Posted this today in different category. Looking for addtional opinions. Here is the entire question... (details added per earlier responses)
Thanks so much.
Does anyone know where I could find the answer to this question, or what to do next in solving this ongoing problem with a local hockey arena in our town.
I'll try to make this as brief as possible. The public facility was built about 3 years ago. When it opened one of the 12 locker-rooms had Women/Handicapped on the door -- that sign has since been removed. There are not many female team players, but there are some -- high school and travel. There are also female figure skaters and curlers (sp?). On occasion there are disabled skaters that do use the ice.
This is the problem:
The facility has "sold" the use of the "womens/handicapped" room to a local team and now forced female players to use a PARTY room as their dressing area. There is no shower or restroom -- for anyone having just played hockey this is a MUST -- it's just a room with folding chairs. There is also a window in the door compromising the privacy of females changing clothes.
We've addressed this EVERY TIME with management to no avail.
They say there no solution... girls and disabled skaters must use these rooms.
I believe they are in violation of the law.
Are they???
5 hours ago - 4 days left to answer.
Additional Details
These are girls that play on boys teams. They dress in their own locker room then join their teams. They tried out in a draft and beat out guys for these spots.
Typical small male minds that assume these are only female teams.
AND that we should change faciltiy.
5 hours ago
* A Canadian company built it when the parks/rec dept didn't want to use their building anymore
* One of the 5 HOSPITALS in our town has now renamed it & put their name/logo on it. "Hospital Network SportsCenter"
*The locker room in question is built for handicapped access. Individual showers, etc. Upon opening it was labeled on the door: WOMEN/HANDICAPPED.
*A MEN'S team with "sponsorship" has obtained exclusive rights to use THAT locker room after we have been told numerous times the female athletes would continue to use it.
*When the female hockey players have been put into rooms with the figure skaters and, more especially the curlers the MEN fight back. One man charged into the locker room and urinated in front of my 15 year old daughter and the other girl -- 17 years old at the time.
*We do not ask for any special treatment. Just what THEY have. A room to
CHANGE
SHOWER
RESTROOM
in SECURITY and PRIVACY
Update:You are entirely correct about the situation with the curler and his actions. We did not handle that as we should have. We let them apologize and say that the the girls would have their normal locker room and dropped it. Not what we should have done.
And the reason I have not taken action yet beyond trying to work it out with facility mgmt is not wanting to be the "***** mom" who only complains. However: enough is enough. I'm not a moaner. lol
Our high school team manager says again he will bring it up at the board meeting and I just don't believe anything will happen.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I would suggest contacting a lawyer. If you are in the U.S. any public facility must provide gender facilities to accommodate men and women in a fair and equal manner. They must also abide by the handicap laws and provide.
As for any man who urinates in front of a 15 year old they would be charged with serious crimes against a minor and forced to likely spend time in jail and will be forced to be added to the sex crimes list for all to see. I dont know your situation other than what you offer here but it is up to you to take action....nobody will appease you if you only whine and moan with no real threat of action. When any man does what you say happened it bothers me you took no action....I would have delivered a beat down and called law authorities to press charges. As for gender equal rooms again if you decide to take action with legal backing you will win....if you cry to management or here nothing of merit will ever happen.
Take control of the situation if it bothers you...it is your right (and obligation to an extent, particularly when a man violates the law in the manner you describe). Action is the ONLY answer to solve any issue but it takes courage and want to....time for you to find that courage and want to.
edit....don t worry about the management and being the b1tchy mom. Better to teach your daughters that they deserve equal and respectful treatment rather than allow others to do nothing. I am honestly not judging you or your situation but I have always found that if you expect decent treatment and ask at first in a respectful manner more often than not you will get just that. I also believe that teaching my kids to stand up for what is right is one of the most valuable lessons I can teach them. And if acting respectful gets you nowhere then it should be your obligation to demand proper treatment. I deal with girls softball and can assure you I NEVER tolerate "different" treatment. I umpire high school softball (baseball as well) and because of parents that speak up and expect fair treatment girls facilities are usually on par with boys now. But only because some brave parents demanded such......if everyone waits for someone else to do things they never get done. As I tell my kids (and 2 of them are late 20's adults now) "Be the change"!
I thought they would be forced to have a woman's only room. I would take it up with with some public law office. I mean I don't know if they have the right to do that, nor do I know if you have the right. I mean here in the liberal US, you can talk to any lawyer and they'd be willing to fight that. I would go with the Hospital that owns that, I bet they wouldn't be too happy the way they treat women.
At my college ice rink there were 2 woman's locker rooms. One for the team, and one for the public.
I mean I've played at some real holes in the wall, some real barns and we didn't even have working showers...It's what you deal with when you play hockey. Kind of stinks...literally.
I think you start with the local newspaper and a mention of the hospital owner who is allowing this.
Especially if this hospital system has a sports medicine department.
btw- what is this place?