Restroom Incident?

[External Poster]

This posting is from: annie
----------

Good summary, Gina. :)

You bring up some points which were covered in an office call
I had with my attorney during the early years of DLV. I had
asked him to research this "awful restroom law" that we were
told existed and covered the use of restrooms in Las Vegas.

It turns out that no such law exists, but the rumor of such
persists to this day.

>"What restroom do I use?" Duh, which one do you think I'd
>get the crap beat out of me?

When I first approached the topic with my attorney, his first
remark was that using a mens room (for a M-F TG) would most
likely be of greater risk for just the reason you cited.

He went on to say that if security or management insisted
that a M-F TG use a mens room, and an incident of assault
(or worse) occurred, it would most likely be actionable
against the property and "a significant recovery would be
likely", not that any of us would want to try this, however.

>Every single time a scene is made, our community suffers.
>Think about someone other than yourself.

Consideration of others is really the driving force behind
all of our behavior, dress, and restroom guidelines. The
restroom guidelines are particularly important because of
the chance of a confrontation which is embarrassing at best
and more often totally devastating. :( The sad part is that
so many in the TG community still continue to misuse the
public restrooms. :(

----------
(This posting was entered by annie, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: kumiko yvonne watanabe
----------

Consider also the long term effect on those that are transgendered
and living in LV. DLV's incidents have a longer reaching effect if
the good-will of the casino/public businesses towards our local
sisters is destroyed/marred by attendees of DLV causing the problem.

The casinos/public businesses don't know the details on who is local
or visiting and don't care. All they see is a problem or complaint.

Out-of-state attendees stay in LV or a week or so and not have to
deal with the aftermath after they leave LV, the locals live there and
are forced to deal and live with the consequences and to repair the
damage done.

A arrogant/self interest DLV attendee that throws away the
guidelines and behaves in a way that creates such incidents or the
potential of such incidences not only hurts the next innocent
transgendered person that comes into it blindly, but the whole
local transgendered community as well days or weeks after
DLV is over.

----------
(This posting was entered by kumiko yvonne watanabe, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Cynthia Phillips
----------

I know you are all probably about sick and tired of hearing from me by
now, and some more of you are probably saying: "groan, oh hell, here
she goes again." And for that I truly apoligize; but I must speak my
piece. I cannot get enough of this, and I am still 'flying' high from
DIVA; and I may never come down again.

Leanna is correct; cutting across the pit is taboo, but it is a mistake
everyone makes. When I arrived in Vegas back in '97, I tried doing it
and got called on it. It's no big deal in either mode. Them pit holes
are there so security can get in there and get at that loot about once
an hour, and get it out of there and over to the cage, before it builds
up too much; so they like to keep the pit holes clear, and for no other
reason. It's all about the money.

Nikki seems to have it down pat; if GG's accept you, you're in, no prob.
Security will accept you too. Always smile and speak to security if
they make themselves known to you; it lets them know you've got nothing
to hide. Pit bosses and floor tech's rule the casino, if you're playing
and losing fair and square, security will let you alone. Of course
you're going to run into problems once in a while. With that many
gambling drunks under one roof, there's going to be flaps, but that
happens to everyone regardless of mode.

By and large, casinos are about the safest most tolerant places
available to play and be in dress too.

When I go into a casino, in dress, I always drag the pit first - circle
around the entire pit - up one aisle, around the back, and down the
other aisle, strolling leasurely, letting them see me; they know I'm in
drag. Let them know you're proud of it; you've got a right to size up
the tables before you choose one. It's Vegas, it's expected. I cruise
the poker tables too, most of them will notice me, many of them will say
something cute. Gambling can get boring after awhile; most gamblers
appreciate a harmless diversion.

We've got singing, juggling, and topless bartenders, and lately,
costumed card dealers too, using all kinds of tricks to get you to play.
These people are just trying to earn a living; anything that will spice
up the game for them will not only be tolerated but appreciated too.
I'm amazed at how many "open" as well as "secret" admirers there are out
there. I catch people stareing, gazing, and smiling at me all the time
- on the bus, at the bar, in the stores, but especially in the casinos!

So, find yo'self a game, sit yo'self down and put your money on your
bet. When you need to go to the ladies room, throw the dealer a chip,
tell him or her to hold your seat and watch your drink, and that you'll
be right back; then go. Walk proudly into that ladies room, pretend
that you don't notice anyone, find an empty, lock the door, pull your
skirt (and slip if you're wearing one) up around your waist - if you
pull them down with your undies and panty hose, they'll know you're a
guy - sit down, relieve yourself (feet together), then pull your panty
hose and undies back up, finally, pull your skirt (and slip) back down
and get out, and I can almost gaurantee you'll have no problem
what-so-ever. Simple etiquette will work every time. As Ginger says:
Do what Miss Manners would do.

People are there for amusement and entertainment first and foremost; if
you're looking good, and feeling good about looking good, it will show;
and you will shine and be admired and appreciated for it! I gaurantee
it. And, this brings me to my main point: Dress is soooo Important!!
We are not genetic females, and there's no disguising that fact; I
don't care how good you get at it! The Ru Paul's and the Frank Marino's
being the rare exceptions. As Jamie says: The problem is knowing how
to present yourself as a woman.

I am not a TV - I am not Rocky Horror, nor do I want to be - Ol' Tomatos
can't be trashy strawberries :) So, therefore, without being "slutty",
I strive for the slightly "trollopy" look with a touch of class thrown
in. It works for me here in Vegas. Neither am I a female
impersonator; I do not impersonate anyone in particular. Nor am I an
entertainer; I don't sing and dance. At best, I am a female
"illusionist"; a mime. I "mimic" a generalized and idealized female
image to the absolute best of my ability. That's what turns me on. I
love doing it; it is my transgender lifestyle. Moreover, I love being
appreciated for it. I get complemented by total strangers who ask me
for my picture too. I stand tall for them, pose provacativily for their
camera, and turn on that s**t eating grin for them :) My motto: Dress
like you want some !!

Men will secretly admire you, but more importantly, women will too. In
close quarter situations where you cannot avoid facing a GG, such as
narrow hallways, doorways, blind corners, tight spots, etc., always step
aside and graciously offer her the right of way; smile warmly at her and
"whisper" a polite "Hi there". Genetic women consider it a high
complement when men mimic them 'correctly' and 'artistically' -
'sloppily' won't work, 'artfully' will. If you mimic them properly,
they will love you for it. No matter how we slice it, we are men in
women's clothes; we have to try harder; nay, we are expected to try
harder. Hang that pretty wallpaper over yourself, cake on that paint,
and let 'em know what happens in Vegas!

Now, some days you might not want to put on all that drag, and would
just rather find a nice quiet spot and kick back and relax; well, it's
your vacation Sweetie Pie, and you've earned it. You just put on them
flip-flops and that old hat and head for the pool; Hey, they got a bar
and restrooms out there too! And if about 25 or 30 of us wanted to have
a party out there, I doubt if anyone would give it a second thought.

So there, there's my two cents worth. I hope it helps.

Cynthia

----------
(This posting was entered by Cynthia Phillips, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Sindee Honey
----------

OM*G! Talk about a tempest in a pee pot !

And this is why we will never be able to accomplish anything
of value. I enjoyed my vacation, had some issues with which
restroom to use while out and about and mostly used my hotel
room. Overall never confronted, never challenged and never
asked to leave.

Sorry to be so #$&^% simple about it but honestly, I have
much more important things to deal with than which potty I
plant my happy butt on.

Blessings.

----------
(This posting was entered by Sindee Honey, an external user of MyDLV.)

[External Poster]

This posting is from: LeAnna
----------

My sentiments Sindee

----------
(This posting was entered by LeAnna, an external user of MyDLV.)