Lane University Center Moves Forward with Gender Neutral Restrooms

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, Lane University Center officially made the transition to turn two of the single-user restrooms into gender neutral restrooms.

Director of Lane University Center Allen Flanagan said, “The role of the University Center, or the ‘college union,’ is to act as the living room of the campus, and updating two of our restrooms to be gender neutral is an example of one step we have taken to ensure that everyone, regardless of how they identify, feels comfortable in the Lane University Center and on the FSU campus.  Everyone should feel welcome in the LUC, and we look forward to continued changes to further promote inclusivity.”

According to the Huffington Post, “Gender-Neutral Bathrooms are Quietly Becoming the New Thing at Colleges,” with several universities across the country reporting the transition to gender neutral restrooms.

A CNN article published on March 7, 2017, cites a survey stating that  70% of respondents (transgender and nonconforming Americans) reported being denied access, verbally harassed, or physically assaulted in public restrooms.  The article goes on to talk about the issues of not having gender neutral restrooms and the claims against them.

Student Government Association President James Kirk applauded the move, saying, “Our campus is much more than classrooms and textbooks.  Our campus is our home, and it is vital that all students feel safe and comfortable here. This simple decision will ensure that all FSU students can feel safe and dignified while in the Lane University Center.”