Maybe, but only marginally. Looking at the situation objectively, the man was hiding in a stall, so the only point at which his presence might have been seen as unusual that would change with a universal bathroom law would be when he entered. Once the person is in the stall, it's significantly more difficult to determine whether they're masculine or feminine - especially if they're making efforts to hide or be unobtrusive. Regardless of gender, it's not normal to loiter in a restroom, and if you're not in a stall, you'll be noticed.
Does applying make-up count as loitering? I can easily foresee, if anyone is allowed in any bathroom, a man dressed in drag to pose as trans sticking around applying make-up for however long he likes without question.
If this is true, then that could work now - no laws required. I've seen some very convincing crossplay and drag queens.
Sadly, many NYC "dive" bars look exactly like that to this day, but without the water/liquid on the floor (and a few have the water).Or... just emulate CBGB's (in)famous bathroom...
One look, and you'll seriously want to just hold it in until you get home...
Sure, and they will if they have to. If someone is so set on being a rapist or a pervert that they're willing to dress in drag to get into the ladies restroom, then there's no reason to assume that they wouldn't be willing to take steps to make it more convincing.
I'm not disagreeing with you but having the rules they way they are make it so a predator needs to take more steps to get away with their crime. It's like how locks are more to keep honest people honest - a dedicated thief can still pick the lock after all. But it deters those who would take an easy opportunity.
I guess I don't see much difference in the ease of opportunity between the two scenarios you're describing. The fact that one takes more work than the other is largely irrelevant because in both cases, the perpetrator would have to plan the deed in advance. It would make it easier for a person to walk into a restroom that they did not belong in, but it's not like that's especially difficult to do now. Heck, I've walked into the ladies room a few times by accident over the years, and no one ever called the cops.
Pavel Mosko said:
Having worked as a janitor at two schools and a church, I have found that women's rooms were often dirtier than men's rooms. Some of my co-workers insisted the women's rooms were more often dirtier. I'd say it was about 50/50, but prior to that job I had the impression women's rooms would be generally cleaner and they absolutely were not.
I'm sure Transgender women have been going to women for years . And Transgender men have been going to male bathrooms for years. And people never even noticed.
99% of the stores I go into still have a men's and women's restroom... I don't think that's the crux of the argument.
I think argument is over whether or not transgender people can use the facilities they more closely identify with, correct?
Many conservatives have made this their "hill to die on" so-to-speak.
I don't think they've thought through the alternative.
Here's the example I've provided before.
This is a transgender man (born female, but then transitioned) named Shawn Stinson.
View attachment 301585
Based on the law that they want, Shawn has to the use the facilities associated to the sex they were at birth (female)
The same people who are angry at idea Shawn going into the men's room to urinate, would be the exact same people who would promptly call the cops if they saw Shawn walk into the women's bathroom while their wife or daughter were in there...guaranteed.
...and I guess, based on the rules they claim they want, it looks like the recently crowned Miss Nevada (transgender woman) is going to be showering with their sons at the local rec center.
...something tells me they'd have a problem with that too...just a hunch.
So, if we're keeping score.
They'd be mad if a trans woman used the women's facilities
They'd be mad if a trans woman used the men's facilities
They don't want gender neutral facilities
Not leaving a whole lot of options for people here are they...
Seems to me that your daughter is more likely to be freaked out by seeing a transman, who looks like a man, in the ladies' room than she would a transwoman who looks like a woman.
Seems like it would be a lot easier for a straight guy just to grab someone in the parking lot or hallway than it would for a to dress as a woman to pass in order to go into the ladies' room and hope for a victim alone.
This is what i was going to say. If she saw Chaz Bono in there, who looks like a man and even has facial hair, but was born a female, she would probably be more likely freaked out by that.
I'm sorry to hear your daughter experienced that and that the criminal got away. I'm also very sorry for the trauma it caused her and your whole family.
Maybe it’s because I was born in the 1946-1964 generation, but if you’re looking to “protect the children”; having strict, fast, zero-tolerance “rules” is probably not a good way to do it.
She has a right to feel however she feels or wants to feel, but there are unfortunately no guarantees on feelings; it's just not possible to guarantee feelings. Even the Constitution guarantees the right to "Lie, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happness.". It can't guarantee happiness (or any other feelings).
