WWU's first multi-stall gender-neutral restroom opens in Haggard

WWU’s first multi-stall gender neutral restroom facility opened Monday, Oct. 31 on the 2nd floor of Haggard Hall (room 241), part of the Haggard Hall & Wilson Library complex. The new gender-neutral facility will include two corridors lined with 10 stalls, two of which are wheelchair accessible. Existing gender-specific facilities are available down the hall and on alternate floors of the library. 

“It’s easy for some of us to take restrooms for granted, when in fact access to inclusive facilities can transform the daily lives, safety, and wellbeing of the people around us—transgender and gender-nonconforming, especially, but cisgender, too,” said Madeline Kelly, Interim Dean of Libraries. “As a library, inclusion, empathy, and understanding are core to who we are and what we do as an organization."

Gender-neutral facility options provide important access for people of all gender identities, for people with disabilities who are assisted by someone of a different gender, and for parents and caregivers to safely accompany and assist children of a different gender. 

Today, more than 100 gender-neutral restrooms are located in 52 campus buildings. Refer to https://lgbtq.wwu.edu/locating-gender-neutral-restrooms-on-campus/ for a list of existing gender-neutral facilities and links to campus maps, or see the attachment at right. Handouts with this information are also available to pick up from the LGBTQ+ Western staff office at VU 723, VU 746, and the Multicultural Center front desk in the Viking Union. 

Since 2012, Western has worked to increase the availability of gender-neutral facilities on campus. In 2016, the University adopted and began implementing Guidelines for Gender Neutral Facilities that were developed by a committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators. On an ongoing basis, the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance and Facilities Development and Operations share responsibility for implementation of the Guidelines. Under Washington State law, everyone has the right to access gender-specific facilities according to their gender identity.