16B - The Michigan Daily - Weekend, etc. Magazine - Thursday, January 24, 2002
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Unisex bathroom creates alternative for people in need
By Stacy Anderson
Daily Staff Writer
Going to the bathroom at this
University is something that most of
us take for granted. We're able to find
a bathroom when we need one, with-
out having to worry about feeling
unsafe or unwanted. But as easy as
this is for us, it can be a lot more dif-
ficult and complicated for others.
Which is why, on the third floor of the
Union, right smack in the middle of
the Michigan Student Assembly and
Lesbian Gay Bisexual and
Transgender Affairs offices, you'll
find a transgender bathroom.
Some of you might be thinking, "So
what, I go to the doctor's office and
there's a unisex bathroom that anyone
can use." The difference? Not only is
this bathroom made for more than one
person, it has a history and an influ-
ence that gendered and single-person
bathrooms don't normally carry.
When the OK was given to trans-
form this bathroom from all-women's
to unisex, or transgender, many people
never realized the positive effect that
this change could have upon people at
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this university. "People who don't fit
into gender norms come to the Union
specifically to use this bathroom," said
Kelly Garrett, coordinator of pro-
grams and student development in the
Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and
Transgender Affairs. "We did it delib-
erately."
"The fact that we don't have to think
about going to the bathroom is a priv-
ilege" added Sheila Nelson, special
projects coordinator of the LGBTA
office. "Put yourself in the position of
the folks who need this bathroom,
folks who might normally get
harassed in a gender-specific bath-
room."
Although innovative, this bathroom
has created a sort of ruckus with not
only people visiting the third floor, but
with members of the University com-
munity in general. While the thought
of being in the bathroom with a person
of the opposite sex has made people
just plain uncomfortable, there are
some safety concerns that could be
discussed.
The idea of a lock was brought into
the picture, but was dismissed by the
LGBTA office because, even though
intended to lock others out, it could
also be used to lock someone in.
"There was some resistance," men-
tioned Garrett. "People of every gen-
der use it at the same time and cultur-
ally, it can be hard to get used to."
Nevertheless, there are plenty of
good feelings from people about this
bathroom. "When I first saw it, I was
a little unsure about it. I was a little
uncomfortable using it, but those are
my own insecurities, and I don't think
those should stop it from being in
DEBBIE MIZEL/Daily
Could you spare a square?
existence," said LSA sophomore
Natalie Render
Carrie Copeland, administrative
assistant for the LGBTA office also
said, "It was a huge surprise (to have
the transgener bathroom) and I was
really excited."
Another practical benefit of this
bathroom goes to the men. Before the
renovation, the only bathroom on the
third floor was for women, and this
created some problems. "It's a real
benefit to men too, because now they
don't have to go up or downstairs to
use the bathroom," added Garrett.
But what about the future? Are there
more unisex bathrooms to follow or
will this end with the third floor of the
Union? "The (University Health
Service) has changed all their bath-
rooms to uni-sex, which was a really
great step" said Garrett. "It's very,
very important because there aren't a
lot of unisex bathrooms on campus.
Our goal is to have a safe bathroom in
every building on campus."
Don't let its small size fool you.
This bathroom is groundbreaking in
the field of ge:der relations and the
general acceptance of others, and
won't be overlooked by the public for
much longer.
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(734) 764-7460
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