What to Do If There Are No Gender-Neutral Restroom Available

If you’re a transgender person or someone who identifies as something other than 100% male or female, finding a gender-dividing restroom can be something of a challenge.

You may find yourself in a position where there are no gender-neutral restrooms available.

What do you do in this situation? As a transgender, chances are you’ve come across at least one segregated restroom that didn’t fit your needs.

You may even have run up against other problems finding a gender-neutral restroom while trying to use public restrooms.

You may find yourself in this situation, which puts you in an awkward position.

While many places have been improving their restrooms by making them gender-neutral, there are still some that have not done so.

When it comes to being a crossdresser, you may want to take care in deciding what restroom to use.

If it is a place you go to often, you may want to ask if they have a gender-neutral option.

Additionally, good signage can help maintain gender-neutral facilities so that people know how to find them even if someone else isn’t there to direct them.

Transgender carry the burden of the gender binary and the anxiety that comes with public restrooms.

If you’re a transgender in a department store, you might need to use a restroom.

This can be pretty tricky, but luckily, there are ways to get around it.

The first thing you should do is ask the department store if they have a gender-neutral restroom.

If there isn’t one, then you can use the restroom for the gender you identify as.

It would be best if you were allowed to use the restroom you are most comfortable with.

You should be able to know that the restroom you’re using meets your defined standards.

1. If there are no gender-neutral restrooms available, go to the lady’s room

It’s a common experience for transgender and gender-nonconforming people: you go to a public restroom, and you realize there aren’t any restrooms for your identified gender, and most likely, there aren’t any restrooms for your preferred gender.

What do you do? For starters, let’s talk a little about gender-neutral restrooms and how to identify them.

Gender-neutral restrooms are restrooms that are available for transgenders who don’t feel comfortable using a restroom for a particular gender.

These restrooms are available in many different places; however, it may not be immediately obvious which restrooms are gender-neutral.

Gender-neutral bathrooms are often single-stall and in places like restaurants, they’re usually located in the back of the building.

As a transgender person, you should never be harassed for using the restroom, even if, for some reason, you do not look like someone who belongs there.

If you are unsure of which restroom to use, simply choose the one that is most convenient for you.

The women’s restroom is the most traditional one and the safest.

Anyone who has been raised male in a patriarchal society may feel more comfortable using the men’s room, but the women’s is the safest.

If you can’t hold it, go to the men’s room, but immediately come out when you hear anyone else in there.

2. If someone challenges you for being in the wrong restroom, what can you do?

There’s no denying that accessing public bathrooms has been problematic for the transgender community.

Many people object to the idea of transgendered/transsexual people accessing bathrooms of their choice and coming under scrutiny for simply trying to take care of bodily needs.

In light of such situations, it’s important to remind everyone that such hatred or discrimination is unacceptable – in fact, it should be looked down upon from all sides!

One should have the right to use whatever bathroom they are most comfortable with, and nobody has a right to stop them from going about their business because it’s a private business, after all.

Transgender too, have the right to use any restroom in any facility or business, which allows the general public to access that facility.

However, anyone who is challenged for using the “wrong” restroom should calmly explain that there are no gender-neutral restrooms in that facility and that they do not feel comfortable using the men’s room.

Whenever in such a situation, you should remain calm. If you get mad or feel harassed, that’s only going to make things worse.

Do not yell or fight back; instead, explain to them why you are in the restroom that you are in.

Explain that you are going through a change and that you don’t feel comfortable using the men’s room.

Be polite, and the situation should be resolved.

If someone starts getting out of hand with you, you can always contact authorities or the security on duty.

3. If someone becomes aggressive or threatening, find a staff member or security guard and ask for help

Not everyone is always in a great mood, and sometimes, even the kindest people can provoke anger or hostility.

It’s important to always keep in mind that your safety should be one of the top priorities when it comes to dealing with hostile people.

If someone is being especially aggressive or threatening toward you, make sure to find a staff member or security guard and ask for help.

If they follow you into the bathroom and ask you to leave, politely refuse and ask them to call security.

They’re trained to handle these situations and can keep you safe.

If someone becomes aggressive, you should ask to speak to the manager.

To help in potentially dangerous situations, do not attempt to talk to them.

Try to remove yourself from the situation. Quickly leave the area, and find a staff member or security guard, and ask for help.

If a threatening encounter is occurring, keep cameras rolling and take pictures and videos of the situation.

This can be useful in reporting and filing a police report and will help staff keep the situation under control.

If a situation escalates and staff isn’t present, make sure to let a staff member know as soon as possible.

While you may not be breaking the law, it’s important to follow your ethics, and this creates a safer environment for everyone.

4. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable using the restroom that corresponds with your gender identity, ask a friend or family member to accompany you

If you feel afraid or uncomfortable using a public restroom, it’s okay to ask a friend or family member to accompany you.

If you don’t want to ask anyone, you can always find a restroom that is a single stall.

Also, if you know someone in the building, you can ask them to show you the restroom that you can use.

If you are in a situation that you feel uncomfortable with, you should always find another option!

When you feel uncomfortable using the restroom that corresponds with the gender that you were assigned at birth, you can practice using the restroom with the gender you identify with.

Another option is to visit a gender-neutral or single-occupancy restroom.

These are restrooms that are available for anyone to use.

Also, you could contact your local queer or crossdressing service center for more assistance.

5. Don’t let anyone stop you from using the restroom that feels safest and most comfortable for you

With the rise of the trans movement, it’s becoming accessible for trans individuals to use restrooms in public locations.

But often, they are forced to use restrooms that go against their own gender identity and risk having their identity or legal documents questioned or, even worse, facing harassment or assaults.

If you are a transgender, know that you are allowed to use whichever restroom you feel safest and most comfortable in.

Trans or gender non-conforming individuals may feel uncomfortable using the restroom that they are assigned to at birth.

When this happens, you should use the restroom that instills the most confidence in you.

Signs on bathroom doors aren’t the only indicator of which restroom someone should use.

Every human has the right to bodily autonomy.

Everyone has the right to their own body and what they choose to do with it.

You don’t have to use a gendered restroom unless you want to.

Everyone, especially transgender, should be able to ease themselves in peace.

Sometimes, trans and non-binary people feel worried when they’re in a situation and are not sure of what to do.

For example, if you can’t find a gender-neutral bathroom, it’s perfectly okay to use any bathroom that suits your needs at that moment.

You need to do whatever is most convenient for you because, ultimately, you need to make yourself comfortable.

In many ways, a transition is an ongoing process, and it can be difficult to get it right all of the time; remember to do what makes sense to you at the time.

While restroom access is important, it’s more important that you feel safe and comfortable.