About Restrooms

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. This document does not give you permission to enter any restroom, or any portion of any property against the wishes of management.

If you want an authoritative legal opinion regarding restrooms in Nevada or elsewhere, I suggest you contact an attorney who can research the subject for you.

Having said that, this document is partially excerpted from the Diva Las Vegas mailing list. It contains thoughts, discussions, and opinions on the subject of restrooms, particularly in the Las Vegas area. A recurring topic on the list is the following:

(From the DLV 2000 mailing list)

Restrooms (HWGA):

>Here is a practical question. What is the restroom policy at
>the casinos and at the restaurants we will be eating at?

That's difficult to answer, and this may be long, but it's probably worth reading. Unfortunately there's no quick answer.

Let's look at this from three perspectives, policy (as you requested), legal, and practical.

  1. As far as policy, I'm sure few if any properties have any written policy to the effect of "... TGs are to use the {whatever} restroom."

    Any so-called policy will most likely be at the whim of a (clueless) duty manager or security guard, and used if there are complaints from other customers.

    Keep in mind that the casino security people have more than enough to do, like watching drunks, keeping an eye out for cheats and con artists, and chasing kids from the gaming areas. They will not be checking restrooms unless there's a reason to do so.

  2. From a legal standpoint, it gets interesting. (Note: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on line. This is not legal advice.)

    When we started DLV, we were warned about this Awful Restroom Law in Las Vegas that required people to use the restroom of their anatomic sex. Nobody could, however, come up with any citation for that law.

    When the subject came up again in 1998, I searched, to the best of my non-legal abilities, all the Nevada Revised Statutes, Clark County Code, and Las Vegas Municipal Code using various keywords. I could not find evidence of this Awful Restroom Law.

    When the subject came up yet again in 1999, I booked an office call with my attorney (he knows who I am, and what DLV is) and one of the local ladies asked a local police officer what the story was. Both answers were almost identical, and were to this effect:

    There is nothing on the books regarding who is to use which restroom, but, if cases warrant, there are certain laws of public conduct that could be used for a complaint, the most likely being Trespass and Disorderly Conduct.

    For example, if somebody insists on using a particular restroom against the objections of management (or refuses to leave a property when asked to do so), that person may be guilty of trespass. If somebody (even passively) creates a fuss when using a restroom, or when asked to leave a restroom (or when asked to leave a property), that person may be guilty of Disorderly Conduct.

    Bottom line is good news and bad news.

    There's nothing on the books that specifically outlaws using the restroom of the gender you are presenting, but there is nothing on the books that asserts any right to use a particular restroom.

    It's also been pointed out that the use of most private property in Nevada, and this includes casinos, is "at will" of the management, meaning they can legally exclude somebody from the property as a whole, or a portion of the property (such as a restroom) if they choose to do so.

    Update: What appears to have sparked this rumor is a section of Clark County Code (sec. 19.04.040, 1967) which does indeed prohibit males over the age of 8 to use or loiter in the vicinity of womens facilities in public parks.

  3. Taking a trip to the real world, we can come up with some practical suggestions, but not an easy answer in many cases.

    Everything depends on time, place, and circumstance. You have to consider such things as where you are, your legal standing, what type of facilities are available and convenient, how badly you need to go, and yes, how well you pass, when making the decision.

    Where you are makes quite a bit of difference. The known-t-friendly bars and clubs that invite our business (Goodtimes, Flex, LV Lounge, etc.) will most likely have no objection to you using the restroom of your choice, whichever that may be. On the other end of the spectrum, such places as family-oriented theme hotels and red-leaning townie bars (but what are you doing in those anyway?) may not have an accommodating attitude.

    (Ironically, some of the local ladies were telling me of a zealous security dude at of all places, Freezone, who insists on policing restrooms. I have yet to see this myself, tho ...)

    Type of facilities makes quite a difference too. A lockable one-holer almost anywhere will most likely present little difficulty. A large hotel "ladies lounge", complete with attendants, may be a bit more of a challenge. Lately I've been seeing more and more "unisex" or "family" restrooms in such places as shopping malls and gas stations (seldom if ever in casinos). Those may be an appropriate choice.

    If anybody's a bit uneasy or uncertain, here are a few suggestions:

    • Use your hotel room's facilities just before you go out, making it less necessary to use public restrooms.

    • Do you really have to go? If not, don't.

    • Don't OD on fluids. Coke Museum? :)

    • Go alone, never in groups, get in, do your thing, and get out, quickly and quietly.

    Do keep in mind that in almost all cases, we are valued customers of the various shops, restaurants, clubs, casinos, etc. As long as we behave as ladies (or gentlemen) there is very little chance of any hassle.

    Management is not gonna p*ss off a paying customer without a good reason. (But don't push it. :)

  4. Last but not least, if you should be confronted by management or another customer, don't push things, be a lady. Apologize and get out.
What a restroom is for ...

A public restroom should be used for one thing and one thing only, that is to take care of necessary bodily functions, period!

It should not be thought of as a status symbol (being seen entering or exiting a public ladies room), a rite of passage (first time using a public ladies room), a place to socialize, or an environment in which you can confrontively assert your right to be there (Yeah, I'm a tranny, you got a problem with that?)

My personal suggestion to you is the following:
  • Don't ask.
  • Don't tell.
  • Don't be obvious -- fly under the radar.

  • Be sure to go immediately before you leave your home or hotel room.

  • Are there convenient facilities that are more discreet? If so, use them.

  • Do you REALLY have to go? If not, don't!

  • If you must go, go alone, get in, do your business, and get out, quickly and quietly.

  • Be very very quiet. Avoid making any splashing, ploping, groaning, or flatulent noises.

  • If you have to make any boob adjustments or private part adjustments, make them in the privacy of your stall, not in the common areas.

  • Do not linger or loiter. Use the mirror, if necessary, to check yourself and touch up, but do it quickly and get out.

  • Unless your voice is totally passable, say nothing! Use head gestures if you need to communicate.

  • NEVER NEVER EVER go to the ladies room in groups! Using a public ladies room in a group is a very high risk activity and must be avoided. Doing so shows your disregard and inconsideration for those who wish to blend and wish to use public facilities properly.

It is best to avoid any situation where it may be obvious to onlookers that you are using a restroom they don't think you should be using. For example, if there is a crowd of many TG people in a restaurant or casino, and that group has attracted the attention of mainstream people in the area, do not obviously enter the nearest ladies room. Seek facilities in a portion of the property, or a nearby property, where the group is not so obvious.

If there is a line:

Sometimes you may encounter a line in a public ladies room. This sometimes happens in the restrooms in the vicinity of a showroom just after a show has concluded, but it may happen anywhere that the demand (for stalls) exceeds the supply of them.

The correct etiquette is to join the line at the rear and to quietly wait until it is your turn to proceed to the next open stall.

If you are uneasy doing this, simply turn around, exit, and look for other facilities. In a restroom with a long line, you will most certainly see others doing this as well.

If there is an attendant:

Occasionally you may run into a public ladies room in which there is an attendant. This used to be far more common, but some of these people still exist today.

They are there to assist patrons with various things, and yes, they do earn a considerable portion of thier income from tips. They will usually have quite a stash of supplies of various types. Sometimes their duties include clean-up and housekeeping of the ladies room.

My personal suggestion to you is that unless your mannerisms and voice are 100% passable, avoid interacting with these attendants.

Every so often you may run into at attendant who is helpful to the point of being pushy. If she asks you if you need anything, simply shake your head no. Occasionally, sometimes they will do such things as hand you a towel without being asked. (Some of them *DO* expect a tip for things like this, but IMAO they are pushing it if they do.) If this happens, simply smile and take the towel. It's up to you if you wish to tip.

In this day and age, however, most attendants will not approach you unless you indicate you need something.

If an attendant does perform some kind of a service for you, such as finding you a safety pin, yes, a tip may be appropriate.

If you are confronted:

Be a lady! Quickly and briefly apologize and GET OUT! Don't explain anything. The less said, the better. Find other facilities.