Careful What You Ask for Seattle (No Good Deed Goes Unpunished)

[KQ]

Well, it seems like Seattle could have a right mess on their hands. On its face, just reading this article it certainly sounds as if this individual is abusing the law and/or making a statement which brings up an interesting question: How are you going to police this new policy?

Man in women's locker room cites gender rule

Seattle Parks and Recreation is facing a first-of-a-kind challenge to gender bathroom rules. A man undressed in a women's locker room, citing a new state rule that allows people to choose a bathroom based on gender identity.

It was a busy time at Evans Pool around 5:30pm Monday February 8. The pool was open for lap swim. According to Seattle Parks and Recreation, a man wearing board shorts entered the women's locker room and took off his shirt. Women alerted staff, who told the man to leave, but he said "the law has changed and I have a right to be here."

"Really bizarre," MaryAnne Sato said. "I can't imagine why they would want to do that anyway!"

Sato uses the locker room a few times a week, but she says this is a first for her. It's also a first for Seattle Parks and Recreation. Employees report that the man made no verbal or physical attempt to identify as a woman, yet he still cited a new rule that allows bathroom choice based on gender identification.

The issue drew protesters from both sides to Olympia on Monday. Opponents claim the rule opens up bathrooms to voyeurs but supporters say that's an unrealistic fear.

No one was arrested in this case and police weren't called, even though the man returned a second time while young girls were changing for swim practice.

"Sort of works against the point they're trying to make. They're causing people to feel exposed and vulnerable with the intention of reducing people feeling exposed and vulnerable," said pool regular Aldan Shank.

The man's protest, if that's what it was, hurts the greater cause, Shank says.

As far as policy to protect everyone, Seattle Parks spokesman David Takami says they're still working on the issue. Right now, there's no specific protocol for how someone should demonstrate their gender in order to access a bathroom. Employees just rely on verbal identification or physical appearance, and this man offered neither.

"This didn’t seem like a transgender issue to staff – someone who was “identifying” as a woman," Takami wrote in a statement to KING 5. "We have guidelines that allow transgender individuals to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. We want everyone to feel comfortable in our facilities."

[The AD]

Interesting. I swim at that pool sometimes (this is the pool at Green Lake). The "young girls [who] were changing for swim practice" are probably on the team I swim with--Cascade--because we use that pool for age group practices.

It's certainly a tough situation. If the guy says he identifies as a woman he has the right to use the women's locker room according to the law. It shouldn't matter that he doesn't "look" like a woman.

[Yonder_River]

This is our neighborhood pool.

If any hotties end up in the men's locker room, I'll be sure to report back.

[hikesalot]

It's certainly a tough situation. If the guy says he identifies as a woman he has the right to use the women's locker room according to the law. It shouldn't matter that he doesn't "look" like a woman.

But how do folks realistically know if a man is being honest, though? You know some men will claim it's legal just so they can enter the women's restroom (or vice versa). How do they sort that out?

[babybear]

yea this is going to be a weird issue to work through in the next several yrs

for the exhibitionists and voyeurs it's greatest time to be alive

[babybear]

This is our neighborhood pool.

If any hotties end up in the men's locker room, I'll be sure to report back.

haha totally np the other way around

[BmillsSkier]

One of the waspy school districts around us just put a transgender/gender neutral bathroom in for students in the high school who felt uncomfortable using the bathroom of the sex that they identify with. Assuming to avoid situations like this.

Newspaper article I read a month later said students report that all it's used for is for fucking and doing drugs. I'm sure they're pleased.

[The AD]

I've got mixed feelings about this. I feel like the greater good is for the transgender person to use the locker room designated for their biological gender. This may make them uncomfortable, but their presence in the locker room of the other sex is going to make lots of other people uncomfortable. Why does the transgender person's comfort trump the comfort of everyone else?

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I've got mixed feelings about this. I feel like the greater good is for the transgender person to use the locker room designated for their biological gender. This may make them uncomfortable, but their presence in the locker room of the other sex is going to make lots of other people uncomfortable. Why does the transgender person's comfort trump the comfort of everyone else?

You'll probably have to consult DBS and Mtngrrrl on this one...

[bmg97]

Fucking world is doomed.

[mtngirl79]

At a casual glance, if it looks like a man..
Men's. Looks like a woman? Womans.

If you have the wrong genitalia use a changing room/curtained shower. Add these if they do not exist.

If it's borderline ignore it.

[mtngirl79]

Ohhh and we might have to get past our fear oh the human body/nudity a little bit.. ie naked does not equal porn
.

[2FUNKY]

Fer Fucks sake, this is an easy fix. If you have a dick, use the men's, a vagina, use the women's.

[char_]

Gee, who would have thought that wierdo's, pervs and pedophiles would seek to abuse this new law?

[2FUNKY]

The first "guy" I see follow my daughter into the bathroom, I will gladly drag him out by his esophagus.

[mtngirl79]

So people are swimming at a pool. The women (the ones we are concerned about or are you guys worried some girl might see your peepee?) were swimming with only a thin layer of wet lycra covering their boonies and hooha....

Perhaps make children only rooms where only children and their adult chaperones are allowed?

[char_]

So people are swimming at a pool. The women (the ones we are concerned about or are you guys worried some girl might see your peepee?) were swimming with only a thin layer of wet lycra covering their boonies and hooha....

Perhaps make children only rooms where only children and their adult chaperones are allowed?

It seems somewhat obvious that if this continues then Seattle taxpayers will be paying for individual gender neutral changing facilities.

[Ski to Be]

Fer Fucks sake, this is an easy fix. If you have a dick, use the men's, a vagina, use the women's.

^^^^^^This. This person needs to pony up and get the work done so that their reality matches their mindset. Women would be more comfortable if the person in the changing room has the proper equipment for said changing room.

[Sirshredalot]

It seems somewhat obvious that if this continues then Seattle taxpayers will be paying for individual gender neutral changing facilities.

Which will probably be used primarily for drugs and fucking.

[mtngirl79]

I don't go to public pools but every gym I have been to has has private changing room options. Single showers, bathroom stalls, and some just changing rooms. The last gym I belonged to didn't have gender rooms at all, just single rooms.

[BmillsSkier]

The first "guy" I see follow my daughter into the bathroom, I will gladly drag him out by his esophagus.

Just hope she's not too athletic for you.

[The AD]

I don't go to public pools but every gym I have been to has has private changing room options. Single showers, bathroom stalls, and some just changing rooms. The last gym I belonged to didn't have gender rooms at all, just single rooms.

This is probably more common in women's locker rooms. My experience is that it's pretty uncommon in men's.

[2FUNKY]

Just hope she's not too athletic for you.

I laughed!

[mtngirl79]

I'm wondering if my opinion would be different if I had a hot body... but I will change at a trailhead behind my car door or skinny dip at a lake if the likely hood of others appearing is slim... and I don't worry about it. They will look away or they will like it.

[mmmm...pow!]

Even if I "identify" as a female Filipino midget accountant, in reality I'm still a 6'2 white dude who hates math. Thank god we have these laws to protect my fantasies!