Letter: State ruling on communal restrooms violates privacy of both genders

I am not comfortable with transgender men (genetically male) toileting communally with women. I would like the opportunity to vote on this issue. The recent ruling in Washington violates the privacy of both genders.

As a female, public restrooms are places where women who share the same biological functions use the restroom, share items, nurse babies, change diapers and care for little ones in a safe and supportive environment. The percentage of transgender individuals is 75 percent male to 25 percent female. This means that a disproportionate number of transgender men will be in the women’s restrooms.

Shared restrooms and locker facilities were designed with a mutual respect for gender privacy. People will be at a greater risk of sexual perpetrators taking advantage of this situation, because they will have a more difficult time discerning the gender of a person in a public restroom.

I want a safe and comfortable public restroom environment as a woman and as a mother. The solution to me is to discontinue communal public restrooms and redesign facilities with individual/family style bathrooms. Safety first.

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Letter: State ruling on communal restrooms violates privacy of both genders."