Gender-neutral toilets are becoming more common in schools across the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Getty Images
Gender-neutral toilets are becoming more common in schools across the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Getty Images
Gender-neutral bathrooms appear to be on the rise around Bay of Plenty schools.
Gender-neutral, or unisex toilets, have begun popping up in schools to ensure all students feel accepted.
It's exactly why Te Puke Intermediate principal Jill Weldon made the decision to convert four of the 30 bathrooms using propertymaintenance money from the Ministry of Education last year.
"We were at that stage last year and our toilets were up for modernisation and so you either future proof them now or you wait another 10 years.
"We had an opportunity to create four completely single cell, fully contained, private spaces for kids who want to use them and we have an increasing number of gender diverse students coming."
Weldon believed it was important to create a space for all her students to feel valued, included, safe and respected.
Te Puke Intermediate principal Jill Weldon. Photo / File
She was aware of pushback from parents in the school community who did not believe the toilets would be safe, but Weldon felt many parents did not have a clear idea of what the spaces would look like.
"I hope the vast majority of people will be fine with it and respectful, and I know the families of our kids who are more diverse are stoked they have a safe space to go to the bathroom."
But not all parents are comfortable with the change.
A Te Puke mum who described herself as Christian said she did not like the idea of unisex toilets and was concerned about the safety of her daughter using them.
"I believe girls should go to girls' toilets and boys to boys' toilets... If a boy did something not appropriate to say a shy girl in the toilet that girl could potentially not say anything about it to her peers or teachers."
She would not be named, saying she had received backlash for her comments on social media in the past.
In Rotorua, Lynmore Primary School is ready to install new gender-neutral bathrooms in its $3.5 million new classroom block.
Lorraine Taylor, principal of Lynmore School. Photo / File
Principal Lorraine Taylor said she was in favour of the bathrooms that could be used by anybody.
"As we refit the classrooms that is what we are going to do and they will be individual cubicles that are not girls' or boys'.
"I think a lot of schools are starting to do them as they reset."
Pupils should not have to be separated on their gender, Taylor believed and she hoped the rise in gender-neutral bathrooms would help the public re-think its definition of "gender".
"I think most communities now are pretty knowledgeable around people redefining gender. As long as people have nice clean toilets, people are pretty happy."
John Paul College has two gender-neutral bathrooms and principal Patrick Walsh said he would like to see more in the future.
"We have factored in building more when planning for new buildings.
"It provides students who want them with an element of safety and also indicates we not only recognise diversity, that we action it as well."
John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh. Photo / File
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.
"There was a toilet in the library but it had a code, so while there was a place for them to go, it was different.
"We wanted to make it so all students felt comfortable so we now have boys' toilets, girls' toilets and unisex so students can go where they feel comfortable."
Gordon said no pushback from the community had reached his ears.
"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."
Russell Gordon, principal of Otumoetai College. Photo / File
Ministry of Education head of education infrastructure service Kim Shannon said the ministry had produced a Toilet Reference Guide which recommended the use of full-height doors and walls to self-contain toilets for reasons of safety and acoustic privacy.
"Many schools have unisex toilets that operate well for all students.
"In all new schools and school redevelopment, our design guidance is for individual self-contained bathrooms which schools can then decide how to designate.
"Schools are the best placed to make decisions about whether they have unisex toilets, in consultation with their parent communities."
The ministry did not answer specific questions regarding how many gender-neutral bathrooms were in schools across the Bay of Plenty.
However, Rainbow Youth executive director Frances Arns said there had been a rise in gender-neutral bathrooms and even uniforms across the country.
"We are really on a positive trajectory in that regard and I guess on the flip side it is still really challenging for rainbow young people in schools across the board."
Arns wanted to congratulate and celebrate schools that were embracing the changing society.
"Rainbow young people are at much higher risk of stress, suicidality and other negative mental health conditions, and these risks are much lower in schools that are rainbow-friendly."
