Gender specific bathrooms are 'limiting' for trans people

November 11, 2016

Gender specific bathrooms are 'limiting' for trans people

Unisex facilities, typically disabled bathrooms, can be used by transgender persons, however, the community is wanting more dedicated spaces in public settings in the CBD. Photo: Hannah Martin

Transgender patrons are limited in their options to spend a penny on a night-out in Auckland, with many bars only offering gender specific bathrooms.

Auckland’s transgender community is calling for gender neutral bathrooms in public places to create safe spaces for trans people.

Rainbow Youth national manager, Toni Duder, said gender specified bathrooms were limiting, as trans people should be able to use the bathroom they identify with but were often made to feel as if they don't belong.

“It’s the look you get, the double takes, and staring.”

A survey of bars and restaurants on Karangahape Rd (K Rd), known for its LGBTI bar and club scene and Ponsonby Rd shows that four out of five establishments on K’Rd offered unisex facilities.

Along Ponsonby Rd however only two of five bars had unisex facilities.

K Rd is known for its LGBTI-friendly bar and club scene, and its ‘big name’ venues including Family Bar and Coco’s Cantina both have gender neutral bathrooms.

Duder said gender specific bathrooms can stop fun and create anxiety around socialising.

“When you don’t quite know which space you’re supposed to be in, or what space you belong to, it can cause a lot of anxiety and deter a lot of people.”

“[On school visits] we say, 'Who here has toilets for men and women at their house?', and of course nobody does, it’s all gender neutral - so why shouldn’t it be in public?”

Student nurse and transgender advocate Alley Williams began transitioning 13 years ago and despite “passing well in society” said she still experiences anxiety around bathrooms.

Ms Williams said transgender individuals who can’t pass [as the gender they identify with] would feel safer using gender neutral bathrooms.

“I’ve had very high anxiety when waiting at female facilities, thinking they might do something or say something to hurt me.

“I still have those thoughts in my head thinking something will happen one day.”

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