Gender neutral public restrooms is a hot-button issue in domestic policy nation wide. Across the United States of America, public and private institutions have debated the morality and human right of providing gender neutral bathrooms to the public. This fall, Gustavus will offer gender-neutral bathrooms on the main floor of Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library.
Gender neutral restrooms, or uni-sex bathrooms, are restrooms that are available to persons of any gender and are marked as such. Controversially many states, such as North Carolina, have attempted to pass restrictions on permits for gender-neutral bathrooms; requiring those using public restrooms to use restrooms that match the sex assigned to them at birth. In other words, you must use a restroom that matches the sex labeled on your birth certificate. This proves to be an obstacle for those in the transgender community. Gender neutral restrooms are also beneficial for the elderly, and any person needing to assist a person of the opposite sex. Despite this, opposers of gender neutral restrooms implicitly mention transgender persons as the sole benefactors.
Regardless of this controversy, if not because it is controversial, college campuses, as a place of growth and enlightenment, have entered the national discussion. Gustavus Adolphus College entered the discussion in 2015 and more so, the college decided it was time to provide gender neutral restrooms in Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library.
Gustavus librarian Barbara Fister, who acknowledged the request to support diversity and inclusion at Gustavus in the form of gender neutral restrooms, was part of the conversation.
“A fundamental library value is that we support diversity and inclusion … because it was so prominently in the news, the library’s diversity and inclusion interest group [and students] began to investigate the best way to ensure all Gusties and guests have the freedom to pee – and that everyone will feel welcomed and supported in the library, whatever their gender expression. There is a shortage of public restrooms on campus that are not labeled for men or women, and we felt the library should address that in our building, which is common ground for the campus.”
The librarians of Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library proceeded to then speak with those in charge of campus maintenance at Gustavus. Maintenance informed Folke that some bathroom renovations were needed, which will include meeting the current standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Gender neutral bathrooms are a concept very few students are unaware of, but not necessarily in opposition of. Alexis Walsh’19, a Collegite Fellow of Sohre Hall believes having gender neutral bathrooms in such a central part of campus is indicative to basic health and safety rights.
“My biggest concern is health-wise, having other people feel safe. During my CF training, we talked about a lot of social issues concerning diversity, one of them regarding transgender bathrooms as a health concern. A lot of transgender people resist using the bathroom until they physically feel safe and because of that, they end up with a lot of bladder infections,” Walsh said.
On another spectrum, some students on campus do not feel like Gustavus implementing gender neutral bathrooms should be given much attention. Lindsey Lewis’19 finds it odd that Gustavus would place such an emphasis on gender neutrality.
“I think it’s weird that Gustavus is a church affiliated school, yet we’re having gender neutral bathroom(s). Don’t get me wrong, I know other people have different opinions compared to mine, but why is a Christian school putting in family bathrooms essentially? We all just need a toilet-people can use a bathroom whether it’s labeled as “female” or “male”. We are all people. Just use a bathroom”.
Opinions such as these are common on college campuses nationwide. Many students feel as if providing gender neutral bathrooms to the public is in contradiction of their religious beliefs; due to the controversies within the transgender community.
Regardless, of this Gustavus Adolphus College “aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people,” Foster said.“Fortunately, we have six public restrooms, so we can have some with the traditional women and men designations for those who feel most comfortable in those bathroom spaces while offering an option to those who prefer gender-neutral bathrooms”.
The Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library plan will allow necessary renovations for the current male and female designated bathrooms, while shifting one of those restrooms to comply with gender neutrality.