This stall's for all

Photo: wikimedia commons

It was standing room only for the Central Okanagan School District’s vote on installing gender neutral washrooms in area schools.

Trustees passed the motion unanimously, formalizing changes that were already happening gradually, said School District 23 school board chairwoman Moyra Baxter.

“This was just a way of saying, this is something we need to move forward on.”

While it might not seem like a big deal to some, Baxter said they heard loud and clear from students last night on the need for the spaces.

“We could have gone on hearing stories all night long,” she said.

She said most schools already have single occupancy bathrooms, noting that signs just need to be changed. Many single occupancy washrooms in SD23 facilities require a key, something Baxter expects to end.

“We don’t lock other washrooms. We have to stop singling out people as if they are asking for something strange.”

Baxter said society is already full of gender neutral washrooms, like in public spaces and on airplanes. The Okanagan Pride Society applauded the move, saying it will create safer spaces for LGBTQ youth.