I was visiting a night club in Helsinki. Everything was fine, until I decided to visit the toilet.
These were gender neutral toilets, and there was a big line. I got in the line, but the lady infront of me starting pointing her palm at me, and saying nope. This is not for you. I replied, this is gender neutral. I can be here.
She kept repeating that. Then after a back and forth of 3-4 times. she was like yeah ok.
She then asked my name. I replied. But she said, no. Its Aladdin. And starting laughing. I was taken back by that. She realized she had said something racist so she acknowledged that herself. But I didn’t feel good so I left the line.
My mood was immediately down. I left the club after that. and I kept thinking about it for days.
These small day to day wounds can pile up, and really have an effect on you in the long term. Its death by a thousand cuts.