Inclusive Washroom poster

Inclusive Washroom Inititiative

Sept. 19, 2022
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Everyone has the right to use the washroom in accordance with their lived gender identity and/or gender expression. Accessing a washroom on campus can present a barrier for some trans and gender diverse people due to gender monitoring and fear of harm and harassment.

Laurier worked to address this barrier throughout 2016 and 2017 by implementing an initiative that replaced the gender specific signs at single-user restrooms with signs free of gender symbols. This was a critical first step to increasing the inclusiveness of Laurier, however, it is not a complete solution.

The Inclusive Washroom Initiative serves as the next step to increasing the inclusiveness of spaces at Laurier by providing signage at multi-user washrooms indicating that Laurier respects and supports everyone's right to choose a washroom based on how they identify and present. This signage will also remind people to refrain from commenting on who is accessing which washroom.

If You Experience Harm in the Washroom as a Trans and Non-Binary Person

If you, or someone else, has experienced harm, there are options for support and reporting available on campus.

If you are a student, you can access support from:

Find Immediate Help

If you or someone else feel like you are in immediate danger, access Special Constable Services using the following methods:

If You Witness Harm Against Trans and Non-Binary People in Washrooms

Everyone is safer when there are fewer expectations of what kind of person can use what space, especially based on appearances. If you see someone questioning another person’s gender identity or right to access a bathroom, you can intervene in support of the person experiencing harm.

Accessing a washroom on campus can present a barrier for some trans and gender diverse people due to gender monitoring (challenging people about the washroom they are accessing) and fear of harm and harassment.

You can make a choice to actively and visibly support trans and non-binary people to safely accessing the bathroom that fits their identity and comfort.

Check out the Five D's of Bystander Intervention to learn how you can support someone who's being harmed.

Background

As referenced in the OHRC policy on preventing discrimination based on gender identity, everyone has the right to use the washroom in accordance with their lived gender identity and/or gender expression. Accessing a washroom on campus can present a barrier for some trans and gender diverse people due to gender monitoring (challenging people about the washroom they are accessing) and fear of harm and harassment. Choosing not to use a washroom or feeling anxious when doing so can have negative consequences on one’s mental and physical health.

Many of the gender symbols (women/men) that marked the single-user washrooms were removed throughout 2015-2017, driven by a group of graduate students on the Brantford campus and the Centre for Women and Trans People in Waterloo, which was a critical first step to increasing the inclusiveness of Laurier. However, this is not a complete solution. There are still many buildings that do not offer gender neutral washrooms and no one, including trans and gender diverse people, should be expected to only use single-user washrooms. 

To increase the inclusiveness of spaces at Laurier, signage is provided at gender specific, multi-user washrooms indicating that Laurier respects and supports everyone’s right to choose a washroom based on how they identify and present. This signage will also remind people to refrain from commenting on who is accessing which washroom.

The project involves a collaboration between Human Resources, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the University Employment Equity Advisory Committee’s Women and 2SLGBTQ+ Working Group and the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management. The project was made possible through the generous support of the Students’ Union, with funds from the Student Life Levy.

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and their connected student groups, the University Employment Equity Advisory Committee’s Women and 2SLGBTQ+ Working Group and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice were consulted on this project. Advance notification will be provided to faculty and staff unions, with an opportunity for questions and feedback on the proposed communication plan.

Learning Resources

FAQs

 

Why might trans and gender diverse people feel unsafe using gender specific washrooms?

Everyone has the right to use the washroom in accordance with their lived gender identity and/or gender expression. Accessing a washroom on campus can present a barrier for some trans and gender diverse people due to gender monitoring and fear of harm and harassment. OutLook, a study exploring the wellbeing of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Waterloo Region found that 57% of the 112 trans participants avoided public washrooms (Davis et al., 2019).

Choosing not to use a washroom or feeling anxious when doing so can have negative consequences on one’s mental and physical health. While gender neutral, single-stall washrooms are available in some campus buildings, these are not in all buildings. More importantly, trans, and gender diverse people have the right access the washrooms of their choice based on how they identify and choose to present themselves.

What does the legislation in Ontario and Canada say about gender identity and expression?

A: Both the Canadian Human Rights Act and Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) include gender identity and expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination. Canadians are protected in their right to the gender identity of their choice and freedom of gender expression. The Ontario Human Rights Code explicitly states that “everyone has the right to define their own gender identity. Transgender and non-binary people should be recognized and treated as the gender they live in” (Ontario Human Rights Code).

Are single-user washrooms not a complete solution to washroom issues for trans and gender diverse people?

Single-user washrooms are very important for some people to feel comfortable and safe. They are definitely part of the solution. However, no one, including trans and gender diverse people, should be required or encouraged to only use single-user washrooms. For some people, being told to use a gender neutral washroom undermines their gender identity. All people (trans and cisgender [their sex assigned at birth and gender identity correspond with one another]) should have the right to use the washroom based on their identity.

What if I am uncomfortable using a multi-user, gender specific washroom?

Laurier is taking a universal design approach to washroom inclusion. In addition to the multi-user, gender specific washrooms, you will find a number of single-user washrooms at Laurier campuses and location. Please see a list of locations below:

Waterloo Campus

  • Alumni Hall: AH115
  • Arts:1C13, 1C13A, 2C06, 2CO6A
  • Athletic Complex: 2 locations on first floor, 1 location on second floor
  • DAWB: AW2-102, AW2-103, AW3-104, AW3-102, AW4-102, AW4-104, AW5-102, AW5-104
  • Dining Hall: DH1-23, DH1-24
  • John Aird Building: A414, A527, A516
  • Lazardis: LH1003, LH2004, LH3026, LH4036
  • Library: L120, L212, L309A, L404, L509, L609, L709
  • Martin Luther University College: First floor, 3 locations near ML102, 1 location near ML109, Second floor, 2 locations near ML203; Basement, 1 location near the office of the Dean
  • Peters: P113
  • Science Research: SR103, SR105, SR101, SR205, SR203, SR201, SR305, SR303, SR301, SR405, SR403, SR401
  • Theater Auditorium: TA103
  • 202 Regina Street: R272, R273

Brantford Campus

  • Carnegie Building (CB): Lower level, across from CB117
  • Dalhousie Centre (DC): Main floor outside LEAF offices
  • Grand River Hall (GRH): Second floor, outside of Residence Life
  • Market Darling Centre (MDC): MDC105, MDC lower level kitchen area
  • Market Place (MP): First floor, across from the Writing Centre
  • Research and Academic Centre – East (RCE): Main floor, outside FHSS; second floor, in Faculty of Liberal Arts faculty office hallway
  • Research and Academic Centre – West (RCW): Third floor, outside RCW304
  • SC Johnson Building (SCJ): SCJ first floor, across from SCJ103; SCJ219, beside SCJ210 meeting room; SCJ404
  • St. Andrews (STA): Through main entrance and to the left
  • Student Centre (SC): Third floor, inside the Wellness Centre

Kitchener Location

  • First floor, beside auditorium

What do I do if I feel someone is in the wrong gender specific space?

Nothing. It is not up to you to assess a person's gender. People are the best at knowing for themselves which washroom they should be using.