Thrift stores, public libraries and genderless bathrooms: How public amenities become trans infrastructure

In an opinion piece in Greater Greater Washington, Dan Malouff explains how everyday infrastructure and public spaces can become important refuges and social hubs for queer people. 

"One of the many wonderful things about great cities is how free they are, how they empower diverse people with the freedom to be themselves," Malouff writes. 

Malouff lists eight aspects of urban life that empower transgender people and offer the freedom to feel welcome and safe. These include: thrift stores, which offer an affordable opportunity for trans people to experiment with new clothing and looks; public libraries and free WiFi, which offer a place to research and learn about the community without judgment; genderless bathrooms, which help people avoid harassment and abuse; and safe, anonymous third spaces that let people exist in public without scrutiny.

For Malouff, "The whole point of cities is to be places for diverse people to come together and pursue diverse needs. That’s literally why cities exist."