Damn...

[kengr]

Recently I posted a comment in one of the trans communities about how all the folks against TG rights always go for the "predators" will use the law to go into womens bathrooms.

I said that we ought to hit them with before and after stats from the places that already have such laws. I noted that I'd never heard of anyone doing that and I opined that it didn't fit the mindset of most predators.

Well, the local news just had an item about a registered sex offender who was caught hanging around girls locker rooms in a local park. Wearing women's clothing.

*beats head on desk*

On the other hand, even if the person *was* TG, it wasn't legal for them to be in a *locker room*,. That's one of the exceptions to the law here...

Even so, I shoulda known better. It was like saying "what could possibly go wrong?" :-(

Comments

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

I'm sure this varies by location, but in many jurisdictions it's legal to use the other gender's restroom, particularly in cases of great urgency. Occasionally this has surprised previous occupants - although at least anecdotally there's an interesting disparity. Women seem to worry about it more and men seem to be more often surprised by the actual event. I'm not sure if anyone has hard numbers on that.

Not relevant to the sex offender question except to note that there are a lot more normal people with momentary plumbing needs.

[kengr]

The thing is, in most locations they'll let you *get away with* using the other restroom in an "emergency". Even more so, if it's women using the mens room.

But most places if anybody complains, you *can* be arrested. It's not until laws are enacted that include protection for gender identity/gender expression that you can't be arrested for it.

Portland has had such laws for a number of years. Oregon for only a few.

Under either set of laws, Brooke can (and has) used the women's bathroom.

But trying to use the women's locker room or some types of dressing rooms/changing rooms would get me arrested if anybody complained.

Only time anybody has complained in the restroom was when Brooke was showing a friend where the women's room at a restaurant was. She freaked a bit as I followed her in. I pointed out that I needed top go too, and certainly couldn't use the men's room dressed the way I was.

However, in *spite* of the laws, there are folks that'll cause trouble. A year or two back a local pre-op TS had an unpleasant encounter with mall security at Lloyd center.

Seems some woman had complained that she's seen the TSes penis (unlikely according to the TS). They escorted the TS to the office and called the cops. Who asked the mall security folks why they were wasting the police departments time.

And, of course, they never even considered that they *should* have held the complainer for being a Peeping Thomasina..

Which is why I often avoid restrooms when out as Brooke. :-(

I really need to look up the Oregon, Washington, and Portland/Multnomah County laws on the subject and make printouts to stash in my wallet or purse.