Using the restroom should be a simple and straightforward task. We find a toilet, take care of our business, wash our hands, and move on. However, for transgender and nonbinary individuals, this everyday activity can become a source of anxiety and distress.
The Risks of Restrictive Bathroom Policies
A recent study highlights that transgender teens attending schools with bathroom restrictions face a heightened risk of sexual assault. These restrictive policies essentially send a discriminatory message that trans and nonbinary individuals cannot use the bathroom or locker room that corresponds with their gender identity.
It’s crucial to recognize that denying someone access to a bathroom that aligns with their gender identity is a form of transphobia. If you believe that restroom access should be determined by genitalia rather than gender, you may be conflating the concepts of sex and gender—these are not interchangeable. Enforcing bathroom policies based on appearance is rooted in bias, and perpetuating the notion that safety is linked to physical anatomy is based on unfounded fears.
Misplaced Concerns About Safety
The reality is that concerns about safety in bathrooms often misplace the focus. Many people mistakenly equate gender-neutral bathrooms or policies that allow individuals to use the restroom that matches their identity with increased risks of sexual violence against women and children. However, the truth is that someone intent on committing harm will not be deterred by signage. The misconception that transgender women pose a threat in women’s restrooms is unfounded; instances of cisgender men committing crimes in women’s spaces far outnumber any hypothetical scenarios. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 80% of sexual assault victims are acquainted with their perpetrators, and the vast majority of child abusers identify as cisgender males.
The Reality for Transgender and Nonbinary Individuals
Transgender and nonbinary individuals are not dangerous. In fact, they are the ones often facing danger in these situations. Research from UCLA’s Williams Institute indicates that 70% of transgender individuals have encountered verbal harassment in gender-segregated restrooms, and nearly 10% have experienced physical assault. An online study published in Pediatrics revealed that among 3,673 surveyed adolescents aged 13 to 17, 25.9% of LGBTQ-identified students reported being sexually assaulted in the past year, with the figure rising to 36% for transgender and nonbinary students who faced restrictions on bathroom access.
Gabriel Thompson, a doctoral candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and lead author of the study, noted that restrictive policies create unwanted attention for trans and gender-nonbinary teens, leading to an increased risk of sexual violence. This is a grim reality, as the LGBTQIA+ community often faces stigma and discrimination, which contributes to higher rates of sexual and physical assault. Hate crimes frequently manifest as sexual violence, and internalized phobias can provoke fear-fueled reactions.
The Impact of Restrictive Policies
The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey revealed that 47% of transgender individuals experience sexual assault in their lifetime. Schools that compel transgender students to use facilities that do not correspond with their identity are effectively placing them in harm’s way, especially when they are likely already enduring bullying.
As someone who identifies as nonbinary, I understand this danger personally. My biological sex is female, yet my gender identity and expression do not fit neatly into the binary categories of male or female. When I attempt to use a bathroom, I risk being misgendered or confronted, which heightens the potential for violent reactions, especially from cisgender men who may feel threatened.
I often seek out gender-neutral or family restrooms, but these facilities are not always conveniently located or available. The pressure to use public restrooms leads some transgender individuals to limit fluid intake or hold their bladder until it causes harm. What part of “restrictive access” seems like a sensible idea? The reality is that cisgender students are not safer, while transgender students are placed in jeopardy.
Shifting the Focus
Research supports the fact that transgender and nonbinary individuals do not increase risk for others in restrooms. The focus should shift from fear-based arguments to understanding the rights of all individuals to use facilities that align with their identity. We just want to go to the bathroom without the threat of violence or assault.
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Conclusion
In summary, transgender and nonbinary individuals face significant risks when denied access to appropriate facilities. Restrictive bathroom policies not only fail to protect cisgender individuals but also endanger those who are simply trying to live authentically.
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