Construction closes gender-neutral bathroom at NSCC
Campus apologizes to student
CBC News Posted: Mar 8, 2013 8:54 AM AT
Last Updated: Mar 8, 2013 12:13 PM AThttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/03/08/ns-gender-bathroom-nscc.html
Parker Jackson says he leaves campus to find a safe bathroom (CBC)[/size]A student at the Nova Scotia Community College is raising concerns about the lack of gender-neutral toilets in the province after renovations at the school have closed his only bathroom option.
Parker Jackson is a student at the Leeds Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College in Halifax. He was born female, but is making the transition to living life as a man.
Jackson said he made use of the single-stall, gender inclusive washrooms at the college until they closed for construction this week.
"I've been getting on the bus and going somewhere that's more safe for me to use the washroom," Jackson said.
A spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Community College has apologized to Jackson for the oversight. Marco Digiosia said the two bathrooms will still be gender-neutral once they're refurbished. "I'd like to apologise. It really breaks my heart to know that someone wasn't able to use the washroom so we'll rectify that," he said.
Jackson says it's a symptom of a wider issue. "Bathrooms are really important," he said.
"If you're human than you have the right to feel safe when you're using the bathroom."
