what the world needs now
Aug. 15th, 2020 06:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kindkitFrom the question-a-day meme:
August 15: If you were to open up any sort of shop or store, what type of shop would you open?
I'm going to interpret "shop" more broadly as "business."
I've often thought, over the last year, that there is both a need and a market niche for a gym (with swimming pool!)* for trans people.
It would be open to everyone, of course (I think that's the law) but marketed to the whole queer community, and with its facilities and policies designed for the safety and comfort of trans folks. Changing areas and showers with privacy, for one thing; a sliding-scale fee (many queer people, especially queer people who aren't white cis gay men, are poor); staff who are preferably queer and trans themselves, or if not, knowledgeable and thoroughly trained; and strict and strictly enforced policies against harassment and creepiness (including cruising and "scene-ness"--there are plenty of gay gyms that cater to that).
(*Because swimming suits are typically very revealing, swimming is a special problem for trans people. Recently a post went around trans Twitter asking, "What would you do if all cis people disappeared for a day?" "Go swimming" was a common answer.)
It would explicitly take the position that all bodies are good bodies: trans bodies are good, fat bodies are good, disabled bodies are good, BIPOC bodies are good, old bodies are good. Because, as mentioned above, while there are gay gyms, they are very much gyms for young-ish conventionally-attractive white cis able-bodied gay men with money.
Attached to the gym would be a nice coffee and tea shop, with baked goods and light meals such as soups and sandwiches. It would have plenty of comfortable seating, and music that's not too loud for conversation. It would have a community room where people could hold meetings. It would be a friendly place for queer kids and other folks not well served by queer bars and nightclubs to gather. It would stay open late, and provided they weren't bothering anyone, people could sit there as long as they needed to for the price of a cup of coffee. (Many queer people are homeless. A lot of them are kids.)
I don't know how it would make any money, but I think in this dream I am a rich philanthropist anyway, because I certainly don't have the capital to open a business in real life!
August 15: If you were to open up any sort of shop or store, what type of shop would you open?
I'm going to interpret "shop" more broadly as "business."
I've often thought, over the last year, that there is both a need and a market niche for a gym (with swimming pool!)* for trans people.
It would be open to everyone, of course (I think that's the law) but marketed to the whole queer community, and with its facilities and policies designed for the safety and comfort of trans folks. Changing areas and showers with privacy, for one thing; a sliding-scale fee (many queer people, especially queer people who aren't white cis gay men, are poor); staff who are preferably queer and trans themselves, or if not, knowledgeable and thoroughly trained; and strict and strictly enforced policies against harassment and creepiness (including cruising and "scene-ness"--there are plenty of gay gyms that cater to that).
(*Because swimming suits are typically very revealing, swimming is a special problem for trans people. Recently a post went around trans Twitter asking, "What would you do if all cis people disappeared for a day?" "Go swimming" was a common answer.)
It would explicitly take the position that all bodies are good bodies: trans bodies are good, fat bodies are good, disabled bodies are good, BIPOC bodies are good, old bodies are good. Because, as mentioned above, while there are gay gyms, they are very much gyms for young-ish conventionally-attractive white cis able-bodied gay men with money.
Attached to the gym would be a nice coffee and tea shop, with baked goods and light meals such as soups and sandwiches. It would have plenty of comfortable seating, and music that's not too loud for conversation. It would have a community room where people could hold meetings. It would be a friendly place for queer kids and other folks not well served by queer bars and nightclubs to gather. It would stay open late, and provided they weren't bothering anyone, people could sit there as long as they needed to for the price of a cup of coffee. (Many queer people are homeless. A lot of them are kids.)
I don't know how it would make any money, but I think in this dream I am a rich philanthropist anyway, because I certainly don't have the capital to open a business in real life!
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 02:01 am (UTC)I am deeply indifferent to gyms, but would totally subscribe to your pool.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-16 09:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-22 08:30 am (UTC)(Google tells me "kneesuits" go down to the knee, and there are also "swim leggings".)
I wear a legsuit with a rashguard (t-shirt made of swimsuit fabric) over the top, and that gives me a level of coverage and gender-neutrality that I'm comfortable with.
I think a LOT of people want more coverage than mainstream swimsuits, for a range of reasons, and companies are finally starting to get with the program.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-22 11:06 am (UTC)A couple of years ago I bought a sort of tunic thing with matching leggings that go halfway down the thigh, but even then my shoulders and arms are exposed, and this in a country with very high UV. I haven't yet dared wear it though. When I was a kid, my mother made me swim in a t-shirt so I wouldn't burn (I used to spend hours in the sea) which I resented but am now grateful for. I've also tried board shorts and sports t-shirt years ago with OK results.
I need more courage!