Unisex Education

A man who identifies as a woman may not feel comfortable in the men’s restroom. To accommodate this discomfort, the University of Vermont, and at least 17 other colleges nationwide, have added gender-neutral bathrooms to their facilities. The four new bathrooms at the University of Vermont‘s student center cost $2,500 a piece to build.

“I think they’re a really important thing to have,” said a 19-year old transgender student. “Just because there can be tense situations in gendered bathrooms, especially for trans-identified people, you need a space to use the rest room and feel safe and comfortable.”

Transgender activists are glad for this first step but they also want the University of Vermont to go even farther and install gender-neutral bathrooms in the library and private showers in the gym.

This story should hit close to home for Californians. Our own legislature is currently considering SB 777, legislation that could mandate gender-neutral bathrooms in our public schools, including elementary schools.

SB 777 is broad and sweeping legislation that would force schools to adopt new curriculum and prohibit school programs and activities from reflecting adversely on homosexual and transgender individuals. Gender-specific bathrooms could be considered discriminatory if SB 777 becomes law.

Karen England is the executive director of the Capitol Resource Institute.