Using the restroom should be a straightforward task: find a toilet, take care of business, wash your hands, and move on. Yet, for transgender and nonbinary individuals, this simple act is often fraught with anxiety and fear. A recent study highlights that transgender teens in schools with restrictive bathroom policies are at greater risk of sexual assault. These limitations essentially deny trans and nonbinary individuals the right to use facilities that align with their gender identity, which is a discriminatory practice.
To clarify, denying someone access to a bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity is a clear form of transphobia. If you believe restroom access should be determined by anatomy rather than gender identity, it indicates a misunderstanding of the difference between sex and gender. Enforcing such policies reflects deep-seated biases and perpetuates bigotry. The notion that safety in bathrooms is based solely on physical attributes is rooted in baseless fears.
Some argue that gender-neutral bathrooms or policies allowing individuals to use facilities that match their gender identity increase the risk of sexual violence against women and children. In reality, no policy can prevent someone intent on committing a crime. Allowing transgender women to use women’s restrooms does not invite predatory behavior; men willing to harm others do not require disguises. In fact, since 2004, numerous bathroom-related sexual crimes have been committed by cisgender men, who did not disguise themselves as women to infiltrate female spaces.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reveals that 8 out of 10 rape victims knew their assailants, and a staggering 96% of individuals who abuse children are male—specifically cisgender males. Transgender and nonbinary individuals are not pedophiles or rapists; rather, they are often the ones at risk. The danger lies in denying them access to bathrooms that affirm their identities.
Research from UCLA’s Williams Institute shows that 70% of transgender individuals have faced verbal harassment in gender-segregated bathrooms, with nearly 10% experiencing physical assault. An online study published in Pediatrics indicated that 25.9% of LGBTQ-identified students reported being sexually assaulted in the past year, with that figure rising to 36% among transgender and nonbinary students with restricted bathroom access.
Gabriel Thompson, a lead author of the study and a doctoral candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, stated that while previous research indicated restrictive policies draw negative attention to transgender and gender-nonbinary youth, this study provides evidence of a link to sexual violence. This connection is unsurprising, given that the LGBTQIA+ community is marginalized and faces heightened stigma and discrimination, factors that contribute to increased vulnerability to sexual assault.
The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey revealed that 47% of transgender individuals experience sexual assault in their lifetimes. When schools force transgender students to use bathrooms that do not match their identities, they effectively make these students targets for harassment and violence.
As someone who identifies as nonbinary and presents a masculine gender expression, I understand this danger all too well. My biological sex is female, but my gender identity does not align with that. Each time I enter a bathroom, I risk being confronted or misgendered. Cisgender men may react violently if they perceive their masculinity as threatened, further exacerbating the risks for individuals like me.
In public spaces, I often search for gender-neutral or unisex bathrooms; however, they are not always conveniently located. The wait for these options can draw unwanted attention to my identity. Additionally, many transgender individuals avoid using bathrooms altogether, sometimes leading to dehydration or serious urinary issues.
Clearly, restrictive bathroom access is not a solution; it endangers transgender students without improving safety for cisgender students. Research consistently shows that transgender and nonbinary individuals do not pose a threat to others in restrooms. They merely wish to use facilities and go about their day without the fear of assault.
In conclusion, bathroom access should not be a matter of life and death. It should be a basic right for everyone. For more information on related topics, you can check out this post about home insemination kits and explore additional resources on artificial insemination and tips for conceiving with a low sperm count.
Summary
Transgender and nonbinary individuals face significant risks, particularly in school environments with restrictive bathroom policies. These policies not only deny them the right to use facilities that align with their gender identity but also increase their vulnerability to sexual assault. Research indicates that the real danger lies in the discrimination faced by these individuals rather than in their presence in gendered spaces.