Gender Neutral Bogs with Urinals!

[Davros]

I hope it is ok to put a photo of a letter in our local paper here. It shows the writer's name but it has been printed publicly already. So how about sharing toilet space with urinals if you're a man or woman or other!!

I agree MsSafina - this is being driven by the sort of men who, after lobbying for or imposing mixed-sex toilets (because they have the authority to do so) are later convicted of sex crimes usually involving children.

If it was a condition of lobbying for mixed sex toilets that you had your hard drive confiscated and scanned by the police this would be nipped in the bud pronto!

There has to be a better solution to the issue raised by LassOfFyvie, ie. a father who needs to accompany a young daughter to the toilet.

This is hardly a frequent occurrence in the grand scheme of things.

Many public toilets now include a loo with baby changing facilities, often directly accessible without having to walk through "The Ladies". That would one option.

Although I would not normally advocate taking over an Accessible Loo for other purposes, I think this would also be a reasonable option in these circumstances too - because they are going to be infrequent.

Bloody Nora! Just read the article about the "dirty protest" at Somerville College after the toilets were made "Gender Neutral" and as part of that the College decided to board up the urinals, presumably to protect privacy.

This bit!

LGBTQ+ Officer, Eilidh Wilson, told Cherwell: “It has been pointed out that the sentiment behind the act of vandalism may not have been one of hatred of transgender people or hostility to gender neutral toilets but rather frustration at the removal of the urinals.

“This seems especially likely considering that the request of the JCR motion that was passed last term mentioned nothing about the removal of urinals. I personally supported keeping the urinals but college made the decision to remove them after the motion was passed.

“Regardless of the motivations of the perpetrator/perpetrators, this act of vandalism comes on the back of an extremely important change to make college, especially the toilets, an inclusive space for trans people.

“It has upset many LGBT students in college and has been received by some as a sign of intolerance and an alarming lack of sensitivity to the experiences of trans people.

“Whoever is behind this is seriously failing to see the bigger picture: the loss of a urinal is simply not as important as trans rights.”

Since the incident, transgender flags have been hung over what was the urinals in a mark of solidarity.

cherwell.org/2018/05/06/dirt-protest-against-somervilles-newly-gender-neutral-toilets/

Complete this sentence!

" . . . . . is simply not as important as trans rights."

I think that deserves a thread of its own!

Molesmokes - my local shopping has very family friendly spaces - feeding areas, family rooms with private toilets etc - which would suit all manner of parents needing to taking their children to a toilet.

It's very interesting how there must be (I'd have thought) far more families needing family-friendly toilets, than trans/NB people requiring gender neutral spaces - yet the major push is for gender neutral. I don't see Edward Lord or Mr "campaigner-been-charged-with-child-abuse-Middlesbrough" campaigning for family friendly spaces.

I see mainly MEN trying to break down safeguarding barriers in public spaces - and calling women "prudes" when they object.

Yes, it is 'all about the trans' isn't it.

Also from that article, the wokey-types objected to the signage. Traditional, universally understood symbols that represent the entirety of human reality were not good enough. The feelz weren't represented, even though we pee with our bodies and not with our feelz. What about the non-binaries? What about the furries? The cyclists? The left-handed Jewish vegetarians? Reality isn't inclusive enough!

Rather than stating “gender neutral”, as requested, the signs display traditional, binary symbols and make no reference to those who identify outside of the gender spectrum.

I hate the way Americans call public toilets restrooms and bathrooms. It's so prudish. It's a toilet FFS.

But it is useful to flag where the poster comes from.