Quick Summary
- New signs indicate 'gender-inclusive'
- 120 single-person restrooms affected
- Conversions taking place this month
Signs of beskirted and trousered figures are being removed from 120 restroom doors across the Davis campus by the end of February to convert gendered or unisex restrooms to gender-inclusive restrooms.
Imagine for a second the angst felt by someone who doesn’t fit within the traditional gender stereotypes — in how they style their face or their hair, or in the clothes they choose to wear. As they stand outside gender-specific restrooms, they are forced to decide: a) do I go into that restroom and possibly get stares, or, b) go into that restroom and face the threat of physical or verbal violence.
In addition to being a safe place for people who identify as transgender, genderqueer and gender nonconforming, gender-inclusive restrooms also serve parents and caregivers who must accompany opposite-gendered children and others into restrooms.
‘Restrooms: For People, Not Genders’
The LGBTQIA Resource Center invites the campus community to an afternoon of interactive learning about an important structural issue: access to gender-inclusive restrooms. Participants can design their very own gender-inclusive restroom signs (during the center’s Crafternoon Collaboration), watch an educational film that provides an overview of the need for gender-inclusive restrooms, and learn more about how the campus is meeting that need.
WHEN: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5
WHERE: LGBTQIA Resource Center, Student Community Center
The conversion to gender-inclusive applies to the campus's "single-stall" restrooms ("single stall" is defined as one toilet and one sink; or one toilet, one sink and one urinal), in public and private spaces (areas not normally open to the public). Apart from the new exterior signs and the addition of lockable door hardware if needed, nothing else will change.
Spaces accessible to all
UC Davis started examining its restroom designations last summer, in part because of guidelines from the UC Office of the President requiring the campuses to “focus on providing a safe environment, consistent with UC principles of community and efforts around civility and respect.”
Allen Tollefson, assistant vice chancellor for Facilities Management, formed the Gender-Inclusive Restroom Committee to identify ways to help create an environment that is safe, accessible and respectful of all individuals.
“These are pretty simple changes that go a long way toward making everyone feel more comfortable,” said Tollefson, committee chair, “Regardless of the mandate from UCOP, we wanted to open up spaces on campus that were accessible to all.”
coté said she is incredibly pleased with how creatively the committee has looked at this issue, particularly in receiving input from graduate and undergraduate students.
Gender-inclusive restrooms already exist in some campus buildings. Here's a map of the public restrooms that are being converted to gender-inclusive.
Media Resources
Grant Nejedlo