Gender Neutral Toilets: Are they better for everybody?

Gender neutral toilets are more common than ever, but so is the debate surrounding their existence.

By Conor Clark

The safety threat some believe gender-neutral toilets pose to women has sparked up the debate once again, following remarks made in the House of Lords by Lord Lucas, a backbench Conservative peer.

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Lucas claims these facilities make women feel “unsafe and uncomfortable,” especially when they are on their periods. Although research is limited, there are no statistics which suggest a rise in sexual assault or harassment at gender-neutral toilets in London.

Myles Shillingford, an activist and member of the LGBTQ+ community, frequently attends queer spaces which use these facilities. “I don't feel as though they take the safety away from women as I myself personally have yet to hear of a case in which this has happened,” he says. “Plus, every house [and] hotel room has a gender-neutral toilet but I don't see anyone raise hell about them!”

Universities are also starting to embrace gender-neutral facilities, which is where Monique Ryan-Long, a former student of Ravensbourne University, first encountered them.

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“The cubicles were self-contained with a sink and dryer so I didn’t really come into contact with other people,” Monique states. “Women are still at risk when in an all-female toilet, I don’t think the risk comes just from the opposite gender.”

Although everyone’s experiences with gender-neutral facilities differ, it is clear that the debate will not end anytime soon.