Times
Gender‑neutral toilets: My daughter was called selfish for wanting girls‑only loos at school
by Kelli Neale
June 26 2018
(extract)
However, yesterday ministers announced that they had “no intention” of changing laws that allow for single-sex toilets and changing rooms. And this means that whether a shop or cinema has unisex or single-sex facilities remains at its discretion.
For me this story has a particular, personal resonance. Last September my daughter came home from her co-ed school crying. “Oh no,” she said. “They’ve made the toilets unisex.”
“What, all of them?”
“Yes.” (continues)
concludes:
"The weeks passed and my daughter — along with others who were unhappy with the new loos — kept complaining, but their complaints fell on deaf ears. They were told to put up and shut up and think of others. As a parent, this felt wrong. Did only the transgender voice matter? What about my daughter’s voice? Shouldn’t both be listened to?
My daughter saw red. She started a petition for boys, girls and gender-neutrals to sign. Hundreds did. She insisted that a school council meeting be held and unisex toilets discussed. They were. And you know what? Eventually hers and other unhappy voices were listened to. And against the odds the toilets were quietly changed back to how they had been, with a smaller provision of unisex toilets kept for those who choose to use them.
It’s been a tough but fulfilling school year in which my child has learnt that if you’re passionate enough about something, you can effect change.
Don’t think for one minute, however, that she’s not sensitive to the transgender child. She is. She just wants everyone’s voices to be heard. It’s not about changing the law one way or the other. It’s about making sure that there’s provision for people of all genders or non-genders and that everyone feels comfortable everywhere."
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/genderneutral-toilets-my-daughter-was-called-selfish-for-wanting-girlsonly-loos-at-school-cwth60b2c