Watch out Twin Cities GLBT folks - it’s the gender police!
Backstory:
Last summer, or perhaps even before, a crew of folks stirred up some drama at The Townhouse.
The staff at the Townhouse were heavily policing the bathrooms, which really sucked on Saturday nights.
On top of the fact that many transgender (FTM) friends of mine were being kicked out of the men’s room left and right, on certain nights (which are more dominated by either gender), you would have to wait up to 20 minutes just to pee.
This prompted an impromptu protest, “Free to Pee,” I believe it was called - a musical romp presented by a slew of creative folk who were really upset about transgender people being kicked out of the bar (completely - out) for “using the wrong bathroom.”
Long story short, the protest was a success, and the bathrooms at The Townhouse were made unisex on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Update:
This past Saturday, I was a the Townhouse, really had to pee, noticed a long line for the women’s room, and headed for the men’s room.
There was a security person seated right in front of the men’s bathroom entrance.
I asked him if the bathrooms were still “unisex” on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and he said no.
I asked why and he said that “Women weren’t letting men into the bathroom (which I am almost convinced is an outright lie/poor excuse).”
Next, I asked him, “What do transgender people do if they need to use the bathroom?”
Then he said, “We go by what it says on your I.D.”
Bogus, man.
Poor form.
Gender and Sex are not necessarily one and the same.
Guess I can look forward to much more gender policing at the Townhouse and a new uprising/outrage amongst my crew of friends.
Happy new year.
January 10th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I can understand the club’s reasons for going by the ID - I don’t necessarily think it was the right choice, but I can see where they’re coming from.
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March 7th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I would agree that this is bogus, but it has never happened to me. I use the room that matches my attire. I thought this was taken care of. Has anyone written to Holly (the owner) about this? I, also, think it is bogus to complain about something with out involving the ownership. Townhouse has a website that is read by the owner.
On another front, I taked to Paul, the manager of the Gay 90’s, and was told that I could use the room that matches my attire.
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March 7th, 2007 at 8:48 am
I have for the last 12 years used whichever potty I was dressed for. Never before transition or after have I had a problem. the 90’s had such a policy of potty checks in the 90’s ( smile, just worked out that way) and even then I and most of my friends had no problems there either.
I hate lines and if there is a problem maybe the health department needs to check and see if there are not enough bathroon facilitys for the max occupancy of the bar..I would believe that ST. Paul would have regulations on this, they have on everything else.
Maybe they need to count heads for the number of people who can enter the bar based on the bathroom capasity.
just a thought.
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March 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I don’t think I did (or didn’t do) anything “bogus.”
I talked to the security guard working the (bathroom) door about the policy and wrote up what I was told.
If I ever choose to go back to the TH (I haven’t yet), I would talk to the manager before doing so.
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March 7th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I agree. I do not think that the number of bathroom stalls is enough for the occupancy of the bar.
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March 7th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I was a victim of the potty patrol at the townhouse about 18 months ago. I am MTF and at that time was visiting the TH and was asked by the guard at the rest room door if I had a penis. I was humiliated by this and mostly felt like I was stabbed in the back by a friend at a place I needed to be. I DID write to the manager but never got a reply. It still hurts to think of this. I hope to see you at PI.
Stephanie P.
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March 7th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Well I can see the points. I do believe that the plumbers union should get involved and help pass an ordiance that makes it required to have bathrooms for Males Females and TG’s in all public establishments….Just like sprinklers, cost allot to install but prevents deaths and saves lives. (I am just dying to pee is all, without getting arrested or kicked out or having to kill someone because I couldn’t!)
Politics does make strange bedfellows you know….
Natalie, Secretary of:
City of the Lakes Crossgender Community (CLCC)
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April 15th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Wow, this is sad to hear. I’m transgendered and have not visited many gay bars, but I would have assumed that if there was anywhere on the planet that would be understanding of my situation, it would be such establishments. I’ve used the bathroom of my target gender in many public places without incident. Sad to hear that Twin City gay bars fall short of the tolerance often found elsewhere around town.
If advocates of civil rights want to keep talking about the “GLBT community”, then members of the first three letters of that acronym should be taking the lead in treating “T” people with dignity and respect, not trailing behind the pack.
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April 15th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Agreed 210%.
Thank you for this thoughtful comment!
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