Trans advocates push for gender-neutral toilets in all NSW public schools
Trans advocates have renewed calls for gender-neutral cubicles in every NSW public school, claiming trans students were limiting their “fluid and food intake” to avoid having to use the toilet.
NSW
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Trans advocates have renewed calls to have gender-neutral cubicles across all public schools in NSW.
A parliamentary inquiry investigating the design and inclusivity of public toilets has heard from trans and gender advocates, who say all-gender and gender neutral toilets needed to be provided to schools and other educational settings.
The third hearing of the committee’s inquiry was held earlier this month.
The inquiry sparked backlash from some politicians last year, including Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone who vowed to fight any changes.
The debate has also led to some MPs voicing concerns that families could be frightened away from the beach if rules regarding showers and changing rooms were altered.
Parents for Trans Youth Equity has called for all NSW schools to have all-gender toilet cubicles by 2030.
The group’s parent representative Barbara Taylor said trans youth were “limiting their fluid and food intake” to avoid having to use the toilet at school.
“It is unacceptable that young people have to do this to get through the school day,” Ms Taylor told the inquiry.
Lannen Donnelly, who is the group’s founding director, also told the inquiry that the Department of Education had “no central unit for schools to understand, clarify and ensure the consistent application of their responsibility towards trans kids and their human rights”.
“The Department of Education is in chaos when it comes to trans students and their right to toilets,” she said.
Dr Bella d’Abrera, Foundations of Western Civilisation program director at the Institute of Public Affairs, said: “The real issue here isn’t toilets — it’s the fact that schools are being expected to enforce radical ideology without proper consultation or consent.”
“At a time when student performance in reading, writing, and maths is in alarming decline, it’s deeply concerning that education bureaucrats are spending more energy on toilet signage than on raising academic standards,” Dr d’Abrera said.
“Parents are tired of being told their concerns are bigotry.
“Gender-neutral toilets might please activists, but they ignore the basic privacy and dignity of girls.”
Education Minister Prue Car said: “Our priority has been to upgrade male and female toilets in schools that were neglected under the former Liberal National government.”
“Over the summer we spent $240 million on a maintenance blitz in classrooms, including on toilet blocks,” Ms Car said.
“Where needed we will put in disabled/unisex toilets but there are no plans for a specific roll out of gender-neutral toilets.”
A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said: “We aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all students in our schools.”
“Historically, most schools have included some unisex toilets,” she said.
The Department will consider any recommendations the committee makes if it relates to toilets in public schools.
The final hearing will be held on Monday, April 7, and the inquiry committee will submit a report to the NSW Government with recommendations in the coming months.
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Originally published as Trans advocates push for gender-neutral toilets in all NSW public schools
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