A Gender-Neutral Option
A single-stall, handicapped-accessible restroom at East Hampton High School, outside the cafeteria and near a pair of boys and girls bathrooms, has been designated as “gender neutral” thanks to the efforts of two students.
Nicole Lockwood and Gianna Gregorio, who are members of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance, were part of a campaign begun in the 2014-15 school year to convince administrators that one was needed. The restroom chosen had been for faculty members.
“We’re all really excited,” Gianna, a sophomore who is president of the alliance, said. “It shows how much the community is supportive of this.” She said the gender-neutral restroom had been met with questioning from some students who may not have understood why it was needed. “It really is our duty as a community to provide what our students need, however they identify,” she said.
Nicole, a senior, was instrumental in leading the effort. She even convinced a company called Smart Sign to donate the “all gender restroom” sign that now hangs on its door. The room will also be helpful for some disabled students who have aides of a different gender, she said.
“I think it fills a lot of needs, not just for L.G.B.T.-plus students who might not feel comfortable going into one bathroom or another,” she said. “Anyone can use it.”
Adam Fine, the high school principal, said in an email that the gender-neutral restroom is “a great idea and long overdue,” although he added that there were other options as well. “We have had a few students who have transitioned over the past five years,” he said. “We have always accommodated their needs. This seems to be the next most logical step for us. . . . I do not see it as a major issue at all.”
The use of bathrooms and locker rooms by gay and transgender students has been a hot-button issue around the country. In New York State, however, the guidelines are clear: Restricting access to bathrooms based on a student’s anatomical gender constitutes sex discrimination.
“Alternative accommodations, such as a single ‘unisex’ bathroom or private changing space, should be made available to students who request them, but should never be forced upon students, nor presented as the only option,” the guidelines read.