Time Out for a Bathroom Break
A few weeks ago when we left on our vacation, the media was abuzz about the NC House Bill concerning toilet facilities. I figured as soon as the men realized they’d be standing in line to use the ladies’ room, and the women smelled the men’s room, it would all be over. But, there I was in Montana, still reading about the North Carolina Bathroom Bill. In South Dakota, I was asked my Tarheel opinion. It really amazes me that so many people are so interested in this.
Nearly every weekend for the past five years, I’ve used gender-free facilities. They are called Port-O-Johns, Port-o-lets, Port-O-Potties, Thrones, Johnny-on-the-Spots, or Polly-on-the-Pots. They are all single occupancy, and there are a hundred of them at Civil War reenactments in all states. There are also double-wides that are roomy enough for wheelchairs, or two people when a helper is needed, and wide enough to accommodate hoop skirts.
I’ve also used the facilities at several National Parks. These are very expensive facilities that tax payers endow. Every park has a Women, a Men, and a Mixed Use. The Mixed Use is for people who need assistance, families, and anyone else who prefers to use this room, for whatever his or her private reason. Is this not adequate? Who is being left out? Who is being discriminated against here? Do we need bathrooms that have our name, like a Coke can? Really, people. Stand in your appropriate line!
On our trip through Montana we often drove for miles, hours, without any services. After several hours we finally came to a “service station.” It was one gas pump and an outhouse. Can I tell you how grateful we were for that wooden outhouse sitting amongst the weeds? Americans are so spoiled.
Privately owned restroom facilities are also being targeted. If a person goes into business for himself, that is, his own expense, labor and risk, he should be able to decide for himself who he will accommodate and how. He is, after all, not publicly owned, operated, or financed. But, you say, if he doesn’t accommodate everyone, he will lose business. So? It’s his business, he has a right to his loss. Maybe he’ll figure out, if he wants more consumerism, he needs to serve and accommodate more diverse people. If not, he could lose his business. Too bad. His problem, though, isn’t it? Why does anyone, government included, get involved in people’s private affairs? What right does anyone have to tell someone else how to run their private business? Perhaps one single occupancy, handicapped accessible, is all he can afford. Be grateful, get in line, and wait your turn.
People with agendas politicize anything. When they haven’t any real credence, they resort to putting the onus on those who disagree with them. They accuse them of bigotry and hate; label them anti-gay, anti-lesbian, racist, judgmental. Who’s doing the judging?
I’m standing firm. In my home, only a man or a woman may use the facilities at one time. That’s not anti-anything. It is pro-modesty and pro-decency. When I’m in public, I demand that same respect for my modesty, and the decency of every other man, woman, and child. If it’s multi occupancy, then it’s ladies-born-ladies-only. I’m not anti-anybody. I respect everyone’s right to privacy. Please respect mine.