Dear Let Us Pee,

There was a time when I was a child and two girls climbed onto the toilet seat in the stall next to me to peek in on me as I did my business. Sure they were innocent little children but their laughing and pointing and complete invasion of my private space still gives me the shivers.

Sincerely,

Shame on me for being a woman and having to pee!

Dear Let Me Pee,

Not quite a bathroom story but...

So, back in high school, I had short hair. One day, I was walking into the girls' locker room to change for Physical Education (P.E.) when the security guard posted at the door grabbed me and said "Just where do you think you're going?" I looked at her confusedly and said "To change?" The moment I spoke, she realized I was a girl and fumbled an apology. That in of itself wouldn't have been so bad, but after P.E. was over, she came looking for me in the locker room and gave me a hug and started apologizing profusely in front of everybody, while I was trying to change. It was uncomfortable and awkward beyond belief.

Sincerely,

Hair length does not equal gender

"Use your own bathroom"

"Use Your Own Bathroom" U People Story (01.08.7) - Click here for another funny movie.

In men's room

Dear Let Us Pee,

Ironically, I was never given any trouble using the women's room when I transitioned to my correct gender even very early on in transition I had no problem fitting in whilst in the powder room. However that being said, as a 5'2" tall and 110 lbs "man" with long hair I would routinely be given trouble whenever I was in the men's room. This went on even before I ever had any plans to transition.

I always knew I wanted to be a woman, but being that I went to a Christian private school I had no idea that there was any possible way to transition effectively until College Biology classes. But my gender identity issues did cause me to choose to wear my hair long and I also often wore ear-ring(s). Many times while I was standing at the urinal or washing my hands I would have a man question if he was in the right place or if I was. And at one point while I was actually peeing at a urinal I was asked to leave the bathroom and building entirely because two men questioned if I "truly was a man" and the owner "didn't want any trouble." I figured he meant they were so disturbed that he couldn't keep me safe so I left.

Again, I find it comical looking back at it, because many of my brothers and sisters in the trans world have issues after transition in the bathroom, I for one, had trouble in the bathroom as a Cis person. Overall I see it as one more point of proof I now truly am the person God meant for me to be.

Sincerely,

I was trying to use the bathroom society told me to use at the time

Washroom follies

Dear Let Us Pee,

When I was in a a women's trades program, we pretty much had to dress in a way that let us practice carpentry and plumbing. And a woman followed me out of the washroom and interrogated me, not believing that I was female.

This is pretty mild. Because I avoid washrooms in malls, and anywhere that serves alcohol (and if I can't pee there, I won't shop there), and because I live in a progressive city and because my body language is only semi-androgynous, this is the worst story I have.

Some of my friends have been hit in the head with grocery bags. One had security phoned on her. Another used a washroom in a pub with other women. This guy only gave her a dirty look at first, but after the pub closed, he followed her outside where he started screaming "faggot" and trying to punch her.

Sincerely,

If I can't pee safely, I won't shop at your store. And neither will any of my friends.

Dear Let Us Pee,

I've been sexually harassed by a woman in the female toilets when (and this was pretty much verified by later events) she read me as trans, and apparently thought it was appropriate to walk up to me, introduce herself, and suddenly grope my breasts.


Sincerely,

I don't like to be touched by strangers either

Dear Let Us Pee,

I was at a fancy dinner in Chicago for a birthday celebration for my grandfather in law. It was at some swank hotel, and we had to dress up. I was wearing nice black pants, a button down and a nice vintage vest. My spouse and her sisters, all wearing dresses of some kind or other, and we all went to the women's restroom together. As is the case with fancy places like this, there was an attendant in the bathroom. She was also wearing black pants, a button down, and a vest. When I walked in with my spouse and her sisters, she did a double take and started to say something. I nicely cut her off mid sentence. She was wearing almost exactly the same clothes I was in, but didn't think of that at all.

From

I should not have to wear a dress just to use the women's room

Let Us Pee

Have you ever been harassed in a public bathroom because of your gender, perceived gender, gender expression, or perceived sexual orientation? If so send me your story and I will post it anonymously. Email it to letmepee@gmail.com

Why? Because I have heard countless stories of GLBT people or people perceived to be GLBT being harassed in public restrooms... for what you might ask? Just trying to pee...

Everyone deserves to be able to use the restroom in peace.