Carmen Hall: Detail in the design when it comes to gender neutral bathrooms

All-gender bathrooms are becoming popular at some Bay schools. Photo / Getty Images

OPINION

More Bay of Plenty schools are opting to install gender-neutral bathrooms as they modernise toilet blocks and make them friendlier for the rainbow community.

The schools feel it is important to create a space for all their students to feel valued, included, safe and respected.

But the idea has been met with some backlash from parents who believe it may actually create safety issues especially when you have teenagers co-using the facilities.

As a parent I understand both sides of these arguments and I think the detail will be in the design of these gender toilets.

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When I was a kid the toilet blocks were like a communal meeting place where we would gossip, smoke fags and get up to general mischief.

You only have to watch any B-rated high school movie to see other atrocities that happened at the bottom of a dunny.

But times have changed - alongside attitudes - and the layouts of these privies.

I also think it is important we recognise those young people who identify as LGBTQI and we take their needs into consideration - but within reason.

Te Puke Intermediate principal Jill Weldon said it would convert four of its 30 bathrooms and she was aware of pushback from parents.

But Weldon felt many parents did not have a clear idea of what the spaces would look like.

John Paul College has two gender-neutral bathrooms and principal Patrick Walsh said he would like to see more in the future.

Meanwhile, Otumoetai College is in its second year with gender-neutral toilets on school grounds.

Principal Russell Gordon said the toilets were installed after members of the school's rainbow community said they didn't have anywhere to go that felt inclusive.

He said navigating the early teenage years is difficult enough without us putting more obstacles in kids' way. It's to make it as easy as possible for students.

In my view you can identify as anything you want these days - the list is endless but that is evolution.

So be it if you want to use the gender-neutral toilets or his or hers.