ladies, transgender women now can use the ladies room too!

N.Y. transit authority settles case allowing transgender restrooms
The Associated Press

Published: October 24, 2006
NEW YORK Transgender people won the right to use any restroom operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in railroad and subway stations in an agreement reached with a woman who had sued the agency for the right.

Under the agreement, reached Monday, the MTA also agreed to pay Helena Stone, formerly known as Henry McGuinness, $2,000 (€1,600) in damages to pay for her legal fees, according to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, which represented Stone.

It also calls for the MTA to hold transgender sensitivity training for its workers.

The MTA confirmed the settlement but declined to comment further.

Stone, 70, filed a complaint with the city's Human Rights Commission after being arrested three times for using the women's restroom at Grand Central Terminal where she worked as a telephone technician. She was charged with disorderly conduct each time.

Stone said the arrests forced her to use a cup in her office, which has no bathroom.

Stone, who dresses like woman, has been in transition from male to female for about 10 years.

"I'm thrilled with it," Stone said after the agreement was reached.

During one arrest, Stone said an officer called her "a freak, a weirdo and the ugliest woman in the world" and warned her, "If I ever see you in the women's bathroom, I'm going to arrest you."

The MTA dropped its charges in March against Stone after the TLDEF staged a rally outside Grand Central in February.

The Human Rights Commission has previously instituted a similar policy for government and other public bathrooms in the city.


NEW YORK Transgender people won the right to use any restroom operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in railroad and subway stations in an agreement reached with a woman who had sued the agency for the right.

Under the agreement, reached Monday, the MTA also agreed to pay Helena Stone, formerly known as Henry McGuinness, $2,000 (€1,600) in damages to pay for her legal fees, according to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, which represented Stone.

It also calls for the MTA to hold transgender sensitivity training for its workers.

The MTA confirmed the settlement but declined to comment further.

Stone, 70, filed a complaint with the city's Human Rights Commission after being arrested three times for using the women's restroom at Grand Central Terminal where she worked as a telephone technician. She was charged with disorderly conduct each time.

Stone said the arrests forced her to use a cup in her office, which has no bathroom.

Stone, who dresses like woman, has been in transition from male to female for about 10 years.

"I'm thrilled with it," Stone said after the agreement was reached.

During one arrest, Stone said an officer called her "a freak, a weirdo and the ugliest woman in the world" and warned her, "If I ever see you in the women's bathroom, I'm going to arrest you."

The MTA dropped its charges in March against Stone after the TLDEF staged a rally outside Grand Central in February.

The Human Rights Commission has previously instituted a similar policy for government and other public bathrooms in the city.