public bathrooms

Target Hopes $20M Will Solve Transgender Bathroom Problem

It's adding a third, single-person restroom to all its stores

(Newser) - Target will spend $20 million trying to make sure everyone who needs to go to the bathroom at one of its stores feels comfortable, CNN reports. According to USA Today , Target suffered some backlash last spring when it announced it would allow transgender customers to "use the restroom ... that... More »

Dad Attacked for Bringing Daughter Into Walmart Men's Room

He says another customer thought it was 'inappropriate'

(Newser) - More drama in America's public bathrooms: The New York Daily News reports a Utah father was attacked in a Walmart men's restroom after he brought his 5-year-old daughter in with him. Christopher Adams was shopping for storage bins and window blinds when his daughter and 7-year-old son decided... More »

North Carolina Sues Feds, Vows to Keep Bathroom Law

Governor files lawsuit Monday against Justice Department

(Newser) - North Carolina's governor is digging in over the state's controversial "bathroom law." Gov. Pat McCrory said Monday he will go to court to defend the law, which limits protections for LGBT people, reports the AP . The Justice Department ruled last week that the law violated the... More »

It's Deadline Day for NC Response on Bathroom Law

DOJ had warned Gov. McCrory to come up with a way to 'remedy the situation'

(Newser) - Monday's the day that the Justice Department has demanded to hear back from North Carolina on whether the state is going to enforce its contentious public restroom law , Reuters reports. The feds had warned the state via a trio of letters last week that the law—which requires transgender... More »

Target: Use Restroom That Matches Your Gender Identity

Retailer takes a stand for 'inclusivity,' solidarity with transgender community

(Newser) - A "religious freedom" mandate in Mississippi and North Carolina's so-called "bathroom bill"—which dictates, among other things, that transgender people must use bathrooms aligned with their birth gender—has triggered big-name stars , TV and film production companies , and businesses to boycott. Now Target is taking a... More »

NC Passes Bill to Stop Local Laws That Prohibit Discrimination

Bill says transgender people must use the restroom aligned with their birth gender

(Newser) - North Carolina legislators decided to rein in local governments by approving a bill Wednesday that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules, the AP reports. The legislation, if enacted, would deal a blow to the LGBT movement after success with protections in cities across the country. The... More »

Wrigley Field's Bathrooms Were Busted, So This Happened

Wrigley Field's Bathrooms Were Closed, So This Happened

Fans on opening day reportedly resorted to peeing in cups after 45-minute waits

(Newser) - Baseball fans endured a long, cold winter for opening day, but for Cubs fans at Wrigley Field last night, there was more waiting to come to answer nature's call. According to a statement sent out by the Cubs after their game against the St. Louis Cardinals, two of the... More »

Get Paid $97K to Help Bus Drivers Find Bathrooms

Seattle-area transit company looking for 'comfort station coordinator'

(Newser) - It's a job that might make you flush: Find easily accessible restrooms for Seattle-area bus drivers and get paid nearly $100,000 a year. Bus service provider King County Metro Transit is looking to hire a "comfort station coordinator," which comes with an annual salary as high... More »

Ky. Bill Offers Reward for Spotting Trans Kids in 'Wrong' Bathroom

Would allow students to sue, win $2.5K

(Newser) - If a proposed measure somehow makes its way into law, students in Kentucky could see a $2,500 reward for finding transgendered people in a bathroom that doesn't match their assigned sex. The bill targets school officials who allow transgendered students to use their preferred bathrooms—as well as... More »

Amazon Wants You to Shop While Going Potty

Retailer joins P&G in creating 'Stall Mall' shopping experience from public toilets

(Newser) - Remember when a trip to the restroom used to actually be somewhat restful? Amazon and Procter & Gamble want to make sure you multitask and maximize your toilet time with their new "Stall Mall" campaign, which pushes consumers to "Sit, Shop, and Save!" The companies have teamed... More »

Meet the Germs in Your Local Public Restroom

Even shortly after it's cleaned

(Newser) - Warning: Some readers may find the following information disturbing ... or at least pretty gross. Researchers studying public restrooms found that just an hour after bathrooms were sterilized with bleach solution, they were once again packed with various microbes, NPR reports. In a study over the course of a few months,... More »

Vatican Installs Public Showers For Homeless, Pilgrims

After Man Tells Bishop He Smells, Vatican Takes Action

3 public showers to be installed

(Newser) - Pope Francis made headlines last year when he said that he would like a "poor church, and for the poor." Now, after a man declined an invitation to dine with a bishop because, the man said simply, "puzzo"—or "I smell"—the pope is... More »

People Admit They Use Work Bathrooms to Eat, Cry, Exercise

Survey also reveals some people never wash their hands

(Newser) - In about 10 seconds, the words "why," "how," and "no" are going to escape from your lips, and we apologize in advance for that. But those are likely the same words that researchers for SCA, a Swedish global hygiene company, uttered as they compiled results... More »

Almost All the Bathrooms in This Country Are 'Wrong'

Rick Paulas explains why

(Newser) - You have until tomorrow to vote on the winner of this year's " America's Best Restroom " contest, but Rick Paulas has news for you—nearly all of the bathrooms in America are complete failures. He runs down his reasoning at Pacific Standard :

The toilet: It's actually

... More »

Pregnant Woman: Starbucks Barista Blocked Me From Bathroom

Multiple times; venti-size outrage ensues

(Newser) - If you are the lone thing standing between a woman with a 7- or 8-pound fetus parked on her bladder and the nearest public bathroom, well, let's just say digging your heels in isn't going to win you any pregnant friends or an employee of the month award.... More »

Get Paid $100 a Day... to Review Public Toilets

ToiletFinder.com looking for a copywriter

(Newser) - Need some extra cash? If you live in New York and are willing to spend a lot of time in public restrooms, you can earn $100 a day for reviewing the facilities, the Daily Dot reports. Michael Li, the creator of ToiletFinder.com , which helps people find nearby restrooms, makes... More »

Study Uncovers Gross Hand-Washing Stat

19 out of 20 of us are doing it wrong

(Newser) - Warning: After reading this, you may never want to shake hands again. Following a trip to the toilet, some 95% of people don't wash their hands properly—meaning long enough actually eliminate bacteria, a study finds. Some commit worse hygiene sins: a third don't use soap, and a... More »

For $1.2K, Club Will Let You Peep Into Ladies' Bathroom

Scotland police investigating

(Newser) - Be careful if you're a woman at Glasgow's Shimmy Club and find yourself having to use the restroom: It's installed with a two-way mirror, and clubgoers who want a look are charged as much as $1,200 to peep in. After complaints, Scotland's police force launched... More »

Arizona Bill Would Restrict Bathrooms by Birth Gender

Anti-transgender bill would fine violators up to $2.5K

(Newser) - Arizona's House will today debate a bill that would make it illegal to enter a public bathroom, shower, or dressing room designated for a gender not listed on your birth certificate. The bill is an apparent response to the anti-discrimination law Phoenix passed last week that would allow transgender... More »

New Rule for Beijing Public Toilets: Only 2 Flies

China's capital seeks to clean up bathrooms

(Newser) - The Chinese government is implementing new rules to spruce up its capital city's notoriously dirty public bathrooms. The weirdest of the bunch: a toilet in Beijing can be home to a maximum of two flies, reports the BBC . It's not clear how rigidly the measures will be enforced,... More »