As long as people aren't lined up watching other people excrete wastes, I'm fine with whoever wants to use whatever bathroom.
Like, I'm a dude, and y'all trans men are welcome to stare at the wall right beside me. We will piss in solidarity. Y'all trans women, take the stall if you want/need, or post up and piss right along with the rest of the folks evacuating their bladders. You cis women, c'mon in, the water's fine. Just understand that there's some unwritten rules involved. And, if you haven't a penis, bring one of those funnel things for urinal usage as pissing on one's feet is considered unmanly.
When you're at the urinal, you only ever look at your neighbor if you believe they may need an ambulance. Otherwise, you pick a spot with some interesting graffiti and stare at it, but only if it is not beyond two inches to the side of the urinal you are using. If at a trough, use your shoulders as the border.
If there is no other choice, and you have to speak with someone next to you, do not look at them. Look up at the ceiling. This way, everyone knows you aren't looking at their junk, and nobody has to worry about being measured.
However, be aware that if you shake it more than twice, you're playing with it, no matter what it is. So, take it to a stall, you heathen.
If in the stall, remember the courtesy flush. It is also strongly encouraged to give a "sorry bros" if nearby stalls are occupied. Rounds of applause for extraordinarily thunderous flatulence are allowed; but please, no standing ovations.
Should you find a hole in the stall wall, be aware that it is your obligation to gently stroke anything that comes through said hole. I don't make the rules, I just follow them like everyone else does.
Also, it is imperative that when the circle jerk starts, that your hands are well lotioned, and you sing along with everyone else. It will usually be either "row, row your boat" or "Michael row your boat ashore", so make sure you have the lyrics memorized, and do try to stay on key. In the event the standard songs are not in play, it is acceptable to hum along; just don't expect much in the way of aftercare.
I would strongly encourage everyone to memorize and share these rules, since very soon all ladies' rooms will be forbidden to all. Can't have anyone that might have a penis, even if that penis is in their womb. You know how penises get in the ladies' room, jumping around, spitting on everything, leaving a mess all over the counters, throwing the sanitary supplies into any waiting receptacle (including the astonished mouths of bystanders). All of which is just flat not acceptable when said penis is in the womb still, show some respect.
My understanding is that it isn't illegal for anyone to use any toilet and it is down to the establishment to decide who can go in what toilet. I've definitely been to theatres were women take over one of the gents. Also the gents in The Philharmonic pub in the middle of Liverpool is so splendid you can ask to be shown around no matter what you sex. I often lock both sets of toilets in my local if we have a late drink and that involves a quick check to make sure they are empty.
setting aside trans people for a second - is the government going to build separate washrooms for the >1 million uk residents who were born intersex? why can’t we make policy that is grounded in reality? lawmakers shout be required to pass a basic science course
The way we educate science is we go "thus is it! But actually not but you'll learn the complexities later". Think of how they teach you the structure of the atom from highschool up to university level.
Unfortunately most people stop science education at highschool, which usually stops at "Sex is determined by the chromosomes" and doesn't complicate it further because they still gotta get to chromosome replication before the end of the chapter.
That is my understanding as well. I think that our insistence that every person needs to fit in one category or the other is almost the whole problem. I wonder how many people think to themselves "I don't want to be trans, I just want to be me."
there are different definitions of intersex. the figure you cited is correct for only the narrowest definition: visibly ambiguous genitalia at birth. by other criteria (ambiguous internal anatomy, androgen insensitivity, etc.), it can be as high as 1.7% (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex)
Edit: i read the article more closely and i don’t stand by my figure. i retarct it because it seems that there may be good reasons to use the narrower definition. nevertheless, that is still 35k people that the government won’t acknowledge.
Every time I've used the "correct" room since starting my transition I've been harrassed or SAd, guess I need to either hold it or risk that every single time from now on.
I meant: leave the trans people alone and work on real problem that the country is having. Those headline bit are manufactured for specific audience and the PM knows it. There are bigger problem than what is in the pants of people. Make toilet unisex. Solved. Next.
If a trans woman still has male genitals then its understandable that biological women might feel uncomfortble sharing such spaces...On the flip side, if a trans woman has had full reassignment surgery, then I don't see the problem with sharing the same spaces....
How would they know what genitals someone has? Did I miss the memo where we're supposed to look at other people's genitals in the toilets? I'm not on board with this.
Just make real full height stalls so no one has to share the space with anyone and all the bathrooms can be for everyone. The problem is not trans people, it's bathroom design