Youth Perspectives regarding the Regulating of Bathroom Use by Transgender Individuals

ABSTRACT

Regulations regarding bathroom use by transgender people affect youth across the United States. This study examines youth opinions on bathroom use regulations. Data were obtained from MyVoice, a weekly text messaging survey of youth aged 14–24 years. Youth were recruited nationally at community events and online; Southeast Michigan was overrepresented. Mixed methods analysis was performed using grounded theory methodology. The majority of respondents (n = 683) were white (71.4%) and had education beyond high school (56.5%). Most (79%) stated that bathroom use by transgender people should not be restricted, rationalizing: 1) bathroom use is private and should be a personal decision; 2) choosing bathrooms is a matter of equality, freedom, and human rights; 3) transgender people are not sexual perpetrators; and 4) forcing transgender people to use particular bathrooms puts them at risk. Contrary to the current policy in many schools, respondents do not support restrictions on bathroom use by transgender people.

KEYWORDS:

• Transgender
• LGBT
• bathroom
• public policy
• youth

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

HC performed the data analysis, data interpretation, and initial manuscript preparation. CC performed data analysis, aided in interpretation of the data, and provided manuscript revisions. MM and TC aided in drafting survey items, interpretation of the data, revision of the manuscript, and conceptualization of the study design. MP aided in interpretation of data, aiding in study design, and contributed to manuscript revisions. All authors read and approved the final version of this manuscript before submission.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine Building Blocks Grant and the University of Michigan MCube Program.