University introduces 'all gender' bathrooms

A major Sydney university has announced the introduction of ‘all gender’ bathrooms around their campus in a move to help all students ‘feel welcome and safe’.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) previously had unisex bathrooms in place, but in a bid to improve the experience of people who don’t identify with being male or female, new ‘all gender’ restrooms have now been created.

“Some people within our community don’t identify with traditional binary genders (male and female). Others don’t feel comfortable using a bathroom designated by gender, sometimes because they’ve had a negative experience using a single-gender bathroom due to their appearance or gender identity,” UTS wrote in a statement.

“All gender bathrooms provide a space that can be used comfortably by everyone.”

The bathrooms, which are spread out over the campus in 10 different buildings, are identifiable through a bright yellow sign which reads ‘All Gender’.

The sign features three symbols; a male, a female, and a third figure who represents gender diversity.

The inclusive restrooms are a result of a petition by the UTS Queer Collective, who posted about the ‘big win’ on their Facebook page.

“It’s official: gender-neutral bathrooms have landed at UTS!” the group wrote on Facebook.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the effort of Queer Collective members, the UTS Students’ Association, and of course, everyone who signed our petition!

“We still have a long way to go, but this is an important step for trans and gender diverse individuals to feel safe and validated on campus. Big win!”