For some, it may be a simple toilet but, for others, the sacred space has broadened discussions about how toilets must be shared. In private homes, toilets are shared without a care. But in public spaces, safety considerations have imposed gender-based restrictions which, in our changing society, are now being brought into question.
Put differently, should gay men be allowed to use women’s toilets or is it time to do away with heteronormative demarcated toilets for just males and females? The question becomes even more complex when one looks at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, inters-e-x, asexual, queer/questioning and others (LGBTIAQ+) community in its broadest sense.
Sunday World reported last week that well-known Daveyton gay man Mpilo Ndlangamandla spent a few days in hospital after he was badly beaten, allegedly by burly bouncers at a local tavern, for using female toilets.
In South Africa, the LGBTIAQ+ community, which advocates for gender-neutral restrooms, is generally required to conform to the heteronormative demarcation.
Should government-owned buildings and privately-owned properties used by the public be forced to reconsider and, if so, at whose cost? Popular Meadowlands, Soweto, establishment KOL Cafe confirmed that gender-neutral loos did not make financial or societal sense for their business and that the idea would never be in their future plans.
Marketing consultant Hloni Matlhare said: “The line would be blurred for our customers once we introduce those toilets, which is why we don’t think it would be the best option for us. It would perpetuate the heightened rape culture and we don’t think our society is ready for such facilities,” Matlhare says.
Transgender activist and publicist Yaya Mavundla believes that there is a huge need of gender-neutral toilets, especially because it has been an after-thought for the LGBTIAQ+ community for years.
“I don’t want people to think that we want to be special but it’s because of the existing patriarchal structures.
“Heterosexual persons haven’t been in a situation where we are,” she says. Mavundla highlights that there are LGBTIAQ+ people who are “uncomfortable” using the societal demarcated loos. How do you identify a gay man?” she asked.
Gender-neutral toilets should not be made because there are transgender people but they should be made because there are people. There are girls [transgender] who feel unsafe with men and vice-versa. They just want to use the bathroom.”
Currently, there is no legislature specifically pertaining to use of toilets by LGBTIAQ+ people, however, LGBTIAQ+ folks are explicitly protected from discrimination as a fundamental human right.
Chairperson for the Joburg Pride Kay Ally says: “In spaces that are supportive of the LGBTIAQ+ community there are no limitations.
“However, from a mainstream public domain perspective there are no gender-neutral facilities with the exception of Pride-like events that do not conform to demarcation of toilets based on biological form.”
Taking security in consideration, women in general have been abducted from toilets in retail spaces and the LGBTIAQ+ community are equally vulnerable to those dangers.
“We are aware of some corporates that have created gender nonconforming facilities within their office spaces. At this stage GNC [gender nonconforming] toilet facilities are not within our focus. Definitely something to add to 2020,” says Ally.
The LGBTIAQ+ community has a long road in educating society at large and there are establishments that are extremely rigid in their outlook to cater for facilities that are gender-specific. An example of society’s rigid thoughts was when entertainer and socialite Zodwa Wabantu came under fire after her public homophobic commentary on her TV show last month.
Zodwa, who is known for not mincing her words, says: “Gays are silly because they are fighting with women. Name one gay who has never fought with a woman in the industry. Their problem is that they are convinced they have a vagina, while they have a penis.”
She adds: “We accommodate you guys because you wear make-up and when we [women] talk about men you always there echoing the stories. These caused a social media uproar..
You might also like…Matrix 4 announced with Keanu Reeves to return as Neo
The studio confirmed Carrie-Anne Moss will also return to her role as Trinity.
Sci-fi franchise The Matrix will return for a fourth film with Keanu Reeves reprising his role as kung fu-kicking, shades-wearing hero Neo, studio Warner Bros said Tuesday.
Lana Wachowski will helm the project, returning to write, direct and produce the latest installment of the hugely popular series about humans trapped in a virtual reality by machines, which has netted more than $1.6 billion worldwide. Read more
Source: The Citizen
