Going Gender-Neutral

The recent College-wide survey of bathrooms, conducted by the Harvard Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA), brought to light an easily trivialized—yet easily solved—issue regarding gender-specific single-occupancy bathrooms. Having located 24 single-stall facilities specifically assigned to either men or women, the group is calling for administrators and House Masters to alter the existent labeling to accommodate both genders and guarantee that all future Harvard buildings be designed with at least one gender-neutral bathroom. The change will likely not affect the vast majority of Harvard students, but that does not mean it’s not one worth making. While the difference would be minor to most, the comfort conferred to transgender or gender-variant students and faculty could be great.

Surveying the school’s bathrooms, the BGLTSA attempted to raise campus awareness of the embarrassment, harassment and potential health issues of transgender or gender-variant students who lack the option of gender-non-specific bathrooms. According to the group’s recently released report, “Besides reinforcing gender norms, bathrooms that are clearly marked as male/female force many individuals to enter bathroom environments that they consider uncomfortable and unsafe.” The simple step of remarking bathrooms as gender-neutral would greatly alleviate this discomfort—not to mention open up more bathroom space for all.

Currently, there are 38 gender-neutral bathrooms on campus, yet most are located in the River Houses. The fact that very few are presently available in the Yard and Science Center leaves transgender students and faculty without options come class-time. Lacking this option, the BGLTSA suggests that some students and faculty might avoid using bathrooms altogether, often fearing reprimand or harassment for using a bathroom that they feel is appropriate for their gender.

Since the start of its new campaign, the BGLTSA has highlighted the severity of the problems potentially faced by avoiding bathroom breaks—with afflictions ranging from emotional distress, due to fear of harassment, to dehydration and kidney failure. Opening all 24 single-occupancy bathrooms to both sexes will greatly diminish the threat of these problems. Following the example of Currier House—which promptly relabeled its four single-stall bathrooms following the report’s release—we urge the immediate implementation of the BGLTSA’s recommendations.

Opponents of this minor step have criticized the BGLTSA for employing sensational stories in their report or using ridiculous rhetoric to gain support for their cause. But the issue is not the BGLTSA’s methods of bringing attention to this problem; rather, the fact remains that there are some in the Harvard community that experience extreme discomfort and pressure when going to the bathroom. The move to render single-occupancy bathrooms open to both genders would entail insignificant costs and ensure that students and faculty have equal access to more gender-neutral bathrooms. There is no good reason to oppose the BGLTSA’s suggestions, regardless of its rhetoric.