay people (at least I hope not). Your personal hangups about getting ogled are neither the fault of the gym nor their responsibility to resolve Actually, you are wrong. As it is now most gyms have a few private stalls where people who are not comfortable being nude in front of others can shower in privacy. All I’m asking is this becomes law. Stop acting so butthurt and just accept not everyone wants to shower with gay people . ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/319 "2013-07-01T15:47:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not necessarily. Does the establishment have any toilet stalls? Thats not what you said. Stop changing the subject. You clearly want me to segregate and go into the closet. Exactly what much of society demanded of gays 50 years ago. Nice going ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005/320 "2013-07-01T15:51:37Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Thats not what you said. Stop changing the subject. > > You clearly want me to segregate and go into the closet. Exactly what much of society demanded of gays 50 years ago. > > Nice going Something tells me you might be in a closet of sorts already… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-be-comfortable-sharing-a-dressing-room-with-a-gay-person/662005.md?page=17)