so it seems that history repeats itself. all of this has happened before, and it will all happen again. the concept, so poignantly revisited time and time again through out history, was brought to mind while reading marti’s post from the mothership (or would that be the motherblog).

admittedly, i have a history (there’s that word again) of mixed feelings on the issue, but i find that as time progresses, i’m of the mind that people should use the bathroom that reflects who they are. and it’s no one’s business what’s in my pants. and that goes for the person in the next stall, as well. you know, in all the years i’ve been using public ladies rooms, i’ve never seen a naked body save my own. not that i’ve been looking, mind you. and every multiple person public rest room i’ve visited all have stalls. funny how that works – no one sees what’s in my pants, and i don’t see what’s in other people’s pants.

perhaps this time, we can break the cycle. because really, i don’t want to relive this nightmare.

so we had a department meeting today at work with one of the executives who flew in from hq. at the end, we had a q & a during which i asked a question. apparently, a couple of women took issue with me, which i found out about later from a friend who was sitting close to them. there was some talk that they’d better not see me in the women’s restroom…

so yeah, apparently i’m out at work. at least to some. fortunately, we have a strict policy on diversity, and i’m fortunate to work for a company that is quite progressive on glbt rights. i’m not worried.

it’s funny, i’m so over being trans. it’s ancient history. so i was a bit surprised to hear that it was still an issue for these two women. frankly, i’d be interested to see how they handle seeing me in the restroom. it’s bound to happen sooner or later. so yeah, panty check? i.d.? whatever.

the houston press did a piece on safe2pee.org called even transsexuals need to pee somewhere. i particularly enjoyed the image:

i’ve added a couple of locations to the phoenix area safe2pee list in the past. looking at the site, it appears that they had a slight database issue, so if you’ve added locations in the past, you may want to check to ensure they’re still there. if not, the rest of us looking to pee would appreciate it if you’d re-enter the locations.

via the sentinal:

TRANSGENDER university students have been given their own set of toilets at their union’s nightclub.

Staffordshire University Students’ Union nightclub, LRV, is believed to be one of the first in the country, and the first venue in Stoke-on-Trent, to have gender-neutral toilets.

They were introduced for the first student night of the new semester last Wednesday.

A decision was made by the student council in December to trial the toilets.

isn’t that nice of them, that us trans people can pee outside of our homes. at the very least, the “real” people won’t have to share their toilets with the likes of us.

so much so, that today is the second day in a row that i’ve called in sick to work. regarding the nature of my illness, i’ll say that periodic doses of pepto bismol over the past two days have not had the desired result. i’ll take this opportunity to apologize for comments i may, or may not, have made on other people’s blogs over the last two days. i know not what i say.

if this continues, i’ll be stopping off at the doctor. not that they’ve ever been able to resolve any of my stomach or gastrointestinal issues.

that is all.

…Susan has said all along that she’s not like other transgender people. She feels uncomfortable even looking at some, “like I’m seeing a bunch of men in dresses.”

Eventually, she decided it was too early for transgender people to be federally protected. People need more time, more education, she says. “The transgender groups boo me, now, when I speak. Isn’t that ironic?“

But I don’t blame the human rights groups from separating the transgender people from the protected groups. Most Americans aren’t ready for us yet,” Susan says. Transgender people need to be able to prove they’re still viable workers — especially in the mainstream.

the best is this comment from miss understood:

Wow, what an idiot. I hope Susan gets hauled out a womens room when she’s really gotta go and ahe hershey squirts in her granny panties.

umm, boo.

h/t autumn

see what happens when you mess with the trans? it makes you turn your upstanding establishment into a gay nightclub. our nefarious agenda is working.

according to az central, anderson’s fifth estate night club has settled the ongoing dispute with scottsdale’s most famous transwoman, michele de lafreniere. i’m glad they were able to come to an agreement.

i remember last year, this dispute resulted in the now infamous cartoon image originally posted in the phoenix new times in penile proportions:

i’ll have to stop by the now infamous nightclub at some point. of course, i’ll be sure to choose the appropriate restroom should the need arise. perhaps i can avoid that whole issue by drinking less than my usual fair.

i particularly enjoyed the comment left by mrmom on the az central piece:

i was attending a job fair at the phoenix convention center today and noticed that they have a family bathroom on the ground floor of the west building (link is a pdf). i try to remember to add gender-free public bathrooms to safe2pee.org, which is a web project “to create a resource where people who do not feel comfortable with traditional public restrooms can find safe alternatives, and to support advocacy and research to further the cause of gender free, inclusive bathrooms.”

having faced situations in which i was personally uncomfortable using traditional gendered public restrooms myself, i am totally committed to adding to this resource whenever i can. i know i’ve linked to this site in the past, but i don’t believe one can promote this project too much. oh, and they also have a blog.

i’ve seen a few posts in the blogosphere about peeing in public accommodations so i thought i’d repost the link to safe2pee.org – “a resource where people who do not feel comfortable with traditional public restrooms can find safe alternatives, and to support advocacy and research to further the cause of gender free, inclusive bathrooms.”

here’s the link: safe2pee.org