The biggest debate I have seen lately is the issue concerning transgender customers using the bathroom that matches their gender identity. I have no issue with people being transgender and believe that it is their life so they should do whatever makes them happy. They shouldn't have to live their whole lives pretending to be someone they're not.
The issue, for me, is the potential for people who have twisted minds to pretend to be transgender in order to sneak into the bathroom of the opposite sex and harm them. I don't want to be in a bathroom and worry about whether someone is actually transgender or is a criminal dressed in a costume, pretending. There are some really sick people out there who I could see possibly pretending to be transgender when they're really just a sex offender. I know that a sign won't stop someone with ill intentions of harming another from walking through that bathroom door. What I do believe is that someone may see when a guy walks into a girls bathroom and alert someone who's in charge of the store.
My proposed solution to all of this is to have a bathroom for girls, a bathroom for boys, and a single bathroom that's neutral for anyone who wants to use it. Most stores probably wouldn't like to install an extra bathroom because of the extra cost, but there are a lot of places out there that already have these extra bathrooms for the convenience of others. One place is my local mall; it has separate bathrooms, but there are also two extra family restrooms, each with a single stall. This would solve a lot of people's fears. No one should have worry about whether or not they are safe while using the bathroom.
Another issue with not having gender neutral bathrooms is when a transgender person has to use the bathroom that identifies with what's on their birth certificate. The problem with this is that, when a male who identifies as a female walks into the men's restroom, they might get beat up. In today's society, a lot of people don't accept people for being different; they get harassed and abused by the people who don't agree with whatever it is that person is doing 'wrong.' If there were gender neutral bathrooms, then transgender people will be able to feel safe.
I know that there is always something that people don't agree on, but that's just life. If there is a solution for something, then why not try it and see what happens? It probably won't make the issue of people getting attacked in public go away altogether, but it may minimize the issue and bring down some of the crime.
