Building a Marauder’s Map for Trans People

Refuge Restrooms: As Strong As We Make It

by Danny Palmer (he/him/his)

August 25th — 28th is Restroom Revelio!, a worldwide scavenger hunt to find and map gender neutral restrooms in your community. To take part, download the Refuge Restroom iPhone app or use the mobile site to add locations as you explore magical shops, restaurants, and public spaces in your community. As a trans person, I’m excited to see our Marauder’s Map grow — and I have some tips for making it useful to trans folks.

Refuge Restrooms is a user generated app that maps trans and disability-friendly restrooms anywhere and everywhere that users choose to contribute. The app is rad. I strongly recommend you download it and use it to tag locations of safe, trans-friendly restrooms during the scavenger hunt and beyond. However, since the database within the app is user-generated, it’s super important that we’re mindful about making it the best resource it can be.

So how can you help? Let’s get started with some basics.

How to log a restroom:

When you open the app, there’s a menu icon at the top left, a series of horizontal bars. Click the menu button, then select the “Add Bathroom” option. Simple enough, right?

The entry form populates a series of fields for you to fill out. To be the most help, make your entry as detailed as possible.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when filling out these fields is that you want to consider how people in this location may react to a trans person using this restroom, and how easy it is to be unobtrusive if the person using the location wishes to or needs to be. This app, after all, is about safety.

So, once you’ve filled out the basics, name of the business, address, what other information should you include and why?

Accessibility

Many folks are trans and also disabled. If you’re evaluating accessibility, try to consider a variety of factors. Can wheelchairs and mobility aids be maneuvered readily in this space? Are there automatic doors or braille signage for this facility? Is it single stall so that someone who needs longer to use the facilities can do so in comfort without being interrupted or rushed? Is the location in an accessible area that someone could reasonably get into if they use mobility aids? If you label the location as accessible, please be sure to elaborate on what that means in the notes. Is there a specific entrance that’s easier to use if you’re using a wheelchair or other mobility aids? Directions on easiest path for those who may be blind? Share this.

Gender Neutral vs. Gendered Single Stall

Your next bit of info is a choice between “Gendered Single Stall/Safe Place” or “Unisex/Gender Neutral.” They may seem like sort of the same thing, but the difference matters.

A unisex or gender neutral facility should either have signage indicating all genders are welcome (“Gender Neutral”, “All Gender”, etc), OR not specify a gender for the facility at all (“Restroom”, “WC”, etc). For trans folks who may not pass, these sorts of restrooms are often the best and safest option. Additionally, there’s less attention paid to who comes and goes with these restrooms because there’s no designated gender for the facility. All of these factors can make using the restroom while trans much safer, so it’s important to only tick this option if the signage and environment are truly gender neutral.

If the facility is a “family” restroom or a single stall with a gendered sign, you should check the “gendered single stall or safe space” option. While these restrooms are an option for trans folks and can be an option for those with disabilities, they are often not the best option and come with their own unique set of problems. It’s important that these factors are reflected in your listing, especially since there may be truly neutral options nearby that someone using the app may prefer. Single gender restrooms may be easier for trans folks who “pass”, but they can still present issues for people who don’t pass or are non-binary. Family restrooms are not always the best option, either. They can sometimes have long lines, and I have been hassled in the past by strangers for using a family restroom when I “didn’t need it.”

Directions

What do you put in the directions field? A lot of that will be influenced by your above questions. If the restroom is in a high traffic area (or in the back, out of the way), these are great things to note in the directions field. Depending on the person using the restroom, a facility that’s in the back and out of high-traffic, high-sight areas can be more comfortable and safe. You can also include information on how to easily get to the restroom without calling attention, for instance using a side door to bypass an entry and order counter. If a business heavily enforces a “for customers only” rule, offering info on low cost purchases at the location or browsing for a moment can be helpful too. This is a great place to include accessibility options as well, such as which entrances are more accessible or how to navigate the space best in a chair.

Comments

The comments section is a great place to include additional info, such as what the signage is on the restroom, whether the staff is friendly, and how central the restroom is to foot traffic and sight lines. Basically, are people likely to cause a fuss or call attention here if someone uses this restroom? Why or why not? What are pros and cons of using this location? The more info you can add, the better.

So how does this all play out in the app? Here’s an example of two entries near my work:

• There was a restroom at my local Wegman’s tagged as trans friendly and gender neutral, and the only note was “by the usual restrooms”. In practice though, the restroom was not Unisex or Neutral as it had been marked, it was a family restroom. While this is certainly an option, it needs details added in the app to reflect this reality.
• Family restrooms are generally in high-sight, high-traffic areas, often by the entrances to standard restrooms. Anyone going into or out of them will likely be seen by others. In this example, the entrance to the restroom is right by water fountains in an area that has heavy foot traffic to the two binary restrooms. I’ve been hassled for using family restrooms when by myself before, and this happens pretty regularly. Even though some of these are also disability restrooms, if you have no visually identifiable disability and are alone, someone may have something to say about it when you walk in or out. Overall, this is an entry that stands to be improved.

On the flip side, there’s also a Starbucks the same distance from my work. This location has signage that specifically says the facilities are unisex. The restrooms are located down a small hall and accessible by a side door that bypasses the front counter. No one usually pays you much mind if you enter this way. There’s no issue with using either of the identically-labeled stalls or standing to wait for a stall, regardless of your gender, and the staff are friendly. Out of the two, the Starbucks would definitely be my go-to choice. I even made a note on the entry that if you wanted to purchase something and felt bad about just popping in to go, iced teas are only a few dollars. All of this is great info to know.

So what are the big takeaways in using this app?

1. Single stall restrooms are not always trans friendly.

They can work in a pinch, but please supply info when tagging so people can make informed decisions. There may be other options very nearby with truly unisex single stalls, out of immediate view, that may be a better option.

2. Refuge Restrooms has extensive notes fields

Use them. Describe the area. Describe the traffic. Explain the signage as well as the interior of the restroom. Information is power.

3. Refuge Restrooms is user generated.

The best thing you can do is to open it often and tag any restrooms you come across with good notes. If you’re an ally, familiarize yourself with locations in the area, that way you’ll be better able to help someone find a safe spot.

So now, go out and help build a meaningful Marauder’s Map! Having safe, reliable options and information will go a long way toward helping trans people in your community every day. You have the power to make that happen. Go and cast your protego spell.