Gender inclusive washrooms now at Memorial University

Memorial University introduced its first gender inclusive washrooms on campus this week.

Instead of being designated as 'male' or 'female,' two single stall washrooms in the University Centre are now labeled as open to all people, regardless of sex or gender expression.

MUN student union director Brittany Byrnes, said this is a great way to make the university community more inclusive towards transgender people.

"This is really important to make sure trans students and trans workers feel comfortable on campus," said Byrnes, the MUNSU director of campaigns.

"Students identify as many different genders, so just having male or female really doesn't meet the needs of all students."

In the coming months, MUN will designate 12 more single stall washrooms as gender inclusive.

The washrooms come after several years of lobbying from the MUN student union and trans activists.

Byrnes said that it took a lot of work and education before the university administration approved the gender inclusive signs.

"It was a matter of ignorance and misunderstanding, and I think because of that it's really held up the process within the institution," she said.

Byrnes said that the lack of an internationally recognized standard for gender inclusive washrooms has also slowed the process.

She said continued education is critical to ensure the campus can become more inclusive to people in the trans community.