cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65235734

On August 8, police arrived on the scene of Long Branch Lagoon Water Park in Dodge City, Kansas, to the sight of three self-described “bearded, burly men” who had been in the women’s bathroom and changing area. The manager of the municipally run property allegedly screamed and rushed children out the door.

The men knew this was likely. They didn’t agitate any of the women; they didn’t remove their clothes or make crass comments. They simply used the gendered spaces that the state of Kansas requires them to use by law, because these men are transgender.

“Supporters of SB244, including Attorney General Kris Kobach and Senate Majority Leader Ty Masterson, billed it as a way to keep men out of women’s spaces; it clearly requires some men to enter women’s spaces,” a press release sent to news outlets reads. So, these men took action—using malicious compliance to prove their point.

“Segregating people by suspected genitalia does nothing to improve public safety; it does quite the opposite by opening Kansans up to sexual harassment and discrimination. At no point should anyone be asking anyone else what genitals they have in public.”

The men, dressed in yellow “Compliance Crew” shirts, were part of a small group of trans-masculine Kansans who used the women’s room at facilities across the state that day in a coordinated action. They were also spotted at a zoo, a library, a museum, and other parks. They were in Emporia, Great Bend, Garden City, and Dodge City. At the library, at least one patron complained; at other places, the men used the bathroom and received dirty looks, and simply left the space without confrontation.

But at Long Branch Lagoon, members of the Kansas Compliance Crew resorted to having to describe their genitals to police in order to resolve the matter and avoid arrest.

“The men had a discussion with the manager and police and explained the situation, including uncomfortable descriptions of their bodies,” the press release said. Furthermore, both the manager and the police reportedly said “they had never heard of SB244 nor been notified by any government entity of its passage.”

“I could easily continue using the men’s restroom under the radar,” said Ray Vieux, who participated as one of the demonstrators.

  • PwnTra1n@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    In Japan there are toilets that run a faucet that fills the tank on the toilet. Wash your hands as it flushes and fills. It’s not like it’s that hard it’s just that the ones with the checkbook want to pocket the budget instead of provide a decent quality of life

    • Canaconda@lemmy.ca
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      8 hours ago

      Japanese people don’t need to be publicly shamed into washing their hands tho

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        5 hours ago

        There are many toilets that run on gray water. They just usually aren’t this direct. It shouldn’t be an issue. You’re already shitting in the toilet. Who cares if the water coming in to flush is slightly contaminated?

        • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works
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          5 hours ago

          I’m more concerned about the tank getting more and more filthy over time as filth accumulates. I’m not sure whether there’s any actual practical impact from that.

          • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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            5 hours ago

            Everything I know about Japan tells me that it’s not a problem. They tend to keep things clean, so it’s either designed to mitigate the issue or it isn’t something that has to be worried about at all. I highly doubt they just have some disgusting toilets all over the place.

            (Also, these probably have bidets too, so if you’re getting poop on your hands then you’re just having fun.)

            • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works
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              5 hours ago

              I have faith in the Japanese to keep their toilets clean. I do not have faith in my fellow citizens to do the same 😂

              if you’re getting poop on your hands then you’re just having fun.

              Yeah, but in a public toilet you have to expect the worst.

      • PwnTra1n@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        This could be a problem if you do in fact drink from the toilet but I would advise against that regardless of where you are.

        • AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works
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          6 hours ago

          Even then, it sounds like it would lead to filth accumulation in the tank over time unless cleaned. One more space for bacteria to fester.