Have you ever used a public restroom of the gender you don't identify with?

[uppityperson]

I have when the line to the women's is too long and there is none to the men's, or there's only 1 for either and the women's is in use forever.

I figure most duers are meh about it, but was curious.

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	Yes
	63 (88%)
	No
	9 (13%)
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[Vogon_Glory]

1. Any port in a storm

Any port in a storm, especially when our own gender's toilet is broken or clogged up.

[Iggo]

7. That about sums it up.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

At the golf course. Desperate need, men's room all tied up, not a woman anywhere around. No compunction, no regrets!

[lagomorph777]

12. Voted no, but I have aided and abetted, and have had to assist

So have participated in some fashion in both directions.

I aided and abetted when I had a restroom key at work, but my visitor did not and the keeper of the keys wasn't around.

On another occasion I assisted in a handicapped situation.

Didn't enjoy either situation very much at all!

[Hortensis]

14. Lol. Exactly.

[bjo59]

26. If no one else can come in while I'm in there, yes.

[hlthe2b]

2. If there is any woman who says they have not, then they must live a sheltered existence

Almost every public venue has, for decades, had insufficient restroom facilities for the number of women--forcing lines of women to occasionally take over the men's, which predictably have few, if any lines.

[etherealtruth]

32. Those were my first thoughts and definitely my experience! n/t

[Nay]

36. This. Never enough restroom stalls in women's bathrooms. I and other women have

asked for and used men's restrooms, usually with a kindly man outside to warn male users of the temporary takeover. It's always worked great.

Just recently I was washing my hands in a women's restroom and a man entered by mistake. He was so flustered it was funny --- sorry! sorry! he says, and I said, hey, it's no problem. Women don't freak out about this stuff very much.

[Glassunion]

50. Women overall don't freak out over this at all. Circumstance is key.

Once while I was at a concert (heavy metal), I went to use the restroom. There was a standalone building with a large sign "Restrooms" on it. Over one door was a sign that read "Women", over the other door was an outline where a sign used to be. So, using my superior skills in deductive reasoning, I (a man), entered the door with no sign above it.

Upon entering I was greeted with a gasp or two, and a bit of yelling, ordering me to get out. It was at that very moment, I had noticed that the entire room was occupied by nothing but ladies (about 50 or 60 of them). Quite embarrassed, and without so much as a misstep, I had performed an about-face, and double-timed my ass out of there. As I approached the door that I had entered, I found that this door, as well as the one labeled "Women", both led into the same room.

My Jedi-like skills in deductive reasoning, failed to make up for my complete failure to apply inductive reasoning in the given circumstance. I ignored a 3rd possibility, that the men's room was on the other side of the building.

This is the only time, I've encountered any sort of response upon using the lady's room. When you gotta go, you gotta go. People generally get that.

[CTyankee]

3. It happened in Europe several times...

[Vinca]

4. I recall walking into a men's room once when I had to go, but the place reeked of urine.

Give me a ladies' room or give me green grass and shrubbery to hide behind.

[csziggy]

5. I often go to events that are mostly women

And the ladies all get together and decide that as long as there is a lookout they would use the men's room, also, to reduce the length of the lines during breaks in the seminars.

Saturday I was at a fabric store and realized they had changed the sign for what had been a men's room. Now it is labeled for families, men, women, and handicapped. The women's room is still labeled as such, also handicapped.

[Nye Bevan]

49. Curious- why did they feel a "lookout" was necessary?

What were they guarding against?

[csziggy]

58. Most of the events were at venues where there were random people coming in

Vendors, participants' husbands, people to see the displays, etc. would wander in and out and also need to use the restrooms.

Most of the women were older and already uncomfortable about using a restroom designated for men. We're talking women anywhere from late 50s to 80s in age. Having a lookout, especially once the crowds thinned, made the women worry less about being found in the "wrong" restroom by a person of the sex it was designated for.

[malaise]

6. Yes

We landed at MIA a little after mid-day one Thanksgiving - along with I can't tell you how many other flights.
The lines were way longer than TSA's lines. Women from everywhere were heading for bathrooms. We had to let the real emergencies break the line and then we started heading for the mens.

[arcane1]

8. I've been noticing a refreshing change in restrooms in some local venues lately.

They'll have a large room of sinks and mirrors, and a row of individual restrooms, not stalls, for everyone to use. No more long lines!

[Ilsa]

41. Buc-cees in Texas has bathrooms like that, but

they are divided into Men's and Women's bathrooms, even though it isnt necessary. Lots of fans, lots of high stalls down to the floor (cinderblock or tiled). I wouldn't notice if a man was peeing next door.

[Iggo]

9. Back in the old days, in dive bars, approaching 2am.

And more often, when I worked graveyard at fast food joints.

The ladies room is much nicer than the mens room.

[prayin4rain]

45. That's what came to my mind, too.

Back in my bar days, I'm sure I did.

[Orrex]

11. I find that most dumpsters are unisex.

But now that you mention it, it's never been an issue for me. When bathrooms have been gender-specific, I've always been able to use the one designated for my gender.

[Major Nikon]

19. Any port in a storm I always say

[tularetom]

13. The lights in the hallway were out I had to pee really bad

So I just pushed open the first door I spotted. When I didn't see any urinals I knew I screwed up. I also knew I'd never make it to the men's room so I just went into one of the stalls, did what I needed to do, washed up and left.

As I left the ladies room who should I meet coming in but my sister (it was a wedding reception for one of our friends).

[mnhtnbb]

15. I have been part of a group of women who took over the men's room

at a football game. The line for the women's was a mile long; no one was in the men's.

There were half a dozen stalls in the men's and we used them! Most of the women in line
did not follow us.

[LostOne4Ever]

16. I have to take my handicapped mother into the womens restrooms all the time

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]On a few occasions when we were alone I have made use of the facilities after her...

[lostnfound]

17. That's an aspect to these stupid laws that has not been discussed nt

[WinkyDink]

44. Why not take her into the Men's room? Who would be offended?

[LostOne4Ever]

60. Because she insists on using the women's room.

She believes they are nicer and cleaner overall. Though there was one time when the women's room was closed for some reason that she relented to using the men's.

[gvstn]

47. I too have helped my mother.

Never once did I get so much as a glance from the ladies using the facilities. They peed with abandon beside my presence.

[LostOne4Ever]

61. My experience exactly. No-one really cares...except for fake outrage against transpeople nt

[Igel]

18. Have needed to use women's rooms on rare occasion. Am male.

Sent a female friend in to make sure the coast was clear, and to stand guard to warn any women that would be entering that I was in there.


Have seen women do the same sort of thing. Once went into the men's room and when I was leaving the look out said, "How did you get in there?!" The girl using the room promptly yelled, "You let some guy in!?"

SOP in dorms and college classroom buildings when bathrooms are locked for whatever reason or the attendance roster is really skewed.

[Major Nikon]

20. The first time I went to Germany the restrooms were marked H and D

I didn't know which one I was and had to ask.

[libodem]

21. Emergencies only

But I'm going to tell a story about my workplacw in the 70's. It was around '78 and the states were trying to ratify the equal rights amendment to vote it into the constitution.

4 of us worked graveyard, 3 men, 2 women. None of the men were particularly bright and 2 were practicing Christians. We were discussing how equal rights were going to destroy privacy in restrooms. It was an argument the Right put out there. Bathrooms would be unisex.

Our workplace had one employee restroom in the office. It was one at a time but both sexes used it. You couldn't let anything hit the water that wasn't heard, though.

So stupid. We all pee'd in the same place and lived.

[bemildred]

22. I used to be a janitor. nt

[1939]

23. Male privilege

When you are a man, the world is your urinal.

[alice mauna]

24. When I was in preschool (age 4 or so)

I got in trouble for going into the boys' bathroom (obviously I am a female here). Hey, I was curious--what can I say? I knew I was being naughty but I just couldn't help it!

Has anything fundamentally changed? I think not...

[Emelina]

25. Follow Scandinavian lead

In Scandinavian nations the bathrooms are usually individual closets so this is not even an issue.

[Skittles]

27. it's only an "issue" here for conservative freaks

[Jim Beard]

28. I HAVE USED A ONE-AT-A-TIME

women's restroom several times if I know it will not disturb anyone. Most people don't care, after all, what will one see?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

29. With a female escort or manning the door

In all instances there was Larry Craig or drug activity in the men's room.

[alphafemale]

30. Yes. Nearly every time with a guy escort me in or standing outside if it had limited seats

These things have stalls.

[whistler162]

31. no, however the female teachers at

one of the schools I work at use the male teachers bathroom regularly. Single seating so it really doesn't matter..

[Quantess]

33. Yes, mostly at National Parks where nobody gives a flying fig which one you find first

Park facilities, like, who cares?!

Gas stations maybe a handful of times.

Oops in a restaurant or bar, a couple of times

How many times have I just peed out in nature, in the shrubbery? 500.000 times, possibly.

Peeing next to a transgendered person? I'm sure it's happened, and I don't give a fuck.

[Dorian Gray]

34. Yes

This whole argument is stupid.

Crazed child predators and rapists aren't going to be stopped by a bathroom sign.

People who concern themselves with this are inflating the issue into something more than it is.

[AngryAmish]

35. I once shit in the Ladies shitting street in India.

[rug]

37. I have and the women's room always as better toilet paper.

Smells better too.

[meow2u3]

38. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go, and that's all there is to it.

There were several times I was forced to use the men's room because the ladies' room was full, the lines were snaking outside the rest room, and I had to go so badly I'd wet my pants if I had waited.

[meaculpa2011]

39. Yes...

I wasn't wearing my glasses and wandered into The Ladies Room.

When I noticed carpeting, a chaise lounge and the absence of urinals I knew I was in the wrong place.

Got out quickly before anyone noticed.

[bigwillq]

40. Yes, do it all the time at work.

There's a women's restroom just off the main office area. I dislike public bathrooms to begin with, and I like my privacy when I use the bathroom.

[WinkyDink]

43. Why do you suppose it's labeled "Women's"?

[bigwillq]

48. Because society loves labels.

I don't.

[LanternWaste]

52. For approximately the same reason many water fountains were labeled "whites only."

For approximately the same reason many water fountains were labeled "whites only."

[WinkyDink]

42. Yes---when it was cleared out. And I didn't pose as the opposite gender.

[mainer]

46. Out of desperation. It's usually women who do this.

Because there are never enough women's restrooms.

[haele]

51. Of course. Most men's rooms have stalls.

Just walk in like you own the place, go into a stall, do your business, then walk out. Don't stop to chit-chat or look at anyone else. I've even seen a couple men make the bathroom door mistake when they were in a hurry - they just ran into a stall to relieve themselves, muttering "oops, my bad" as they do so, then ran back out after they were done. The only women who would have noticed were ones that were by the sink when they ran in (as I was both times), or at the door going in or out.

Common bathroom etiquette actually allows for mixed genders at a public restroom. Even though some people might make small pleasantries when walking into any public restroom facilities, no normal person ever makes direct eye contact; heck it's considered rude to even look at someone unless they're doing something odd. How many people actually want to remember the strangers they saw in a restroom?
Maybe if they noticed a cute pair of shoes, an article of clothing, or there is an "OMG, how did you get that great hair?" situation - but remember the actual person when you are more concerned about no one noticing that you're eliminating waste or trying to make yourself more presentable?
It's one thing if a group of you go into the restroom for a primping and catch-up strategy session. It's another when you run into the restroom because you really got to go...

Other than in North Carolina, the sign on the bathroom is more of a guidance than a law. As it is, in most places, the law only becomes concerned with restroom privacy or gender when there's harassment or a conflict.

Haele

[Islandurp]

53. Yeah at work and someone is in the mens room

I'll be damned if I shit myself in front of my fellow employees.

[etherealtruth]

55. That sounds like a good plan!

(using the available restroom in lieu of shitting yourself, that is)

[Adrahil]

54. Yup.

Once the men's room was an absolute health hazard. The ladies room was much better. When you gotta go, you gotta go. TBH, sexy times were last thing on my mind at the time.

[fizzgig]

56. i've used the men's room at bars before

but only single-occupancy ones.

[greatauntoftriplets]

57. Yes.

[Xyzse]

59. Why Yes... Not actually used, but toured!

Buca di Beppo at one point had a policy of allowing men and women to go to each others' restrooms to appreciate the art work and pictures found inside.

So, being it my first time in that restaurant, I boldly strode where other men have gone before!