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Manchester University: gender-neutral facilities
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Sex-discrimination row invokes re-label of university toilets
"The facilities in the Steve Biko building will now be called 'toilets' and 'toilets with urinals' and both will be open for use by females, males and those who have changed gender. "
Manchester University has relabelled its toilets in a bid to cater for transsexual and transgender students.
The facilities in the Steve Biko building will now be called 'toilets' and 'toilets with urinals' and both will be open for use by females, males and those who have changed gender.
The decision was influenced by a group within the student union executive who campaigned to remove the 'overtly gendered aspect' of using the toilet. Women's officer Jennie Killip said:
"A trans-student who does not identify themselves as a man would have to face abuse and violence if they used the 'other' toilet.
"Many students complained about this and I feel that individuals can now use the union facilities comfortably."
The decision, however, has not been well-received by the majority of the student body. Letters in the university newspaper have branded the gender-neutral toilets 'a complete joke', with one student reminding peers that the disabled facilities are already completely unisex. Another student was in agreement:
"This is a complete waste of time and money. I am sure the Union will now be flooded with complains from its female students about the state the toilets are left in by the men."
