Opinion | Make all-gender restrooms for all

Gracie Fleischman, Opinions Editor

All-Gender Restroom Day took place at Chapman last Thursday, when several on-campus restrooms were temporarily transformed into gender-neutral ones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These restrooms included the second floor of Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Argyros Forum and the Sandhu Residence Center. Although there are already 15 all-gender bathrooms on campus, bringing more awareness is always needed on our campus.

But most of us, using a public restroom is a pretty easy – if perhaps a little gross – experience. For students who are transgender or gender-nonconforming, that experience can be a terrifying and stressful one. They must choose between using the restroom that makes them feel comfortable, and the one that others expect them to use.

For example, if you are a trans individual who was assigned the female gender at birth but you identify and present as male, you may want to use the men’s restroom. If you are gender-nonconforming, you may not feel comfortable going into either restroom. Chapman students who identify as trans or gender-nonconforming reported that they have been screamed and yelled at in the restroom, questioned in a hostile manner and they were asked to leave, according to a pamphlet from the Cross-Cultural Center.

Fifty-four percent of respondents in a DC Trans Coalition survey reported experiencing physical problem from avoiding public restrooms, such as dehydration, kidney infections and urinary tract infections. Nine percent were either physically removed from restrooms or sexually assaulted in a restroom.
There is no reason this should happen. The ability to use a public restroom is a basic right that everyone deserves. Chapman has made progress by implementing gender-inclusive housing as well as providing some all-gender bathrooms.

The school’s website states that students have equal opportunity to use restroom facilities on campus that best correspond with their gender identity. Those who do not identify with the gender binary may use the restroom that is most appropriate and comfortable for them. Students don’t have to provide documentation of their gender identity to access any restroom.

However, there are still many people who oppose all-gender bathrooms. A common complaint is that the restrooms wouldn’t be safe for women and children, but trans and gender-nonconforming individuals are not dangerous. In fact, when state leaders, law enforcement and school officials in states with all-gender bathrooms were asked if sexual assault and rape increased, they said no, according to Time Magazine.

Whether or not all-gender restrooms are implemented, nothing currently stops predators from assaulting women and children in public restrooms. Instead, gender-segregated bathrooms allow for trans people to be discriminated against and put in danger.

Please remember that if you are a cisgender person, you have the privilege of never having to worry about being welcome in a bathroom. If you are uncomfortable about the idea of a gender-neutral restroom, do your homework before you jump to conclusions.