PHOTO: Image depicts white sign that says "GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM" with an arrow underneath the words pointing left. The sign hangs from a ceiling. Photo by The Signal Managing Editor of Content & Operations Troylon Griffin II. — Gender neutral restroom sign hangs next to restroom in the Bayou Building. Photo by The Signal Managing Editor of Content & Operations Troylon Griffin II.

BRIEF: UHCL to implement all-gender restrooms across campus

By Troylon Griffin II, Editor-in-Chief Last updated Apr 5, 2022 482 0

UHCL is officially implementing all-gender restrooms on campus, with construction beginning on new restrooms as well as instating new signage for current restrooms. Free menstrual health products will be available in the restrooms and outside binary restrooms.

Associate Dean of Students Iliana Melendez spoke about the progress of implementing the restrooms.

“It’s been a few years,” Melendez said. “We’re lucky in that sense of shift in administration and sense of focus. With time the administration grew to understand. We had a variety of town halls and that helped shape the view of the administration that we needed such bathrooms. There were requests for projects for certain funds on campus and we were lucky that this was approved as one of them.”

There are currently single stall all-gender restrooms on campus. The Recreation & Wellness Center has two. The STEM Building has one and the SSCB has two.

“All of those just require signage,” Melendez said. “We’re in the process of finalizing the signage.”

Additionally, Hunter Hall has two identical restrooms that are currently binary but will be labeled All-Gender.

SGA President J Scares spoke about the restrooms’ installation.

“It’s nice to see the project moving to something that’s actually going to be done,” Scates said. “Through work and conversations it’s truly nice to see it’s something that is happening.”

While there is no definite date for when all the restrooms will be finished, Melendez spoke about the upcoming renovations.

“The minimal renovations in Bayou should happen this semester,” Melendez said. “I imagine the larger project will happen this summer.”

Melendez spoke about how the restrooms’ installation relates to changes happening on campus.

“We’ve been having these conversations for years and we’ve been hoping we can make this a reality,” Melendez said. “Whether you are excited or not for the all-gender restroom, I hope this is a model for students that change takes time. We’re not going to change a campus culture overnight or in a year. It takes a lot of work and key people in place. Talk to your administrators. Talk to your mentors on campus.”

Scates expressed similar sentiments.

“I’m really excited this is happening. Sometimes we just talk but they don’t mean anything. But to know that those conversations had an impact and were able to make things move forward is unbelievable.”

CORRECTION 4/5/2022:

In an earlier version of this article, SGA President J Scates’ name was misspelled “Scares.”