The student news site of Bernards High School

The Crimson

The student news site of Bernards High School

The Crimson

The student news site of Bernards High School

The Crimson

Gender neutral bathroom opens

Gender neutral bathroom opens

On February 23, a Gender Neutral bathroom was opened for usage in the halls Bernards High School. The school has planned on building this new bathroom for a while now, however logistical concerns impeded its implementation until now.

Principal Nigel said that the idea behind the gender neutral bathroom “was brought forth by the 2015-2016 student council in their efforts to make every student feel comfortable.”

Located just outside the old library, the gender neutral bathroom is a single-occupancy bathroom which locks from the inside for privacy purposes. The bathroom has a sign on the front of the door, which reads, “This restroom may be used by any person regardless of gender identity or expression.” Above the description is a transgender symbol.

While this bathroom will allow for transgender students to feel more comfortable at BHS, it has some concerns. For instance, the ability of the bathroom to lock from the inside worries many students and faculty members alike. While the intention of the lock function is to allow transgender students greater privacy, many are concerned that students may take part in inappropriate actions because they feel they can behind a locked door.

Worldwide, there are further concerns towards transgender bathrooms. For example, as noted in the article “The Case Against fully shifting to Gender Neutral Bathrooms” it explains that having a gender neutral bathroom will most likely increase sexual harassment and sexual assault in school property.

Installing these neutral gender bathroom has been a movement taking place all over America over the past couple of years- a movement that has hosted its fair share of criticism and praise.

Some praise gender neutral bathrooms for allowing transgenders to feel more accepted, and for protecting them from the bullying they might endure in traditional bathrooms. On the other hand, others criticize gender neutral restrooms for allowing for the possible increase in sexual harassment and assault, and for creating a place within schools were inappropriate actions may take place behind locked doors.

Despite such worries, the fact that Bernard’s has installed a transgender bathroom marks a triumph in change and progress within the school. Bernards high school is one of many high schools around the nation instituting these Gender Neutral bathrooms. This goes to show that as America is becoming more accepting of everyone no matter what race or gender, so is Bernards.

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