Using the restroom is typically a straightforward task: find a toilet, take care of business, wash your hands, and leave. However, for transgender and nonbinary individuals, this simple act can become a complex and anxiety-inducing experience. A new study reveals that transgender teens attending schools with restrictive bathroom policies are at a heightened risk of sexual assault. Such policies essentially mean that transgender and nonbinary individuals are often barred from using facilities that align with their gender identity, which is discriminatory.
Denying someone the right to use a bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity is an act of transphobia. Those who believe restroom access should be determined by genitalia rather than gender identity are misunderstanding the fundamental differences between sex and gender. If you find yourself judging others based on their appearance as they enter a restroom, you may be holding onto biases that reflect poorly on you. The notion that safety is increased by enforcing gendered bathroom use is rooted in unfounded fears.
Contrary to popular belief, gender-neutral bathrooms and policies allowing individuals to use the facilities that match their gender identity do not heighten the risk of sexual violence, especially against women and children. If someone is determined to commit a crime, a sign won’t deter them. Moreover, the idea that transgender women would pose a threat to cisgender women in restrooms lacks basis in reality. In fact, since 2004, numerous incidents of restroom-related sexual crimes have been committed by cisgender men who did not attempt to disguise their identity.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, approximately 80% of rape victims are acquainted with their attackers, and 96% of individuals who sexually abuse children identify as male—specifically cisgender males. Transgender and nonbinary individuals are not inherently dangerous; rather, they often find themselves in perilous situations in public restrooms. Transgender youth and adults who are denied access to their appropriate facilities are at a greater risk of assault, not the other way around.
A study by UCLA’s Williams Institute found that 70% of transgender individuals reported experiencing verbal harassment in gender-segregated bathrooms, while nearly 10% stated they had been physically assaulted. The online LGBTQ Teen Study published in Pediatrics surveyed 3,673 students aged 13-17, revealing that 25.9% of LGBTQ-identified students had experienced sexual assault in the past year. This figure rose to 36% among transgender and nonbinary students facing restrictions on bathroom access.
Gabriel Thompson, the lead researcher on the study and a doctoral candidate at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, noted, “Previous research indicated that restrictive policies draw negative attention to trans and gender-nonbinary teens, but this study clarifies the connection to sexual violence.” This situation is troubling but understandable. The LGBTQIA+ community frequently faces stigma and discrimination, raising their vulnerability to sexual and physical assault. Hate-motivated crimes often manifest as sexual violence, fueled by internalized homophobia and transphobia.
The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey indicated that 47% of transgender individuals experience sexual assault in their lifetimes. When schools compel transgender students—often already subjected to bullying—to use unmonitored facilities that do not align with their gender identity, they inadvertently create a target for violence.
As a nonbinary individual, I personally relate to this sense of danger. My biological sex is female, but my gender identity does not align with that label. I often face misgendering, and entering either a female or male restroom exposes me to potential backlash. Cisgender men are particularly prone to violent reactions when they perceive their masculinity as threatened or feel that their spaces are being invaded.
In public spaces, I seek out gender-neutral or family restrooms whenever possible. Unfortunately, these options are often limited and inconvenient. The necessity to wait for a single unisex restroom can signal that I am not using the “regular” bathroom, which adds to my risk of negative attention. Moreover, the stress of accessing bathrooms can lead some transgender individuals to avoid drinking enough fluids, impacting their health.
Restrictive bathroom access does not enhance safety for cisgender individuals; rather, it endangers transgender students. It is imperative to recognize that transgender and nonbinary individuals do not pose a threat to those around them. We simply seek the same basic right to use the restroom without fear of violence or harassment.
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In conclusion, the need for inclusive and safe restroom access is critical for promoting the wellbeing of all students, especially those who are often marginalized and at risk.