Wednesday, May 23, 2012

gendered access



[picture: plain black and white drawing of a toilet and universal wheelchair symbol on the left, with black text wrapped to the right]
"Oh gendered bathrooms and in/accessibility, you little scamps!
These two symbols right here re all i need when choosing which bathroom to use. Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessary for you to know what genitals i possess in order for you to provide safe facilities for the general public's needs. Really, it isnt. i know it seems ridiculous that private information about a person's genitals not be made public and up for scrutiny right then and there with a total stranger, while im trying not to piss myself, but let's just try it out, ok? Like you, im in there to use the washrooms; and often the only wheelchair accessible bathroom (if there is one at all) is only in one of two gendered bathrooms; and often, its in a washroom gendered for people who dont look like me.

i dont have control over that. And sometimes, i dont have super great control over my bladder,; so if you prefer i dont piss in the hallway, we can have this debate later. Maybe over a cup of tea and an exchange of names, if youre really curious, i'll tell you about my genitals, and you can tell me all about yours and how theyre used to control your free access to public spaces too, hm? And if you dont ever have to face scrutiny when youre just trying to piss, consider yourself lucky and just STFU."