Trans and gender diverse advocates are pushing for public bathrooms to become gender neutral to curb “bathroom anxiety” among members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry investigating the design, accessibility and inclusivity of public toilets received a proposal to remove male and female labels.
A presentation by six researchers called for gender-specific bathroom signage to be changed to gender-neutral diagrams showing whether standing urinals or sinks are available.
She also called for menstrual products not to be allocated to gender-specific facilities, arguing that “not all people who menstruate are women and not all women menstruate.”
The University of Sydney is among advocates urging the state government to reform public toilets, with research claiming the current model forces trans and gender diverse people to use a toilet that does not align with their identity.
The university’s submission to the inquiry also added that trans and gender diverse people felt “uncomfortable, unsafe or anxious” accessing public toilets.
It proposed that “all gender-neutral bathrooms be provided consistently and equitably in all public settings, particularly in schools and other educational, sporting and recreational settings and in workplaces.”
The university also proposed that all single-stall bathrooms and showers should be designated as “gender neutral through simple but explicit signage.”
Trans and gender diverse advocates are pushing for public bathrooms to become gender-neutral cubicles to curb “bathroom anxiety” among members of the LGBTQIA+ community (pictured, bathroom block Bondi Beach public)
A presentation by six researchers called for changing gender-differentiated bathroom signage (pictured)
“Gender-neutral signage should be usage-based diagrams explaining what services are available within healthcare facilities,” the submission reads.
“Remove and avoid all identity-based bathroom icons and signs.”
This would allow people to make an “informed decision” about whether healthcare facilities meet their needs, the university argued.
Councils in New South Wales manage the majority of public toilets and often have autonomy to make decisions about signage and regulations.
Last year, Sydney’s Inner West Council adopted a strategy to promote gender-neutral signage.
Inner West Council claimed that gender-based toilets created “bathroom anxiety” for trans and gender diverse people who have been victims of “harm or threats of violence” when accessing single-sex toilets.
The presentations received a lot of backlash, with some local council mayors strongly opposing the idea of gender-neutral toilet blocks.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone strongly opposed the changes, claiming they would be “inappropriate” in his local council area.
Pictured is an example of a proposed sign for segregated bathrooms indicating that all people can use the bathroom that best aligns with their gender identity.
“Gender-diverse toilets may work in the inner city, but we say no in the west because we know what our community wants and that is to have facilities for men and women,” Mr Carbone said. The daily telegraph.
‘We have facilities where children’s sports are played and I think it would be very difficult for people of different genders to be in bathrooms. I think it’s inappropriate.’
The New South Wales local government, which represents all councils in the state, supported a move towards more inclusive language and gender-neutral bathrooms.
“Moving toward gender-neutral facilities is another step toward recognizing the diverse and changing needs of our community,” the presentation reads.
“The National Building Code, which establishes requirements for restrooms, uses binary language that typically carries over to information and signage in those facilities.”
However, their submission argued that gender-neutral bathrooms should not exclude female and male facilities.
He also warned against excluding gender-specific facilities from sports fields, as they are necessary to allow the practice of men’s and women’s sports.
Inquiry hearings are scheduled for early 2025 before recommendations are made to the state government on whether changes should be made to public toilets.