Yes, this is a re-post as I hosed this entire blog with my use of quotation marks on this article. I had to remove it and am now resubmitting it without any formatting. My apologies...I have spent 5 hours pulling my hair out and cussing at all that I do not understand about the new internet. Probably like the damn new math my parents complained about. Some days I do feel totally lost trying to make my brain do things that the 70's did not prepare me for...big inhale.
One of the most basic functions we all do is use the bathroom. There are times for all of us that nature calls and we happen to be in public. Most of us probably do not even think about this very much as we walk to the girl or boy restroom when in public. For those of us that gender is clearly defined this is not an issue but for those in our society that deal with any kind of gender ambiguity this can be a painful, anxiety producing and even a dangerous situation.
I have observed over the years this situation as my partner, now husband has dealt with - which bathroom do I use? One of my favorite posters is from the movie TransAmerica when the main character is standing in front of 2 restroom doors clearly marked by gender. It speaks multitudes!
Do I PASS enough today? Do my insides match my outsides?
At times it may seem very simple and clear cut to me as I so clearly see him one way and support him fully regardless. But we can go in one store and get a yes, Sir and the next a yes, Ma'am. Certainly others don't get to decide when he passes...but do they influence a part of it? We do tend to measure ourselves by others.
The decision on which restroom he uses does effect him, me and our teenager. It also can have an effect on the people in the restroom that he chooses to use. He feels they stare at him in each restroom. Our teen quit going in the same restroom with him about 1 1/2 years ago. I admit, I avoid it too and we all have spoken of this many times.
We try our best in public to look for gender neutral restrooms and I was pondering this and thought others must be in the same spot. I figure if you can't find it on the internet...it is not to be found. Sure enough I found a website that contains a database that WE ALL can be a part of building and improving with little effort.
My new mission is to locate and document gender neutral restrooms every where I go. And I want to ask you all to do the same (if you are so inclined). Either use their website or email me the information and I will update their website and our site. We will be potty activists! How worthy is that! It will be easy to do...just remember simple things when you find a restroom and it can be anywhere.
I have posted below what a complete listing looks like and what the form on the safe2pee site looks like which contains dropdown boxes with choices that are helpful. I am willing to visit the establishments to verify information too.
Currently there are 41 restrooms listed and I want to double that number by the 1st of the year. I will be posting all the current restrooms within the next couple days on the side resource column.
Happy Hunting,
Ms T
Here is the post on the site on the good ole
Wild Rose Bar
1021 E. Pike Street
SEATTLE
WA 98122-3818
Type:GenderFree
Accessible:Yes
Availability:Not set or unsure
Directions
first floor, in the back
Comment:
one genderblind, single stall, locking door bathroom and one 3 stall women's only bathroom
More Info
safe2pee.org
Bathrooms for everyone
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You may add both genderfree bathrooms or traditionally gendered single stall or locking bathrooms to this list. If a place does not exactly coorespond to an address you can try entering by lat/long
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Genderfree Single Stall or Locking (Gendered)
Accessible (more on accessibility) via the link
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