The most nervous thing every time I go out is finding a restroom. When I enter the men's restroom, I will be scrutinized, and when I enter the women's restroom, I am afraid of causing panic. "Lin Yue, a transgender woman, expressed the embarrassment of countless transgender people in public spaces. Public areas such as toilets, changing rooms, and bathrooms, which are strongly tied to gender, used to be "forbidden areas" for transgender people. However, nowadays, society's attention to the inclusiveness of public spaces is gradually turning these "awkward areas" into "safe areas".

In the past, the "gender binary design" of public spaces has brought many inconveniences to transgender people. An incident occurred in a certain shopping mall where transgender individuals were forcibly taken out of the women's restroom by security personnel, and similar conflicts are not uncommon in various places; The changing rooms in swimming pools and gyms often leave transgender individuals with nowhere to go; Even the registration system in hospitals and the security check process at transportation hubs may cause trouble due to "gender and appearance mismatch" in identification documents. Transgender individuals admit that in order to avoid embarrassment, they would rather go out without drinking water or changing clothes. "Public spaces should serve everyone, but we are like 'intruders'.

Change starts from every detail. In 2023, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station will take the lead in setting up three "gender neutral public toilets", equipped with independent compartments and barrier free facilities, with signs indicating "Welcome to use by all genders"; A sports stadium in Hangzhou has transformed some of its changing rooms into "gender friendly changing rooms", adopting a fully enclosed compartment design that allows users to choose freely; Some shopping malls in Beijing, Guangzhou and other places have added "gender friendly reminders" next to public restroom signs, advocating for "respecting others' choices". These designs may seem simple, but they break down the "gender barrier" in public spaces, allowing transgender people to no longer have to worry about "which door to enter".

In addition to hardware upgrades, concept guidance is equally important. A scenic spot in Chengdu has launched the "Public Space Inclusive Education" activity, using posters and volunteer explanations to popularize transgender knowledge to tourists and reduce misunderstandings; Shenzhen Metro has added "transgender service standards" in employee training, requiring staff not to refuse assistance due to gender identity issues. These measures extend the care for public spaces from the "facility level" to the "humanistic level".

However, the inclusiveness of public spaces nationwide is still uneven, with low coverage of "gender friendly facilities" in third - and fourth tier cities, and some members of the public still have resistance towards gender free public toilets. In fact, the inclusive design of public spaces is not about "encroaching on the rights of others", but about "allowing everyone to use them with peace of mind". As the user of the "gender neutral public restroom" at Hongqiao Railway Station said, "Regardless of gender, what everyone needs is just a private and safe space." When more public spaces can put aside "gender bias," the transgender community can truly integrate into daily life, and society will be warmer because of this tolerance.