I want to sincerely apologize for starting what I suspect is a thread that concerns a possibly "hot" topic of companion bathrooms, especially considering that this is my first visit to this board. However, I am looking for some real honest feedback before my next WDW trip. I also want to apologize since this is a long description. Hopefully some people will be willing to read through my post and give me some opinions.
First, let me say that I am physically capable of using any normal bathroom, so my concerns relate to a very different problem. I was born biologically female, but have lived the last 5 years of my life with a very different gender presentation. I dress as a man, have a masculine name, and am known as "he" to my friends and family. Officially, I have been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and am legally qualified to use either men's or women's bathrooms, as well as request accomadation through the ADA.
Although legally it is acceptable for me to use both men's and women's bathrooms, practically, that isn't the case. I appear at first glance to be a 20 year old guy, but am not physically male. That presents the first issue, since I cannot use many of the facilities in the men's room. More importantly, my voice is undeniably female. It is a very rare instance that you don't have to speak in a bathroom, if only to say "Excuse me" at some point. When I speak, I am no longer percieved as male, and have been harrassed, threatened, and physically thrown out of men's bathrooms. On the other hand, since I appear to be male, I face similar issues when using women's bathrooms. Although it is easier for me to "prove" that I do belong in that bathroom, I face stares, giggles, questions from children ("Mommy there is a boy in the girls bathroom"), and more importantly, security guards. I have been thrown out of women's bathrooms by security guards as well.
Therefore, I am emotionally and mentally uncomfortable in nearly every public bathroom. Beyond my own discomfort, I often face harassment and threats of violence (none at WDW so far, but you never know) to the point that I sometimes fear for my safety when using public restrooms (again, I never have feared at WDW, but it is still extremely uncomfortable).
My question comes to this board concerning the companion bathrooms in WDW. I have read many people's complaints that people use them as "Family Bathrooms" or a way to avoid a line, both of which I see as completely valid concerns. When I have used these bathrooms in the past, I have always felt extremely guilty about it. I appear to be a perfectly healthy individual with absolutely no need to be using a companion bathroom, and in many ways I do not need extra space or a single stall room for privacy. I feel guilty because I am using what for some may be the only bathroom they can use, while for me I physically could be using another bathroom. I am super fast, in the bathroom for less than 2 minutes at any time, and would never be impatient with anyone else using the bathroom. But I don't know if that is enough? Although I do have very valid emotional, mental, and physical safety reasons for not using "normal" bathrooms, I don't want to use a bathroom that is also not meant for me... At the same time, I realize that non-gender-ed bathrooms don't exist in any other form at WDW, so my choices are extremely limited.
Speaking to those of you most likely to have experiences with and opinions on these bathrooms - Does anyone have an opinion on this? If you were to see me in the parks using a companion bathroom, would you be angry (and its ok with me if you are)? Are my reason's enough to assuage my quilt? Is it ok for me to use a companion bathroom?
First, let me say that I am physically capable of using any normal bathroom, so my concerns relate to a very different problem. I was born biologically female, but have lived the last 5 years of my life with a very different gender presentation. I dress as a man, have a masculine name, and am known as "he" to my friends and family. Officially, I have been diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and am legally qualified to use either men's or women's bathrooms, as well as request accomadation through the ADA.
Although legally it is acceptable for me to use both men's and women's bathrooms, practically, that isn't the case. I appear at first glance to be a 20 year old guy, but am not physically male. That presents the first issue, since I cannot use many of the facilities in the men's room. More importantly, my voice is undeniably female. It is a very rare instance that you don't have to speak in a bathroom, if only to say "Excuse me" at some point. When I speak, I am no longer percieved as male, and have been harrassed, threatened, and physically thrown out of men's bathrooms. On the other hand, since I appear to be male, I face similar issues when using women's bathrooms. Although it is easier for me to "prove" that I do belong in that bathroom, I face stares, giggles, questions from children ("Mommy there is a boy in the girls bathroom"), and more importantly, security guards. I have been thrown out of women's bathrooms by security guards as well.
Therefore, I am emotionally and mentally uncomfortable in nearly every public bathroom. Beyond my own discomfort, I often face harassment and threats of violence (none at WDW so far, but you never know) to the point that I sometimes fear for my safety when using public restrooms (again, I never have feared at WDW, but it is still extremely uncomfortable).
My question comes to this board concerning the companion bathrooms in WDW. I have read many people's complaints that people use them as "Family Bathrooms" or a way to avoid a line, both of which I see as completely valid concerns. When I have used these bathrooms in the past, I have always felt extremely guilty about it. I appear to be a perfectly healthy individual with absolutely no need to be using a companion bathroom, and in many ways I do not need extra space or a single stall room for privacy. I feel guilty because I am using what for some may be the only bathroom they can use, while for me I physically could be using another bathroom. I am super fast, in the bathroom for less than 2 minutes at any time, and would never be impatient with anyone else using the bathroom. But I don't know if that is enough? Although I do have very valid emotional, mental, and physical safety reasons for not using "normal" bathrooms, I don't want to use a bathroom that is also not meant for me... At the same time, I realize that non-gender-ed bathrooms don't exist in any other form at WDW, so my choices are extremely limited.
Speaking to those of you most likely to have experiences with and opinions on these bathrooms - Does anyone have an opinion on this? If you were to see me in the parks using a companion bathroom, would you be angry (and its ok with me if you are)? Are my reason's enough to assuage my quilt? Is it ok for me to use a companion bathroom?
. If anyone does give you a hard time (I hope it doesn't happen, but unfortunately they can't stop jerks from going to Disney), tell them that you have a valid reason for using it, but would rather not go into it with a complete stranger in a crowded theme park. Seems reasonable to me!
