The Urgent Need for Gender-Neutral Restrooms and Inclusivity in Society
By: James Rusia
How would you feel if you were a straight man, using a public restroom, and then suddenly a man wearing makeup, a long hair wig, and women’s clothing entered? Or vice versa if you’re a woman? Would you feel comfortable? What about that man wearing make-up, is he or she comfortable?
"May utin ka pa rin. Tandaan mo yan." the janitress said.
(You still have your manhood. Remember that.)
In addition, Diez was also dragged to the security room of the mall. She was cuffed, detained, and shamed.
Diez was treated like a criminal for simply trying to relieve herself in the restroom.
"Sa akin lang po, ‘yung para kang shoplifter na kinakaladkad sa loob ng mall, na nakatingin sa’yo ‘yung mga tao na hawak ka…. Hindi ko po maintindihan sa isang supposedly gender-fair na city, may ganoon na tao na tatrato sa akin na para akong may ginawang krimen," Diez said.
(For me, it was as if I was a shoplifter being dragged inside the mall, while people looked at me as I was being held…. I could not understand how, in a supposedly gender-fair city, there are people who would treat me as if I committed a crime.)
Gretchen Diez's case is one of many that proves that our society needs to have more discussion about gender inclusivity and recognition to the rights of LGBTQIA+ people to lessen heartbreaking discriminatory acts like what happened to Diez.
This breaks open the discussion of building gender-neutral restroom in public places such as malls, parks, or restaurants. This is especially true for schools since it should be a safe place for every children and for everyone.
It seems, however, that creating one is not easy since our society still has split opinions about it. Some of the opposers argue that they are afraid since someone might use it as an excuse to pretend that they are queer to abuse someone which may increase the cases of violence against women. On the other hand, people who are in favor argue that building gender neutral restroom will prove that our society is not just simply tolerating LGBTQIA+ community but fully recognizing them as well as their human rights.
Despite the on-going discussion, there are some universities who already built restrooms for every gender such as Ateneo, Lyceum of the Philippines University, and St. Louis University, a Catholic university in Baguio.
In line with this, Bulacan State University (BSU) recently approved a memorandum allowing trans women to wear woman's school uniform and vice versa with the trans men. At first glance, it looks like our University is trying to implement inclusivity and recognition with our fellow transgender students but it seems like the University is not quite ready yet.
Last September 27, there was a reported case of a fellow BulSUan transgender woman from CAL who was also prohibited from using woman's restroom by a staff.
"Ooppss! Wait. Girl ka ba? Ba't ka andito?" the staff asked her.
(Ooppss! Wait? You're a girl? Why're you here?)
Déjà vu right? It is similar with incident with Diez, only on a smaller setting.
Our University needs to be aware that, in allowing transgenders to express their selves, they have a responsibility of creating a safe space for them; or, if the University still can't afford to build restroom that is open to everyone, at least notify our utility to respect transgender students.
Recalling the question in beginning of this article, "what would feel if you're a man and a transwoman entered the restroom? Or vice versa of you're a woman?" Would you still feel comfortable? Why would it be called "comfort room" if heterosexuals and homosexuals are not comfortable in using it?
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