For some, struggle to find gender-neutral bathrooms persists
Many old on-campus buildings have yet to be upgraded with new restrooms
By Jon Wolper
Monday, February 27, 2012
http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/for-some-struggle-to-find-gender-neutral-bathrooms-persists-1.2798974#.T04r18xEYasFor Jack Izen, the choice is often difficult — being late for class or having to use a "dude bathroom."
Izen, a junior American studies and government and politics major who identifies as "they" or "their," has to use men's bathrooms when there aren't any gender-neutral ones around.
And that, Izen said, is pretty often.
"There's not enough, and they're too hard to find," Izen said.
Izen said they have friends who have to strategically camp outside gendered bathrooms until they're empty, and run in and do their business before anyone else comes in. A transgendered student who looks and sounds male might face discrimination or violence in a men's bathroom, Izen said, or be seen as a pervert in a bathroom marked "women." The university needs more gender-neutral bathrooms and needs to maintain an up-to-date list of these locations, according to some officials and students.
