concerns that trans and non-binary people have regarding restroom accessibility and sanitation.
With the permission of my partner who is trans masculine, I would like cis people to pay attention to the following concerns that trans and non-binary people have regarding restroom accessibility and sanitation.
If it’s dirty, say something. No one should have to be okay with utter filth and neglected men’s bathrooms. It’s a privilege to not stress about how long you’ll have to wait for a stall when the person in the stall may not need it. It’s a privilege not to stress about whether or not there will be toilet paper; if the stalls have a lock on the door, or even if there is a door on the stall at all. Sometimes there isn’t even a stall, only a standing urinal.
Those concerns exist for gender nonconforming people every single day. This puts their safety and health in jeopardy when it’s easily avoidable. It would also be really rad to have menstruation supplies available.
So cis folks, what can you do?
-Leave the stall in better condition than when you came in (wipe the seat, put the seat down, put toilet paper on the holder, etc.)
_Don’t use a stall unless you absolutely have to.
_Let staff know if there is a plumbing or sanitary issue in the restroom (i.e. bio-hazard material where it shouldn’t be, no seat covers or toilet paper etc.)
_File a complaint with staff if there is no stall at all in the men’s room, you can see through the cracks in the door, broken door/lock, no toilet seat, etc.
These are just some of the burdens that cis people don’t bare but could help relieve for trans people.
These issues can lead to anything from a minor inconvenience, to medical complications, all the way to physical and sexual violence. Having to hold a full bladder can lead to UTIs, Bladder infections, as well as situational and chronic incontinence. Exposing themselves as non-cisgender in a restroom put non-binary people at an elevated risk regardless of the facility they are using.
I encourage trans and non-binary people to add anything to this thread as this is just my partner’s experience.
I highly encourage cis people to really take this in and please do something about it.
Please use your privilege and speak up.
Please share this message.
