Public toilet inquiry hears calls for public cubicles to become gender neutral to address discrimination, ‘toilet anxiety’

Battle lines are being drawn over NSW’s public toilet blocks as trans advocates push for gender-neutral cubicles, but those opposing the move say it could deter families from the beach and sporting facilities.

Battle lines are being drawn in a debate over the state’s public toilet blocks, as trans and gender-diverse advocates push for all male and female bathrooms to be replaced with gender-neutral cubicles in a move to address “toilet anxiety.”

A NSW Parliamentary inquiry investigating the design and inclusivity of public toilets has heard calls for “harmful” gender labelling to be removed – a proposal that has sparked backlash from some politicians including Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone who has vowed to fight any changes.

The University of Sydney is among bodies pushing for the overhaul with researchers saying trans and gender diverse people can often feel forced to use toilets that are “not aligned with their gender identity”.

The debate has led to some MPs voicing concerns families could be frightened away from the beach if rules regarding showers and changing rooms are altered - and all male and female facilities are replaced with unisex toilets.

“I’d be worried that changing the rules would deter families from going to the beach,” Independent NSW MP Michael Regan said.

NSW Independent Michael Regan said rule changes could “deter families” from the beach.

“It’s not the number one issue for NSW and I think there needs to be a level of common sense around the issue.”

A submission from six researchers calls for single sex toilet signage to be replaced with gender neutral diagrams depicting what types of facilities are provided in cubicles such as stand up urinals or basins.

The submission also calls for menstrual products to not be “implicitly assigned” to gendered toilet blocks, arguing that “not all people who menstruate are women and not all women menstruate”.

Leah Howarth, Sophie Evans, Rylee Goodwin and Leilani Rizzo at Clovelly on Monday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The Daily Telegraph spoke with multiple beachgoers at Clovelly to gauge their thoughts on the proposal with 20-year-old Leah Howarth of the mind the change could be “safe for some [but] could hurt others”.

“We could make a third bathroom gender neutral, instead of lumping everyone together and forcing people to get changed in front of the opposite gender,” she said.

Ms Howarth’s friend, Leilani Rizzo, agreed, stating there is “definitely a better solution than what is being proposed”.

“I don’t think I’d personally want to share a public bathroom with men. It’s private,” Ms Rizzo said.

An inquiry has been launched to investigate toilets in NSW.

The inquiry has also heard calls for gender neutral toilets in public schools. with Parents for Transgender Youth Equity saying trans youth can often experience “discrimination, harassment, and sometimes violence” which “first manifests when young people are attempting to access a toilet”.

In NSW, the majority of public toilets are managed by local councils which have the autonomy to make decisions regarding regulations and signage.

Some councils have already overhauled their toilet rules including Inner West Council which last year adopted a public toilet strategy that promotes gender neutral signage.

The council says gender-based toilets have caused “toilet anxiety” for some trans and gender diverse people who have also experienced “harm or threats of violence” when accessing them.

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said changes would be “extremely confronting”. Picture: Richard Dobson

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone told The Daily Telegraph he is strongly opposed changes to gender specific toilets which may fly in the inner city.

“Gender diverse toilets might work in the inner city but we say no in the west because we know what our community wants and that’s to have gents and ladies facilities,” he said.

“We have facilities where children’s sport is played and I think it would be extremely confronting for people to be in bathrooms with different genders. I think it’s inappropriate.”

Examples of signage which unisex toilet advocates want installed.

University of Sydney researchers have proposed using diagrams, rather than gender labelling, on toilets.

Local Government NSW – which represents all councils across the state – warned against excluding female and male facilities particularly at sporting grounds which it says are needed to allow for male and female sports to be played.

Institute of Public Affairs director Bella d’Abrera opposed removing male and female toilets in schools, saying schools “should be focused on teaching children how to read and write, not on this sort of activism.”

Premier Chris Minns has been approached for comment.

The inquiry will hold hearings early next year before making recommendations to the state government to determine if any changes will be made.