My answer to What do you think of the bathroom issue happening, over human rights?
Answer by Desmond Last:
I can speak with authority and experience on the ‘Bathroom Laws’. Whilst living in Sydney for about 3–5 years I used to socialise as – I do not like the descriptions so I will use the term ‘Gender Bender’.
Blessed as I am with a set of legs to die for and a personality that wanted to challenge it was an experience I excelled at (let's be blunt I was Hot) – it also allowed me to question beliefs and produce a whole fashion line – which was all copied.
I caused a stir wherever I went and unfortunately a lot of unwanted attention. It got me into a lot of trouble but it was illuminating to see prejudice at work.
The Bathroom quesion has to be dealt with. For me it was easy. I used the ladies loo. It was cleaner, safer and I did not have some (I was straight-apart from a few drugged occasions- the drugs I gave up even though they were put into my home, drug and food) guy leering at me. The most attention comes from straight guys and hot women.
I got on well with woman who never raised an objection but and it is a big but Sydney is a (in the City) liberal and had it been say 10 years earlier I many have not been so easily accepted.
As ‘Tina’ I danced my own style, sang and wrote. But in the end the need to experience had been overrun by the want to change the world and its prejudices – of all sorts.
I also wanted to meet with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda to progress Peace and out of respect to them Tina was folded away.
I was once told I could not use a Ladies loo. I held my ground (The Ivy in Sydney) and Security were called. It only happened once – they offered me the disabled loo. I only went there to casue and stri and confront – which I often did.
It took a lot of balls to walk out as I knew the whole of Sydney and who knows how many around the world were watching.
For genuine Transgenders it is a problem. I met many and their life is not easy. I once evicted, from a nightclub as Tina, a nasty little piece of work who was making some TG’s cry with his filth. But I was able to stand up for myself. Many TG’s are very soft people who cannot. They also genuinely want to transgender.
I would say this. You cannot force people not to be prejudiced. You also cannot expect people to suddenly change mid-stream that which they have been used to. Texas is not San Francisco. I would suggest that the people need a little
more time (mixed loos are an answer) and in the meantime let the hotel and bar owners make-up their own minds based on who walked in the door.
The Transgender community should be allowed to use loos that offer privacy and safety – but there is a big difference between a cross -dresser, a Drag Queen and a Transgender and the TG’s should understand that a lot of people do not know the difference.
The TG should not stop their campaign but they must enter into dialogue with the community not confrontation.
What do you think of the bathroom issue happening, over human rights?
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