A few years ago while at university my male neighbor followed me into my apartment under the guise of casual chit-chat about a shared professor, and once we were inside he cornered me and groped me. I’d walked home in part to use the restroom since I was on my period and had no tampons left in my bag. I kept talking to him to feel more in control and was eventually able to convince him I really needed to return to campus for a class. I did not visit my own bathroom while home because I was very afraid of what would happen if I pulled my pants down, or gave him much time to think without talking. I walked back to campus with him, blood soaking into my underwear, needing to urinate so badly it hurt. When we finally parted ways I was shaking so hard, and went to a top floor locking single user bathroom because he was walking around the building still. I stayed in that building in a classroom where a couple others were working on projects until a friend walked me back to my place after about 4 hours. Ever since this experience I’ve avoided mixed-sex bathrooms when at all possible because the act of pulling down my pants to pee makes me feel vulnerable when before it did not. I want trans-women to be able to relieve themselves, but I also feel I deserve to feel safe while doing the same in public spaces. Female-only spaces need to remain protected.

#unitedstates #sexualassault #safety #privacy #security #university #universitycampus