Colorado State University Is Seeing A Rise In Gender Inclusive Restrooms On Campus
by Nick Golden
Nicolas Gelgado discusses the sociatal and cultural impacts of Gender Inclusive restrooms, as well as what the future may hold.
As the LGBTQQ Movement continues to grow, bringing awareness and discussion of issues facing people who identify as either Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer, or Questioning into the mainstream, changes are being made by institutions and communities to directly address it.
College Campuses, which are filled with young people eager to see change, and where many LGBTQQ communities across the nation have formal student organizations established, seem to be the first places where American society is witnessing change. Specifically, “Gender Inclusive” restrooms are being built, in various forms, to create a healthier environment for students.
Nicolas Delgado, a second year student at Colorado State University who identifies as a Queer male, and started a petition to establish more Gender Inclusive restrooms on campus, describes them as a “safe space” for students.
“If someone passes [as part of the “male” or “female” binary], it’s easier for them to go into the restroom they desire… and not worry about anyone harassing them,” but for people who are still in the process of transitioning, people see that and that person can become a target, says Delgado.
According to Delgado, the restrooms are also an safe space for people who may lie outside of the LGBTQQ community, such as people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or people who require wheelchair accessibility.
Foula Dimopoulos, Director at the CSU GLBTQQA Resource Center, also views the restrooms as a safe space, not only physically, but also mentally.
“More gender inclusive restrooms mean that people can use the facilities and not endanger their medical well-being,” says Dimopoulos, “families of all compositions can utilize a changing table, and people with disabilities have accessible spaces (where applicable). Students, staff, and faculty who identify as trans* are not forced into spaces that cause mental and emotional distress or that place them in situations where others can inflict verbal or physical harm.”
Although Delgado and Dimopulos both see the Gender Inclusive restrooms on campus as a positive and progressive choice, Jenna Howerton, a transfer student from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, says that they are “a step in the right direction, but not a solution.”
Howerton says that at CC the dorm restrooms are all “gender Inclusive,” as opposed to the CSU approach of division between Male, Female, and Gender Inclusive. Howerton understands that there might be an “initial shock” with CC’s approach, but that people get over it, whereas at CSU there is a possibility of drawing unnecessary attention, and creating “Gender Inclusive” as outside of the norm.
College Campuses, which are filled with young people eager to see change, and where many LGBTQQ communities across the nation have formal student organizations established, seem to be the first places where American society is witnessing change. Specifically, “Gender Inclusive” restrooms are being built, in various forms, to create a healthier environment for students.
Nicolas Delgado, a second year student at Colorado State University who identifies as a Queer male, and started a petition to establish more Gender Inclusive restrooms on campus, describes them as a “safe space” for students.
“If someone passes [as part of the “male” or “female” binary], it’s easier for them to go into the restroom they desire… and not worry about anyone harassing them,” but for people who are still in the process of transitioning, people see that and that person can become a target, says Delgado.
According to Delgado, the restrooms are also an safe space for people who may lie outside of the LGBTQQ community, such as people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or people who require wheelchair accessibility.
Foula Dimopoulos, Director at the CSU GLBTQQA Resource Center, also views the restrooms as a safe space, not only physically, but also mentally.
“More gender inclusive restrooms mean that people can use the facilities and not endanger their medical well-being,” says Dimopoulos, “families of all compositions can utilize a changing table, and people with disabilities have accessible spaces (where applicable). Students, staff, and faculty who identify as trans* are not forced into spaces that cause mental and emotional distress or that place them in situations where others can inflict verbal or physical harm.”
Although Delgado and Dimopulos both see the Gender Inclusive restrooms on campus as a positive and progressive choice, Jenna Howerton, a transfer student from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, says that they are “a step in the right direction, but not a solution.”
Howerton says that at CC the dorm restrooms are all “gender Inclusive,” as opposed to the CSU approach of division between Male, Female, and Gender Inclusive. Howerton understands that there might be an “initial shock” with CC’s approach, but that people get over it, whereas at CSU there is a possibility of drawing unnecessary attention, and creating “Gender Inclusive” as outside of the norm.
Delgado also understands how there is the possibility of “creating an Other,” but at the end of the day, it’s about creating the safest space possible on campus.
While campuses appear to be taking the initiative to test out what works best when creating a safe space for communities who seek it, but outside of schools it is still not considered a priority. Berkely Hegarty, an employee at a major chain restaurant in Old Town, Ft. Collins says that she has only heard the issue brought up once, and that the manager at the time thought it was “stupid and unnecessary.” “There isn’t really anyone speaking up about it to anyone down here [at the restaurant], so I think maybe there’s not that much awareness,” says Hegarty. This opinion is just an isolated incident at one location in a busy town, but it is reflective of the thoughts and feelings that any people outside of aware communities still hold. Delgado described his views as optimistic on this issue, saying that if change starts to happen in more populated areas, like campuses, then they will start to spread around to other places. It becomes clear that there is still not one certain way to approach Gender Inclusive restrooms, or even a desire by everyone to include them. But the issue of incorporating these restrooms is relatively new, and there is at least an active discussion happening. Ideally, the discussion happening among College Campuses will spark interest outside of just these specific areas, and more major institutions will take notice of the movement for a safer, more inclusive environment. “In my opinion, it is time [for more gender inclusiveness],” says Delgado. “It’s 2014, stop living under your stupid rock.” |
Jenna Howerton Discusses the differences between the Gender Inclusive restroom situations at CSU and CC
Student OpinionsCassie Davis, member of ASCSU
“ASCSU didn’t have much to do with the gender inclusive bathrooms on campus but working for student government and for the overall well being of students, I think it is a great way for the students who are apart of the LGBTQ community to feel comfortable, and if making a bathroom gender inclusive helps to do that, I think it is really important. Student government strives to make CSU the best, most comfortable and friendly place for students so having this apart of our campus is pretty awesome. It is unfortunate that we live in a society that causes things like this to have to be created, but I guess that is just the way things go!” Sean O’Mahoney, Senior at Colorado State University “I just wonder what’s wrong with the bathrooms already labeled for families and non-binary specific use. They are slightly larger, have changing tables, are handicap accessible and allow people who don’t identify as man or woman to use them. We don’t necessarily need to label bathrooms as gender inclusive to prove a new found acceptance.” |