Gender Neutral Restrooms: Usability And Accessibility For Trans And Gender Non-Conforming Individuals
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By Kai Walsh
Using the restroom — one of the many traits that bind our common humanity. Accessibility and usability of restroom facilities is a simple, yet largely overlooked component of active participation in public life. I am a transmasculine, non-binary person and I use the bathroom.
Prior to my transition, deciding which bathroom to use was a non-issue. Aside from the occasional skipping of the line and jumping to the men’s restroom (at the time, a safe yet bold move for a self-identifying woman), there has always been signage to make my decision easy (something that was chosen for me).
The women’s restroom — a space that used to be designated for me — became less and less welcoming as my physical appearance became more masculine presenting. Concerns of safety and harassment became a regular, day-to-day part of life as a transmasculine, non-binary person.
Choosing which restroom to use becomes more complex in any restaurant or bar setting. What now feels like a blessing, varying in frequency and location — gender neutral restrooms provide a safe haven for me (and other non-binary people).
To put this into context, my day-to-day choice when confronted with sex-segregated restrooms is this: Do I use the women’s room and feel like I don’t belong, or do I use the men’s room and not feel safe.
While I can only speak to my experience, many that are transitioning or identifying outside of the binary can relate to the uncomfortable, vulnerable and at times avoidable nature of designating and enforcing gendered restrooms. Depending on the day, my level of comfort varies — some days I use the women’s restroom when I am feeling overwhelmed or unsure, other days I use the men’s restroom when I’m feeling confident or daring. While my gender identity and the ways I express myself are constantly changing, my hope and sense of urgency has never been more pressing: We need — I need — gender neutral restrooms.
The Business Case:
With an increasing buying power of the LGBTQIA+ community, businesses that implement inclusive restroom policies and cultivate an inclusive culture will not only create psychological safety and welcoming environments for the queer community but will reap the benefits and loyalty of this queer consumer segment. The benefits of gender neutral signage and increased awareness of transgender community issues are tangible (and lucrative). But what are the costs?
Apart from changing of signage and potential addition of increased privacy measures, associated costs of gender neutral restrooms are the potential alienation or verbal backlash from those aiming to restrict equal access and rights for all. In addition to the multitude of other ways to show up and provide support for the LGBTQIA+ community — whether through explicitly communicating support or hanging pride flags in your place of business — gender neutral restroom options are a small, yet effective step toward equality and support for the queer community.
Conclusion:
Making an effort to include your LGBTQIA+ employees and customers does not only make people feel welcome and included, but it also adds a necessary element of safety, creating a space where everyone can come and participate.
If you are interested in learning ways to increase your customer base and create a more welcoming and safer environment for all LGBTQIA+ members, reach us at the Queer Umbrella. We help drive innovation and inclusion within your organization.
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Kai Walsh (they/them) is a transmasculine, non-binary queer advocate, social entrepreneur and digital marketing strategist. Founder of the Queer Umbrella, a queer-led platform for accessing the LGBTQ+ community.
Their mission has been to find and create LGBTQIA+ community locally and globally — whether that be through conversation, grassroots action, or supporting national legislation — and to ultimately promote social change that helps queer people feel seen in today’s world. They are the youngest member on the Queer Business Alliance Board of Directors, Founder and CEO of Kai Consulting, a digital marketing consulting agency committed to social entrepreneurship and change. When they’re not challenging the status quo, you can find them skiing and looking for excuses to strike up French conversation.
Their work can be found: online at the Queer Umbrella, on Instagram @thequeerumbrella, and on LinkedIn at The Queer Umbrella.
Opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Best Served. To achieve our mission of bringing more voices to the table, we are committed to sharing a variety of viewpoints across the industry.
