Overview

Transgendered people may feel discomfort or suffer harassment when using male- or female-specific restooms on campus. "Gender Neutral Restrooms," usually single-stall restrooms, provide a safe facility for trans people. These restrooms also assist families (e.g. mothers bringing sons or fathers bringing daughters to a restroom), as well as people with disabilities who need the assistance of an opposite-sex attendant. Single-stall restrooms also more easily meet accessibility regulations set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). California building codes require at least one female-specific restroom and one male-specific restroom in new buildings. However, additional facilities may be gender free.

Actions

• UCLGBTIA Resolution in Support of Safe and Accessible Gender Neutral Restrooms (*pdf format)
• The University of Arizona's Statement on Restroom Access is a model for other campuses.
• UC San Diego successfully approached the AVC of Business Affairs/Facilities to compile a list of restrooms on campus. The AVC inventoried single- and multi-stall facilities, and offered to change signs for single stall rooms, and put identified list of restrooms on the web. The AVC will also propose more single-stall units within future buildings.
• UCLA also has a list of campus single-stall restrooms on the web.
• UC Riverside also has a list of single-occupancy restrooms on the web.
• UC Santa Barbara student group PISSAR (People In Search of Safe & Accessible Restrooms) is a coalition of queer activists and accessibility/disability activists. Members are visiting every restroom on the UCSB campus to learn more about whether they are accessible to people with disabilities, gender free, stocked with tampons, child-care friendly, etc. See the PISSAR Checklist (*pdf format) or email PISSAR at pissar_ucsb@yahoo.com
• Use the documentary video "Toilet Training" to educate your campus. The video addresses the persistent discrimination, harassment, and violence that people who transgress gender norms face in gender segregated bathrooms. Using the stories of people who have been harassed, arrested or beaten for trying to use bathrooms, Toilet Training focuses on bathroom access in public space, in schools, and at work. Cost is on a sliding scale, or $75 for community organizations and student groups or $195 for institutions.
• On November 12, 2003 the Associated Students of San Diego State University passed Council Bill F03-05 "Resolution in Support of Gender Neutral/Family Restrooms" with acclamation. This resolution will provide for safe restrooms across the campus for transgender students. The first phase of the resolution will be to convert a set of male/female restrooms in SDSU's student Union building, Aztec Center, to be converted into gender neutral facilities. This will include changing the door signs to read Male/Female, placing locks on the doors, and adding diaper changing tables into the restrooms. The first part of the project, paid for by the Associated Students, will cost about $2400.00. The resolution also states that the location of all designated Gender Neutral Restrooms will be listed in the University's General Catalog in the "Special Programs and Services" section.
• Signage - Avoid any gender definition. Circle & triangle symbols are seen as gender-defining (like stick-man/dress figures). Prefer use of the word "restroom."
• Contacts for Design & Construction service at UCOP:
  Asst. Director Michael Wester - SoCal
  Asst. Director Michael Bade - NorCal
  Facilities Management at UCOP: Director Johnny Torres
  Campus Architects - Campus Standards are defined locally
• Protest the lack of facilities by posting signs declaring restrooms to be "Gender Free."