It’s not just about living in Florida and wondering where to go to the bathroom, if you are a trans person. Florida’s H.B. 583 is not the only bill that discriminates against this community’s most basic human needs. As a matter of fact, this “single-sex public facilities bill” would make it a crime for someone to use a restroom if they are not the sex listed on the public facility.
Although cisgender people or members of the LGB community do not worry much about using the restroom, that is not the case for the “T” members of this community, gender non-conforming individuals or those identifying along the transgender spectrum. For them, the restroom is not a place to relief themselves, but rather a pre and post dilemma that could place them in imminent danger. Making matters worse, gender neutral bathrooms are not easy to find and state and federal lawmakers are not providing direct solutions to this problem, but rather adding to the stress and inequality that the trans community already experiences.
Enter Refuge Restrooms. [pullquote]”The intent behind Refuge is to take the anxiety and potential violence trans people face when using public restrooms away from an activity we all have a right to do in peace.”—Harlan Kellaway[/pullquote]
According to Inquisitr.com, Harlan Kellaway, is the creator of the Refuge Restrooms app, which helps find safe bathrooms around the globe for those in need (unisex, single-stall or LBGT-friendly). Kellaway told the Inquisitr that “transgender people face the risk of verbal and physical abuse whenever they walk into a bathroom, something his app hopes to combat.”
“The intent behind Refuge is to take the anxiety and potential violence trans people face when using public restrooms away from an activity we all have a right to do in peace,” Kellaway also said to The Huffington Post.
For more information about Refuge Restrooms go to: www.refugerestrooms.org/. The App is available via iOS here.
