By using a restroom, you make a public statement about your identity. For some people, this everyday action is not so simple. Gender neutral toilet facilities on campus at the University of Malta sparked some controversy when they were introduced a few months ago.
Creating gender neutral toilet facilities should not be an issue. I use a gender neutral toilet every day. It is in my house, does not have a sign of a male or female silhouette, and has no gender stereotypes attached to it. I call it my bathroom.
From next month, gender neutral toilets will be equally distributed and accessible in all ministries, which puts into practice the government’s stance on gender equality.
Gender neutral toilets in public spaces and buildings tend to bring out some arguments. There are those who think it is a waste of resource, possibly because they do not believe in the concept of gender as not binary. There are those who believe women should have their own spaces and, yes, there is an argument for that. However, another argument comes to mind and that is why do we gender restrooms at all?
Many who do not fit into society’s image of what a man or woman should look like often fall victim to harassment in gendered toilets
The arguments that this is a waste of resources drowns out the opinion of those who need it the most. Many may think this is unnecessary because transgender communities are in minority, however, not only is this an unfair argument against minority groups but gender neutral toilet facilities are also important for those that define into gender binary classifications (the classification of gender into male and female).
Many women, and men, that do not fit into society’s image of what a man or woman should look like could, and often do, fall victim to harassment in gendered toilets.
When I left Malta in 2011, LGBT+ rights were the last thing I expected us to be pioneers in. It is ground-breaking, especially when we consider that there are still over 70 countries that criminalise homosexuality. There are still countries that execute members of the LGBT+ community. We have not shouted loud enough about this.
A government that truly believes and puts into practice gender equality is extraordinary and Malta is currently leading not only Europe but the world by example. Since 2014, we have seen many positive changes for the LGBT+ community, including the right to change your legal gender and the Civil Unions Act, to name a few.
Of course, there is still more to be done; more education on LGBT+ communities in general is needed. It is no longer acceptable to pretend like there is a gender and sexuality norm and this needs to be reflective in how we educate and talk to the next generations.
I know that, by now, you are possibly thinking ‘’it’s just a toilet’’. Trust me, it wasn’t that long ago when I thought the exact same thing. But it is more than that; it is a statement that shows that we are an embracing and diverse community. It is one step further towards equality and acceptance.
Ultimately, we are saying that we stand by our transgender community and that is important for transgender citizens, their families and their friends and for us to continue living in a progressive country that wants to move away from discrimination on all accounts.
Sarah Haider graduated in writing and English literature from the Anglia Ruskin University.