Panel calls for neutral bathrooms ("Transgender" Loony Alert!)

Chicago Maroon ^ | 11/21/03 | Robert Katz

[MikalM]

For most people, deciding which bathroom to use in the Regenstein Library does not require mental gymnastics. But for some, a trip to the restroom is less simple, with gay, lesbian, and transgendered students worried about the implications of which bathrooms they enter.

At the Center for Gender Studies on Wednesday night, a panel of four discussed the need for gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, specifically one in the Regenstein and one in Cobb Hall.

Members of Feminist Majority, Queers & Associates, and the Center for Gender Studies organized the panel as part of the Coalition for a Queer Safe Campus.
“Going to the bathroom is a moment where definition is very important in choosing a door,” said Mary Anne Case, one of the panelists.

She pointed out that many women’s restrooms have a caricature of a person in a dress on it. “Going into it implies that we are willing to be associated with that image. There are only two [images] to choose from. This moment involves an act of self-labeling.”

The bathrooms would materially remain the same, but both sexes would be allowed to use either one. There are already bathrooms like this in Pierce and BJ.

Bill Michel, deputy dean of the College, said that the University was just beginning to research the issue. “I was pleased that the students organized on open panel discussion to highlight the issues and encourage community discussion on the topic,” he said. “If we are to make this change it would be in order to meet the needs of members of our community.”

Michel said that he would review the practical issues and assess the impact of the change with the students who made the request.

Ana Minyan, the moderator of the panel, said that bathrooms will be called gender-neutral, rather than co-ed, because, “this terminology is generally used to refer to two sexes while the gender-neutral tends to be associated with more diversity and fluidity within the sex-gender continuum. As our aim is to make everyone, no matter what their gender and/or sexual persona is, more comfortable, we are using the term gender-neutral.”

The panelists pointed out that many of the supposed benefits of gender-segregated bathrooms are in fact weaknesses of the system. Case, who is involved with ongoing anecdotal research on gender iniquities in bathroom allotments, called her research “the toilet survey” to ridicule the disadvantages associated with conception of separate but equal.

The questionnaire asks patrons at restaurants, stadiums, and other public places to mark how many stalls and urinals are in their restroom. It also asks what additional “services” each offers (mirror, attendant, baby-changing table, etc.).

Case said that the safety of these bathrooms that appeals to many women is, in fact, an illusion. She pointed out that much male-on-female violence occurs in women’s bathrooms, perhaps because of this illusion.

“People get all worked up about [women having their own space], but then they realize it’s not as perfect as they thought,” said panelist Naomi Sobel.
“Gender is what is being policed in women’s and men’s restrooms, not sex—people react to your presentation, not your genitals,” Sobel added via e-mail.
An issue that emerged from discussion several times was the “dailyness,” or the frequency with which one is confronted with the fear of ridicule for walking into the wrong bathroom.

Red Vaughan Tremmel, another panelist, said that she knew someone who was making a cross-country road-trip and bought an RV to avoid using public bathrooms. “At first, my reaction was, ‘Oh wow, what a great idea,’ but then I thought, ‘Wow that’s sad that someone would have to go to such lengths to feel comfortable,’” she said.

Nate Claxton, another panelist, knew people who had contracted bladder infections because choosing a gender bathroom bothered them so much that they did not go to the bathroom all day.

Reaction around campus to the idea of gender-neutral bathroom was mixed. Roger Simon, a second-year in the College, agreed with the idea. “I believe that if all parts of the body were treated equally, and there was not so much emphasis on genitalia, than people could move beyond gender differences and grow mentally and socially,” he said.

Sheera Talpaz, a first-year in the College, added, “You might have a hard time getting most people to use those bathrooms, which would alienate the people you’re trying to help out.”

[ladyjane]

Years ago at the University of Massachusetts in the Student Union there were a number of conference rooms named after the counties in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One such conference room - the Middlesex Room - was located smack dab between the Men's and the Women's rooms.

[Johnny Gage]

How about 3 different restrooms:

MEN

WOMEN

OTHER??

[Moose4]

Heh. No woman is going to want to go into most mens' rooms I've ever been in...especially if they're occupied by college students hung over from the night before. Poooooootinky.

}:-)4

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm sorry, but strap yourself in. This was considered by the the NEA for ALL public schools back in 2002:

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/davidlimbaugh/dl20020227.shtml

David Limbaugh (archive)

February 27, 2002

NEA: Protection or indoctrination?

While the decades-long debate over school choice rages and a potentially landmark case concerning it is about to be decided by the Supreme Court, I thought I’d share with you a few tidbits involving recent trends in public schools. The National Education Association (NEA), the 2.6 million member teachers’ union and school choice’s most militant opponent, holds itself out as being "America’s largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education." Put aside the fact that the union is lobbying to keep inner-city children locked in inferior schools. Instead, let’s look at one of its current initiatives.

On Feb. 8, the NEA Board adopted a plan it says will make schools safe and hospitable for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students and education employees. Under the plan the union will ask school districts to protect homosexual students and staff by adopting policies that punish harassment and discrimination.

The plan doesn’t stop there. It will also encourage schools to develop factual materials for classroom discussions on homosexuality.

The NEA’s press release reports that the union will endeavor "to provide students, education employees and the general public with accurate, objective and up-to-date information regarding the needs of, and problems confronting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students." Any such information would be "nonjudgmental in terms of sexual orientation/gender identification."

There you have it: the magic word "nonjudgmental." I wonder if it would be judgmental to impart the fact that AIDs is overwhelmingly more prevalent in the gay than the heterosexual community. I wonder, too, whether the "objective" information the union would provide will encourage condom distribution -- and imply that condoms immunize you from contracting HIV?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want teachers "educating" my children about the "objective" facts regarding homosexuality and so-called alternative lifestyles. Besides, I thought liberals believed that teaching those kinds of value judgments in public schools violated the Establishment Clause.

One of the main premises of the plan is that negative attitudes toward homosexuality lead to violence against homosexuals. Only by correcting those attitudes can we stop the violence.

This tactic of promoting the gay lifestyle under the guise of preventing violence ala Hate Crimes legislation is often used by gay rights’ advocates, and sometimes to an absurd degree. For example, the United States Students Association (USSA) is pressuring this country’s universities to provide single-stall "gender neutral" restrooms to protect transgender students from harassment and assault. A USSA spokesperson explained that cross dressers "have a problem with bathrooms" that are for men or women only because "they face a risk of being assaulted if another person in there doesn’t think they belong." If they aren’t safe in the bathroom, "they won’t necessarily be able to go to college."

Aren’t existing rules and laws against violent behavior sufficient to punish those who harm homosexuals? Apparently not. That’s why certain states are passing legislation in this area.

California recently enacted the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act, which requires the state curriculum to be modified to enable students to acknowledge homosexual, lesbian, transgender and bisexual historical figures and events. Here again, the pretense is to prevent violence, but the transparent purpose is indoctrination.

I’m sure that sounds innocuous enough to the enlightened, but not to everyone. The Washington Times reports that a group of parents is suing a Novato, Calif., public school district "for allowing their children to see pro-homosexual plays at school without any prior notice or parental consent." The school’s program is called "Cootie Shots": Theatrical Inoculations Against Bigotry."

The plays exposed second through sixth graders to skits pushing homosexual themes. In one, a boy wears a dress and discusses cross-dressing; in the other, a female becomes involved with a princess rather than a prince.

The school district’s public information director stuck to the party line in defending the subject matter of the plays. "Providing a safe environment in our schools for everyone has and will always be our main priority." Hmmmm. I suppose this is why the plays were followed with question and answer sessions about what constitutes normal families and acceptance of those who choose the homosexual lifestyle.

A similar bill, "Dignity for All Students Act," is pending before the Florida legislature. It, too, would ban harassment and bullying on the basis of many things -- including "sexual orientation."

It appears that the real bullies are those who insist that their value judgments be forced on our children. Doesn’t this give you a warm and fuzzy feeling about developments in public education?

[RansomOttawa]

Ana Minyan, the moderator of the panel, said that bathrooms will be called gender-neutral, rather than co-ed, because, “this terminology is generally used to refer to two sexes while the gender-neutral tends to be associated with more diversity and fluidity within the sex-gender continuum. As our aim is to make everyone, no matter what their gender and/or sexual persona is, more comfortable, we are using the term gender-neutral.”

Nice to know all that postmodernist claptrap I had to learn as an English major has a real-life application.</sarcasm>

[hellinahandcart]

Trust me, women have just as much trouble hitting the water as men. Hygiene isn't the point.

It all comes down to this: I don't care if he sits or stands, cuts it off or tapes it between his legs---I don't want a strange man in the next stall listening to me pee.

[newgeezer]

Yeah, those crossed my mind, too, right after I posted. ;OD

[Cobra64]

You're either a MAN, a WOMAN, or an IT.

M Jackson is the IT.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"...I don't care if he sits or stands, cuts it off or tapes it between his legs---I don't want a strange man in the next stall listening to me pee."

But you can't keep him from imagining the sound. There's really no winning. Seriously, the "EXIT" strategy is best.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

A bathroom class, perhaps? "First, I majored in bathrooms, but well, the course was too hard... and the professor was too weird..."

[Cobra64]

Said to wife: "Karen you pee here and I'll also pee here."

Mr. (oops) Mrs. Kohler doesn't care.

My brother-in-law built a $900k house and put in a urinal so he wouldn't have to have a conversation with my dopey sister. BTW, non of us piss on the floor. Further, we put the TOP down on the John. (I hate to see an open toil-lette).

[RightOnline]

Some a**holes just have way, WAY too much time on their hands.

[Larry Lucido]

I accidently went into the mens room recently, fortunately no one was in it at the time. My first clue was a urinal hanging on the wall.

I get concerned when there isn't a urninal on the wall. At least in your case, the clue is more or less conclusive.

[dhs12345]

As I would say to my Mom and wife -- I understand -- I don't want some weirdo in the stall next to you either!

[aShepard]

Now for a question.

??Who's going to be the first to bitch if the human with the hanging genitalia doesn't put the seat up when "it" pee-pees??

[Ann Archy]

Roger Simon, a second-year in the College, agreed with the idea. "I believe that if all parts of the body were treated equally, and there was not so much emphasis on genitalia, than people could move beyond gender differences and grow mentally and socially," he said.

TUITIONWASTER ALERT!!!!

[Larry Lucido]

a panel of four discussed the need for gender-neutral bathrooms on campus,

And I'm sure the alumni will be thrilled to learn how their donation money will be spent.

[Cobra64]

I accidently went into the mens room recently, fortunately no one was in it at the time. My first clue was a urinal hanging on the wall.

My Dad was stationed in Oz during WWII as a LT Cmdr. His assignment was to build air bases with the Sea Bees and set up medical facilities. There were single-sex bathroom facilities. Most of the nurses, etc., had no problem squatting over the unrinals. The men didn't give a damn, all these folks were fighting a WAR. None of the women were raped or mis-handled in those facilities. On the flip-side, I'm sure a lot of sailors and nurses took care of their sexual requirements; in/on a different venue. Nuff said.

[mtbopfuyn]

You're either a MAN, a WOMAN, or an IT. M Jackson is the IT.

No, MJ passed IT status several nose jobs ago.

[Cobra64]

I don't want a strange man in the next stall listening to me pee.

Don't go on a camping trip. Wait until the mare your riding stops and leaves a whizz, or the rear end ups and drops some manure. Stay home in Peoria, you'd never survive on a ranch.