A new report finds that transgender people face increased risks of harassment and denial of access when forced to use restrooms based on their sex assigned at birth. The study challenges the premise behind restrictive bathroom policies and highlights the real dangers transgender individuals encounter.
The research from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law analyzed responses from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, revealing that transgender individuals who live according to their gender identity were significantly more likely to be denied restroom access or face verbal harassment when required to use bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth.
Among transgender men forced to use women’s restrooms, 10% were denied access, and nearly 11% experienced verbal harassment, compared to those who used men’s restrooms, only 5% were denied access and 7% were harassed. Transgender women using men’s restrooms faced similar challenges, with 7% denied access and nearly 9% verbally harassed, compared to 5% who were denied and 7% harassed when using women’s restrooms.
“Current policy debates about transgender people’s access to restrooms are based on a narrative, asserted without evidence, that safety and privacy in women’s spaces are at risk,” said Jody Herman, lead author and Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute. “Research shows that transgender people are the ones who face harm from others in these spaces.”
Additionally, a 2018 Williams Institute study found no evidence that allowing transgender people access to restrooms aligning with their gender identity increases safety risks for others. Another nationwide study similarly found no correlation between transgender-inclusive policies and an increase in violent victimization by strangers.
The report further underscores the broader impacts of restroom restrictions. A lack of access to safe restrooms forces transgender individuals to avoid public spaces, limit food and water intake, and, in some cases, suffer health complications such as urinary tract infections.
“Not going to the restroom when necessary can harm a person’s health,” said study author Andrew R. Flores. “A lack of safe restroom facilities can have negative impacts in a variety of areas, such as education, employment, and engagement in public life.”
