Scottish Government plan for gender neutral school toilets

Equality campaigners have welcomed a Scottish Government proposal to introduce unisex lavatories in Scottish schools in an attempt to address gender issues.

By The Newsroom Tuesday, 18th July 2017, 3:56 pm Updated Tuesday, 12th September 2017, 11:26 am

Proposal for unisex school loos

James Morton of the Equality Network said gender neutral lavatories reduced bullying and graffiti and were safer for young people.

The plans were outlined in Scottish Government guidance setting out the minimum standards for school buildings, which updates regulations first introduced in the 1960s.

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The “Consultation Document on Updating the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards, Scotland, Regulations 1967)” said the existing regulations said half of toilet accommodation should be for boys and the other half for girls.

It went on: “The School Premises Regulations do not prescribe standards for accessible sanitary facilities for persons with a disability or refer to unisex toilets that could address gender issues. Therefore, the Regulation needs to be updated and simplified to meet current expectations.”

Critics of unisex toilets, which have a communal area for handwashing and cubicles, fear some pupils would be too embarrassed to use them and believe they could encourage sexual activity amongst youngsters.

But Mr Morton, Scottish Trans Alliance Manager, said unisex loos would be more suitable for transgender pupils.