…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Ysgol Corn Hir, a newly constructed primary school in Llangefni, Anglesey, has come under fire from some parents for including a gender-neutral toilet.
Although the school only opened on 17 April, concerns about the toilet had already been raised following an online sneak peek that showed a toilet for binary, non-binary, and disabled users.
While some people applauded the move, others found the toilet sign “ridiculous.”
The £10m school replaces an older facility that had outgrown its intake.
Toilet for Adult Visitors Only
The Anglesey Council explained that the gender-neutral toilet is for adult visitors only and that pupils will have separate male and female toilets.
A spokesperson told North Wales Live that the “pupil-designated toilets throughout the school are partitioned into separate male and female sections, with shared handwashing facilities.”
However, some parents are concerned that the toilet will impact their children negatively.
One mother, referred to as C Parry, wrote to North Wales Live expressing her concerns for the “welfare of my child” and how the “extreme approach by Anglesey Council will take away the innocence of our young children and amounts to a forced sexualisation of our kids by the council.”
Mixed Reactions
While some parents are concerned about the impact of gender-neutral facilities on children, others applaud the council’s efforts to embrace all identities.
They believe that gender-neutral facilities will allow non-binary and transgender people to feel more accepted and reduce discrimination in binary toilets.
A non-binary female dismissed the notion that gender-neutral facilities would push gender self-identification into schools.
They argued that such facilities are not there to make children uncertain but to reassure already uncertain ones that they will be accepted no matter who they want to become.
However, the gender-neutral symbol has upset some non-binary people as it appears to depict a “half-and-half” person.
Call for Reconsideration
Rachel Dee, president of The Beaumont Society, a self-help body for the UK’s transgender community, called on Anglesey Council to reconsider its approach to gender-neutral facilities.
She believes that the inclusion of such facilities in schools reflects a general negative attitude towards the trans community generated by government and media.
Last year, the UK government announced that new offices, schools, hospitals, and entertainment venues would be expected to have separate male and female lavatories instead of gender-neutral facilities.
This move, coupled with reports that the UK’s equalities secretary is considering challenging the Equality Act to redefine gender as ‘biological sex,’ has alarmed the non-binary community.
Such a move could result in trans women being barred from single-sex spaces and events, including hospital wards and sports.
Commentary
The inclusion of gender-neutral facilities in public places has been a contentious issue in many parts of the world.
While some people view gender-neutral facilities as a way to promote inclusivity and reduce discrimination, others argue that such facilities infringe on their privacy and safety.
In schools, the inclusion of gender-neutral facilities has raised concerns about the impact on children’s welfare and the message it conveys.
However, schools have a duty to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all pupils, including those who identify as non-binary or transgender.
As society becomes more diverse, it is essential to find ways to accommodate everyone’s needs and preferences while ensuring that no one is discriminated against.