Public toilets have been in the news recently. Following a morning radio discussion about pregnant model Emily Ratajkowski’s comment she would not know the sex of her unborn child until the child turned 18 and could choose for itself, Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas stated “… if the child’s got an old fella that’s going to make it a little difficult if that person’s trying to get into the ladies’ cubicles.” Mr Zempilas later apologised for his remarks.
Toilets appeared in the news again when the newly opened gender-neutral toilets at Curtin University were vandalised.
It is a basic human right for people to be able to use a toilet or change room facility without fear of harassment and abuse.
However, attitudes and policies need to be reviewed in order to break down the barriers to equality in these areas of public life.
I’ll start with the transgender community. There is no evidence to support the notion that trans and gender diverse people use public toilets and change rooms to assault or harass others. In fact, trans and gender diverse people themselves are generally at high risk of being victimised, assaulted and harassed in toilets and change rooms and prefer greater privacy than is often available in many facilities.
Families are also impacted by a lack of privacy in change room facilities. Although children under six are usually allowed in single sex facilities of the opposite sex, many parents and some children are not comfortable, and some older children need supervision in a toilet or change room.
This is especially so for children with disabilities, both physical and mental, who cannot get changed by themselves.
There are also issues with adults living with a disability who need their carers to be in the change room with them. If the carer is of the opposite sex, there are barriers for them as well.
Although universal access toilets (UAT) are becoming more common, there does need to be greater consideration for the wider community when constructing or upgrading change room facilities.
Building standards seem to have stagnated and are not up to speed with privacy in a society where it is increasingly recognised gender identity is not simply a binary matter, that people with disabilities are entitled to full participation in society and may be assisted by a person of the opposite sex.
Parents with a child of the opposite sex need access and privacy in changerooms, as do trans and intersex people.
Some service providers have recognised these needs and have modified toilet and shower cubicles to increase privacy by ensuring each toilet and shower is in a private, self-contained cubicle and that people can change in the shower cubicle.
Universal access change rooms are also becoming increasingly common and provide privacy for trans and intersex people, families and people with a disability who require assistance from a carer.
The list of those providing toilet and change facilities is extensive and wide-ranging and includes local authorities, gyms, sports centres, swimming pools, cinemas, entertainment centres, schools, TAFEs, universities, shopping centres and many businesses.
I encourage all providers of toilet and change facilities to audit their facilities and improve privacy, so the facilities are accessible to everyone.
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