Ong and Davis are members of the Gay and Lesbian
Association.
By Erwin Ong and Masen
Davis
In a statement heralding the arrival of the transgender
liberation movement, the national chapter of the United States
Students Association recommended that university bathrooms become
gender neutral in order to accommodate the needs of the transgender
community at UCLA.
First, a primer for those who are unfamiliar with the
transgender community in general.
“Transgender” is used as an umbrella term to
represent all people whose gender identity does not easily match
the social expectations of their biological sex, including (but not
restricted to) transsexuals, the intersex community, transvestites,
androgynes and drag queens and kings. All these groups might use a
variety of other terms to self-identify.
“Transgender” is the T in LGBT ““ which stands
for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The transgender
community joins the gay rights and liberation movements because
gender orientation (a transgender issue) and sexual orientation
(seen more as an LGB issue) are intertwined issues. They both
challenge the notions of gender that assign masculinity to males,
femininity to females and heterosexuality to everyone.
While the LGBT community can unite in championing certain
causes, the transgender community may have some needs that differ
from those of the wider LGB community.
One difference stems from the outward appearance of some
transgender people. Unlike many who are members of minorities
related to sexual orientation, a transgender person’s
physical appearance may automatically “out” them. They
may not be able to choose who they come out to. Thus, special
accommodations need to be made for these differences.
Generally, issues that the transgender community might face
include systematic discrimination because they don’t identify
as either male or female.
Since much of society is gendered ““ male/female
antiperspirant, male/female sports ““ those who don’t
easily fit into these categories are often targeted for harassment
from very young ages. The discrimination spills over into
incredibly high rates of unemployment, family rejection, hate
crimes and domestic violence. Apart from these, there is the threat
of economic instability due to the high cost related to hormones
and surgery, as well as legal issues related to changing documents
(passports, driver’s licenses and green cards); often a
person may be female according to the state government but male
according to the the federal government. Also, there are instances
of denial of health coverage due to a person’s transsexual
status.
Bathrooms and other sex-specific facilities represent one of the
most visible institutional barriers for the transgender community.
Transgender people often face verbal harassment, physical assault
and threats of legal sanction merely for attempting to relieve
themselves between classes. Often transgender people have found
themselves turned away from the men’s and women’s rooms
alike, told repeatedly that they don’t belong in either rest
room. Thus transgender people may limit their time on campus,
preferring to utilize private facilities where gender is not an
issue.
The solution to this dilemma is the creation of single-person,
gender-neutral bathrooms, which would allow transgender and gender
variant people to enjoy a basic right ““ to relieve themselves
as necessary without the threat of hate violence and harassment.
Unisex bathrooms alone won’t suffice, as it is the presence
of other people in the bathrooms, rather than the
transgender’s ability to use either bathroom, that is the
source of the problems they face.
Although the USSA recommendation was spurred by the needs of
transgender students, faculty and staff, gender-neutral bathrooms
promise to benefit more than the transgender people on campus. LGB
people often face similar challenges regarding rest rooms and
public facilities. This accessibility of bathrooms would allow all
students, faculty and staff to focus on their scholarship and work
rather than worrying about their bladder.
Currently, the university has been accommodating in dealing with
the needs of the UCLA’s transgender community. The Ashe
Center provides services that cover the medical needs specific to
the transgender community, and Recreation is currently working to
construct private showers and changing areas in the locker
rooms.
Along with the single-person, gender-neutral bathrooms, the next
step involves asking the University of California to add gender
identity to their anti-discrimination policy, which already
includes protected classes such as race and sex.
Other things can be done to help the transgender community.
Don’t assume that your LGB friends are not members of the
transgender community. Create an open space in which to discuss
gender issues in your organizations.
Be a good ally ““ if you have a transgender friend who is
afraid to use a public rest room, offer to accompany them. Realize
that transgender people come from all cultures and all will have
their own understandings of gender. Accept people for their
character, not their body. Biology is not destiny.