There are those among us who cannot make up our minds about many things, but there are only a few of us who are presented with a conundrum when it comes time to use a public restroom. Read on to learn more, if you dare.
Rio de Janeiro, always known for its dazzle and camp, may soon be well known for something else: the first city in the world to install transvestite bathrooms! According to Michael Astor of the Associated Press, a bill passed by the Nova Iguacu city council would require the construction of a third type of restroom for transvestites in many public areas, including nightclubs, shopping malls, theaters and large restaurants. (What the icon or title on the door would be, has not yet been suggested. Maybe a caricature of Boy George in profile?)
Transvestites comprise 28,000 of the 800,000 inhabitants of Nova Iguacu, a poor city on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Their needs as a segment of society have been largely ignored due to ignorance and prejudice. City councilman, Eduardo Moreira, says, “a lot of lawmakers didn’t want to deal with this issue, but it’s a serious problem in society. This would also be a way to put an end to some of the prejudice.”
Neither men nor women seem to feel very comfortable with a transvestite using “their bathroom,” and many transvestites won’t go out because finding a public facility to use is not easy. A recent study concluded that 60 percent of Rio’s homosexuals have met with some type of physical harassment and 17 per cent indicated that they had experienced physical violence on this issue.
Mayor, Lindberg Farias will soon decide whether or not the controversial bill will be enacted into law.
What do YOU think about this?