Which toilets a F to M transgender student should use

[WongaDotMom]

DH teaches at an FE college. One of his new students this year is transgender (female to male)
All staff and students are aware of his transgender status. (Not sure about any ops or medications, will ask DH when he gets home)

The student wishes to use the male toilets. Staff had a meeting regarding this issue, trying to avoid any issues with the male students using the toilets at the same time, and decided that the student should NOT use the male toilets, but allocated him use of the disabled toilet instead.

He was offended by this suggestion, as he does not have a disability, and is taking a stance by walking the 10 minute journey to public toilets in town where he can use the male facilities without discrimination.

I think the college should allow him use of the male facilities, DH disagrees, so I am putting it out for the MN jury to decide.

Who is BU?

The student should use whichever one they feel is appropriate to their current state IMO.

whatsforyou you echo my sentiments exactly! I find it incredible that the college have come to this decision!

whats your husband view on this

My husband thinks the college have made the right decision in this case but he agrees with me now that unisex toilets are the way forward.

Does it matter? Really? Someone feels their body does not match their gender - they care so much about that that they face the struggle of gender re-assignment. I could give a toss about which toilet they use.

TirednessKills gender dysphoria is a recognize medical condition and the cure is a sex change.

to me it is saying depression or bipolar ect don't exsist

I think the other students should be asked. At a FE College they will be 16+.

It can work either way. Would every girl be happy with a pre op/med M to F using their toilets. And vice versa.

Unisex toilets as an addition are probably the way to go. But it's not a perfect solution.

FFS! This student identifies as male, therefore he should use the male toilets. I can't believe this kind of ignorance is still rife, especially in places of education who should quite frankly, know their obligations under the law.

linnerrunner i agree that the offer students sensibilities should be considered

lots of people have valid reasons for not wanting to share single-sex spaces

LineRunner

I honestly wouldn't have a problem with that. As I said, the fact that she identified as female would be enough for me. I wouldn't be checking her in and out of the cubicle.

I'm thinking of my own DD who is 16. She would say that everyone's rights have equal importance. Just make the physical space for them to happen.

Linerunner - the law is very clear on this. You can't give people a vote on whether or not they'd like to unlawfully discriminate. Would yo suggest letting men vote on whether women should be allowed in the workplace?

I would add that any student being discriminatary against another student over a sex change they would be suspended and if they carried on then they would be told to go to another collage.

This could not happen in a work place, so i think it a life lesson.

I do take your point, but ultimately agree with hermione. Regardless of what someone looks like, the law supports the gender the person has adopted.

www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/forms/tribunals/ts-grp/gender-recognition-applicationf-form-gender-recognition-certificate.pdf

well this document say diffrent, you can legally change your sex.

as i understand it-toilets are segregated along the lines of sex, not gender?

hermione. I'll be honest and tell you I haven't a clue what the law is on toilets at single sex sixth-form settings in the UK.

I am hopeful that young people with enough problems already find people fighting their corner; as I always would for them.

Male toilets obviously

The college's attitude disgusts me. Forcing a girl out the female toilets because of other people bullying her. Next thing you know they'll be telling redheads to dye their hair if they want to avoid being called rude names.

I hope what they are doing is illegal, and if so, I hope the boy writes a nice letter explaining things to them, referencing the appropriate legislation. That should hopefully prompt a change without needing to do anything further

I teach in a sixth form and would hate to see unisex toilets unless they were standalone units. Girls in particular need to feel safe if they're going to the loo; they could feel very threatened if they walked into a communal room with several stalls to find a bunch of lads in there.

We have had the same discussions re transgender students - of course you have to have a meeting about it! This is not something that most colleges have had to face; decisions need to be made - it's not always obvious what to do.

We do say that the disabled toilets aren't just for disabled students, they are for anyone who particularly needs privacy. All of the staff use them, given we don't have separate staff toilets.

I would be most concerned with the safety of the person involved. If they felt safe going to the men's toilets, then fine.

its not a question of feeling unsafe because the transgenered person poses a threat

in the case of mtf transgenered people without surgery; girls way not want a male person with a penis in the toilets, in the girls toilets. This might be because of experiences they have had in the past. Going to the toilet is intimate and vulnerable. Why should a young girl have to recount dreadful experiences and justify why she doesnt want a person of male sex in the toilets? in a meeting?

at my University they just changed two of the most used toilets to unisex, and put a lock on the door. These only had one toilet each, so there weren't unused stalls. You just went in and locked the main door. Problem solved.