Friday, May 20, 2005
Pan toilets
There are many politically-inclined individuals in my uni, with the queer community being the most vocal and active amongst the lot. If you do not know what 'queer' is (I didn't quite till I came here, and all of a sudden, queer took on another meaning besides unusual) you will after reading this extract adapted from a pamphlet distributed on Pan Toilet day.What are pan toilets?
Toilets open to people who identify as woman or man, and anyone who's in between, has transitioned from one gender to another, has 'fluid' gender, is genderqueer, or rejects the gender system.
Why? whywhy?
They provide more choice for people by providing a space that doesn't enforce the gender binary. This benefits trans, intersex and genderqueer people who feel unsafe or uncomfortable in gendered spaces. Pan spaces create awareness that the gender binary is a social construction and not a 'natural' fact of life.
What can I do to help?
Visit the website (scroll down for I kindly provided the URL) to get PAN templates to make stickers to put on toilet doors.
As a stunt claim an existing toilet as pan for the day and give out info (if everyone claims a cubicle as sit of the day, then virtually All toilets will be pans for the day.. innit?).
Take part in awareness events like Genderf*#k Day, May 18 (crikey this entry's 2 days too late).
Who's against Pan?
The 'threat' of pan toilets critiques how sexism and queerphobia are used to protect mainstream culture and systems. The sexism and heterosexism that goes on in our public toilet system is a small cog in a complex social structure... yadda yadda.
So what we're supposed to feel more vulnerable and insecure just 'cos some queersupporters, or as they'd prefer pansupporters, want more sexual 'equality'? Some Alex fellow was quoted as saying 'My toilet at home isn't gendered.', for sure it isn't! University mates, just because they breathe the same air as you and bond with you as they complain about the horrendous canteen food, are not necessarily family.
Now should you ever decide to initiate Pan campaigns in your uni, you'd find this quote from the pamplet mildly inspiring if not amusing: Some people like to say that sex and gender is in between the ears and not between the legs. (ello?! sex is very much what's between the legs).
Contact http://groups.yahoo.com/group/appetitefordeconstruction/www.qc05.com
*And please no non sequiturs like What or who's a queer?
lux at 8:06 pm