POSITION PAPER ON MAKING GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOM FOR THE LGBTs

IN THE PHILIPPINES
RESTROOMS SHOULD BASE ON WHAT YOU ARE NOT ON WHAT YOU FEEL. NO
TO MAKING A GENDER NEUTRAL RESTROOM TO BUILD SAFER PLACE FOR EVERY
FILIPINOS IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Third Gender or what we called today “LGBT” stands for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender. Lesbian is a woman who is attracted to another
woman. Gay is a person who identifies himself as man but attracted to another
man. Bisexual is a person who is attracted to multiple genders identity and
expression. The Transgender is a person who identifies differently from their
expected gender expression based on their assigned sex at birth. The LGBT is
intended to emphasize a diversity of sexuality and gender equality. The
Philippines is one of the 39 countries which accepted homosexuality.
Last August 13, 2019, a transgender woman was barred from entering a
woman’s restroom of a Cubao Mall and was sent to the Quezon City Police
District’s Anti-Cybercrime Division in Camp Karingal after she took videos while
confronting the janitress about the issue. The transgender said it is better to
have LGBT restroom to avoid any discrimination.
The main concern is that, if we will be having this gender neutral
restrooms, it will lead to a rise in sexual assaults. Many people will feel
embarrassed by using toilet around people of opposite gender. We don’t
separate comfort rooms by race or religion so why do we still to have another
restroom for them?
Gender Neutral Bathrooms would mean that if a man sees a pretty girl
walk into a restroom, he can easily follow her inside without anyone stopping
him. One of the many fears of having restrooms where anyone can get inside is
where rape culture plays. Approximately every one of three girls have been
victims of sexual violence and in one six men have been victims as well. This
means that 33 percent of women and 17 percent of men have been victims of
being touched inappropriately. This means multiple women and men have
experienced some sort of unwanted sexual contact.
One reason is also the incident “Peeping Toms” that happened in
Singapore. Being exposed doesn’t have to mean that the victims will be
touched. Having that kind of restrooms mean that anyone will be able to walk
in, and peep into stalls while the victim has half of their body exposed. By
arguing that he was allowed to be in that restroom, he can reason out that was
simply peeking through the stall to see if it was occupied and that would be
enough for him to get away with it.
 Even though we will have a gender neutral restroom, discrimination will
not stop. The main problem here is not the restroom, but the people itself.
Gender neutral restroom is a restroom for any gender, so anyone can enter it.
What if a man will enter that restroom? You cannot stop them to enter because
it’s a restroom for everyone. Still discrimination will happen. Discrimination is
the problem and not the CR!
According to a Forest Hills High School student, “Why would you want to
make a LGBT restroom? Whatever sexual organ you have that’s the restroom
you should go in. this is the reason why kids are turning into the way they are
because they see other people doing it they think it’s fine and they want to do
it. Kids brain aren’t fully developed to understand what’s going on in the
society.”
It’s not right to allow people of opposite gender into their bathroom of
choice according to how they feel versus what they really are. If they allow that,
then anyone and everyone including child molesters, rapists, and pedophiles
will be able to go any restroom they choose and make a statement, “I am a gay”
or “I relate to the opposite gender” and get away with it. The government will
be losing their common sense if they will allow this to happen. Not only it is
morally wrong, but it’s spiritually wrong too.
Yes, it will help to make the LGBT community feel safer but you have to
look at the bigger picture. They might be feeling safer but the majority of the
population would not feel secure using it. Think of the possible effect it will
brought to us.
I think that the LGBT community has nice intentions, but it is more
important to remember to be realistic and realize that not everyone has good
thoughts. We must think also for the goodness of others not only of ourselves.
In cases like this, it is always better to be safe.