‘Gender-neutral’ lavatories are an invasion of women’s privacy - Kemi Badenoch

[IwantToRetire]

I would never have guessed when I first became an MP how much time I would spend looking at toilet policy. But, increasingly, my job is spent legislating for common sense and stopping people determined to do destructive things.

A decade ago, there was no need to clarify who could use which toilet. However, in today’s world, some are trying to redefine biological sex to mean however one chooses to identify. This has led to multiple instances of organisations, <a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/o/15i3m/www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/31/kemi-badenoch-gender-neutral-toilets-rishi-sunak/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">from schools to music venues, removing single-sex (male only or female only) toilets and replacing them with “gender-neutral” versions.

That is why today the Government is setting out clearly what the difference is, and what best practice toilet design should look like. The debate around sex-based rights has become confused. Basic tenets of everyday life, such as the right to privacy in a single sex space, are framed as transphobic by a vocal minority of activists.

Women should have exclusive access to public toilet facilities reserved specifically for them. Men should have the same. Female loos must have cubicles, while male ones can have urinals. Transgender people should have privacy. The sign on the door should clearly tell you what to expect.

The Conservatives are the only party of common sense. <a class="break-all" href="https://archive.ph/o/15i3m/www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/08/09/suella-braverman-set-firm-trans-guidance-schools/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We won’t sit idly by as schoolgirls get infections because they feel uncomfortable using “gender-neutral” loos. We will never be ashamed of defending the right to privacy and dignity for all. No matter how trendy the opposition or how vocal the outrage, we will intervene where common sense disappears.

Extracts from longer article at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/13/gender-neutral-lavatories-are-an-invasion-of-womens-privacy/

Also available via https://archive.ph

NB there is an existing thread about this proposal (from last year) because the Government have now published the guidelines. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4870722-female-only-toilets-will-be-guaranteed-in-new-buildings So discussion on toilets is ongoing.

Just thought it might be interesting to have a thread to see what the response of others parties might be to this, if at all. Not to duplicate discussion on other thread.

Presumably this is more than KB making a leadership bid, but the Tories do seem to let her make public statements relating to "common sense" (eg EA article) in contrast to other Ministers who are still in the foaming at the mouth little englander mode when making statements / comments.

Good article

Will single sex provision be enforced by law?

In the past, toilets which were fully enclosed rooms used by both sexes were called ‘unisex’. I have no lroblem with anyone using these toilets.

However, when you have a row of cubicles, these should be female only.

Not sure how the disabled community are going to feel if their toilets become unisex toilets as shown in The photograph above. if anyone can identify as anyone, if there’s a long queue at the ladies, who’s going to stop Margot from accounts using the disabled toilet?

Will single sex provision be enforced by law?

This relates to planning regulation for public buildings. I assume that includes theates etc., but whether restuarants etc., dont know.

The call for evidence analysis has been carefully considered, and research has been commissioned by my Department on the design of toilet facilities. Following on from this, in Autumn 2022, the Department will launch a technical consultation on formal changes to the building regulations and approved guidance, informed by the call for evidence responses.

There is to be a consultation https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-07-04/hcws172

To be fair my Labour MP is also a biological realist.

New building requirements for separate male and female toilets
Government confirms measures to reverse the rise of gender-neutral toilets as part of wider efforts to protect single sex spaces.
From: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities , The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, and Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE
Published 13 August 2023
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-building-requirements-for-separate-male-and-female-toilets

It also says, "A new short technical consultation to shape the changes will open tomorrow."

Looks like this page will be updated on 14 Aug with the new technical consultation:

Consultation outcome
Toilet provision for men and women: call for evidence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/toilet-provision-for-men-and-women-call-for-evidence

After a consultation, only 12% are supportive of only separate sex toilets.

The consultation led to this though, the press release dated July 2022. Has something happened since?

Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Women and Equalities, said:
It is important that everybody has privacy and dignity when using public facilities. Yet the move towards ‘gender neutral’ toilets has removed this fundamental right for women and girls.

These proposals will ensure every new building in England is required to provide separate male and female or unisex facilities, and publish guidance to explain the difference, protecting the dignity, privacy and safety of all.

Gender neutral toilets are all over continental Europe without complaint AFAIK. Why is it only a problem in England?

You mean mixed sex.

The "new buildings" thing is fine so far as it goes; but what about all the existing buildings?

This was a consultation, not a survey. It was also not a winner takes all contest. What is clear is that consent to alter facilities to mixed-sex is not universal, and consent cannot be overridden by the apparent majority on behalf of the minority who do not consent.

Who was consulted? The devil is in the detail...

I've never seen on in France, and I go there regularly. Where have you seen them and how do you know there are no complaints or other issues?

@donnawinters do you think only 2% of the population is in favour of disabled toilets, or could it be that this specific consultation was not answered by a representative sample of the population due to not having been widely promoted? I don't remember having the opportunity to participate. Apparently 2 thirds of respondents cited some Stonewall report, so it looks like it was heavily promoted by trans groups.

That’s lucky otherwise disabled people wouldn’t have their own loos

‘The example of disabled persons’ toilets is most stark and cannot be interpreted as only 2% of respondents believing disabled persons’ toilets should be provided.’

donnawinters · Today 12:55
Gender neutral toilets are all over continental Europe without complaint AFAIK.

Just not true.

That's an odd question. Have you asked all over Europe to find out how they feel about it to establish that it's "without complaint".

There's 760 million people in 50 countries. How are you gathering the information about "without complaint" for that many people in so many languages?

I am sure we will be fascinated with the research that indicates "without complaint".

Or does AFAIK mean you can just say it and it's true?

Who is your MP?

From the report:

"The example of disabled persons’ toilets is most stark and cannot be interpreted as only 2% of respondents believing disabled persons’ toilets should be provided.

The same logic should be applied to all these numbers, which should be taken in the context of the call for evidence. For each line below, this is the number and percentage of people who, when given free choice of what to comment on, chose to indicate their support for these toilet types."

If I had a survey which asked me if I wanted non-gendered toilets I might be confused, cos what I want is single sex toilets not gendered toilets. Cos I don't want my toilets gendered, I want my toilets sexed!

I'm a frequent visitor to Rome, but Italy more generally - and I have never seen gender neutral toilets. Sometimes in a small establishment there will just be one toilet - in a fully enclosed room with basin, for use by all - as you get in many establishments all over.

That is a highly questionable survey. What is the source of it?

It's a government consultation carried out by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It's not a survey. It's a summary of the consultation responses, interpreted by the government.