User:J.S.Willow/sandbox

Definition
Based on the Dalhousie University's (Nova Scotia, Canada) description of gender neutral washrooms, " A gender-neutral washroom is one where the signage is visibly identified with open, inclusive language, not just male or female. It's evident these facilities are void of gender identity and have accommodations that are especially sensitive to the needs of a greater range of people. Some people are not comfortable using male or female-designated washrooms." [2]

Why Gender Neutral washrooms?

 * It is an equity and human rights issue for people who identify as LGBTQ. All people have the right to access washroom facilities equally
 * Safety, security and dignity
 * Eliminating discrimination and harassment (whether physically, verbally, such as comments or personal questions or emotionally, such as confused or hatred looks..etc)
 * Privacy in the broadest sense; to eliminate barriers for all persons, no matter what their gender, age, religion, ability, health status, or shyness..etc [2]

Advocacy and Inclusion Leadership
One of many examples is the Vancouver Park Board which voted in April 2014 to install gender-neutral washrooms in public buildings. They decided that they will use different signs to indicate a gender neutral washroom. The options were many, among them are an upside-down rainbow triangle, ‘all-inclusive’ gender symbol, a simple icon representing a toilet, or the word washroom or gender neutral washroom. Based on the global news online newspaper, which mentioned that "other regions across Canada offer gender-neutral facilities, but Vancouver is the first municipality to amend building codes to accommodate the washrooms in public buildings." This movement, based on commissioner Trevor Loke, was aimed to make everyone feel welcomed and included. “We think that the recommendation of universal washrooms is a good idea,” says Loke. “We will be using more inclusive language based on the BC Human Rights Code.” [3]

Gender neutral washroom initiative plans could start from an inclusive approach and universal design. There has been many divers efforts in using visual language to translate a gender-neutral washroom, some are broad and more inclusive of the broader diverse users (e.g: "washroom" or "gender neutral washroom") and others are geared towards using a specific aimed language, such as: "women, and trans women" or "men, and trans men". The first, is more of an unlearning process and that washrooms don't have to be segregated, and the later language advocates and educates people of the Trans community rights to access the washroom they prefer and feel safe and comfortable to use. [4][5]

References:

 * 2 Dalhousie university - Gender‑Neutral Washrooms
 * 3 GlobalNews.ca - Vancouver Park Board votes to install gender-neutral washrooms
 * 4 GlobalNews.ca - Vancouver Park Board asking for input on universal washrooms and signage
 * 5 CBC.ca - What should gender-neutral washroom signs look like?

Other Resources:

 * Queens University - Gender Neutral Washroom Policy
 * Canoe.ca - UWO opens transgendered
 * Canada.com - A revo-loo-tion on the UBC campus