Should a pre-op Transexual (wo)man be allowed in women's change rooms?

The story is here.

In a nutshell, a pre-op transexual (still had a penis) was denied access to the women's change room in a gym.  The gym owner is now facing the Human Rights Tribunal.

Personally, I don't think she should have been allowed in the women's change room and I hope the tribunal agrees with me.  When I heard the story the first thing I thought of was weirdo men pretending to be transexual just to be allowed into change rooms.

Your thoughts?

I don't want her in my changing room either.

I agree jewels and i feel sorry for the gym owner too. I hope the tribunal agrees.

trhawley; lol so funny.....

That's the root of the issue and my husband and I couldn't come to an agreement.  He said since she has a penis she belongs in the men's room and tough titty if the men are uncomfortable.

No, sexual orientation should have nothing to do with it.

It's all about the plumbing.

If you want to know the truth, I think one changing room should be enough.  Why are we so hung up on hiding are bodies?

That's why a lot of facilities have a unisex restroom that is large enough to change in.   For those whose status is not suitable for either changing room whether they're in the process of a gender change, too shy to change in a group area, or an adult with a small child of the opposite gender that cannot be left unattended.  Personally I think it's entirely inappropriate for mothers to bring their young boys into the women's changing room.  I do understand the conflict where you cannot leave the child alone, but a 5 year old boy doesn't need to see partially clad women.  I certainly wouldn't want my child to be in the changing room of the opposite sex once they're out of diapers.

Original Post by ignayshus:

No, sexual orientation should have nothing to do with it.

It's all about the plumbing.

 So a woman has to use the mens room just because she has a penis?

i can see why men would have an issue with it too, but yeah tough titty :)

well the social justice activist in me wants to say, of course she should have been allowed to use the women's facilities.  of course.

but the owner is trying to run a business.  if his female customers object to having someone with a penis in the women's change room, obviously that creates a dilemma.  you can't run a business if your customers feel unsafe on the premises. 

i'm confused, though.  in the article it says that the transexual woman initially identified herself as a man when she signed up for a membership.  if that's true - wtf?  i've never heard of a transexual doing that; isn't it sort-of counter to the point?

as to the woman being expected to use the men's room - absolutely unacceptable.  forget the men feeling uncomfortable; how about the woman being subject to harrassment and sexual violence?  if the owner is worried about a law suit, i'd say that's a higher risk than the other alternative.

i dunno....

Original Post by ignayshus:

No, sexual orientation should have nothing to do with it.

It's all about the plumbing.

 LoL! Exactly.

Original Post by trhawley:

I don't want her in my changing room either.

 LoL!

I'm actually conflicted on this issue.

I see both sides of it.  On one side, you don't want a bunch of men dressing up as women "claiming" to be pre-op transgender just so they can see a woman naked.  But then part of me thinks, "but how many straight men would actually do that?"

Then part of me thinks, "ok well whatever sex they relate to the most should be the room that they go into"

I'm a bit confused, myself.

I'm conflicted too Peaches.

Down with segregation!  Integrate the changing rooms.  Just don't forget your robe.

Seriously though, I think she would be very unconfortable in the mens room but I don't think the men would give a hoot.

Original Post by peaches0405:

I'm actually conflicted on this issue.

I see both sides of it.  On one side, you don't want a bunch of men dressing up as women "claiming" to be pre-op transgender just so they can see a woman naked.  But then part of me thinks, "but how many straight men would actually do that?"

Then part of me thinks, "ok well whatever sex they relate to the most should be the room that they go into"

I'm a bit confused, myself.

That kind of logic could be correctly construed to force lesbians to use the men's room and gay men using the women's room.

Outties to the right, Innies to the left imho. Keep it simple.

Original Post by trhawley:

Seriously though, I think she would be very unconfortable in the mens room but I don't think the men would give a hoot.

tom, the point is, she might not be safe in the men's room.  probably 99% of the men wouldn't give a hoot, but it only takes one or two violent f*uckwads to decide she doesn't warrant respect and safety.

Look he identified himself as a man, so while he still has a penis he shouldn't be surprised he is treated like he has a penis.

However... as crazy as it sounds, trhawley may be on to something.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by trhawley:

Seriously though, I think she would be very unconfortable in the mens room but I don't think the men would give a hoot.

tom, the point is, she might not be safe in the men's room.  probably 99% of the men wouldn't give a hoot, but it only takes one or two violent f*uckwads to decide she doesn't warrant respect and safety.

Why would homosexual men be any safer from the one or two violent f-wads?