The UK government has proposed a new law that will require new non-residential buildings to have separate male and female toilets. The move is seen as ending the growing trend of gender-neutral toilets. Gender-neutral toilets have been used in shared facilities by both sexes, with cubicles and sinks shared by all. Older people, women and disabled people have complained that often gender-neutral toilets do not serve their needs. Transgender groups, on the other hand, have welcomed such facilities and argue that the gender-neutral trend helps protect transgender people from discrimination.
The government plans to present the proposed legislation to Parliament within the next few weeks. If approved, the new building regulations could come into effect as early as later this year. The new regulations will allow buildings to have contained, universal toilets, in addition to single-sex toilets where space allows. A universal toilet is a self-contained room with a toilet and sink for individual use.
The push to end the trend of gender-neutral toilets follows a consultation process that drew in views from 17,000 people. According to the government, 81 percent of the respondents supported having separate single-sex toilet facilities, while 82 percent agreed with the intention to provide universal toilets where space allows. But trans groups argue that such facilities are necessary to accommodate those who do not conform to the traditional gender-binary system.
Apart from care homes and schools, new buildings going through a major refurbishment will also have to comply with the new regulations. The government believes that gender-neutral toilets have led to increasing queues in shared washrooms, reducing privacy and dignity. Once approved, the legislation will allow organizations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of gender-neutral mixed-sex toilet spaces that deny privacy and dignity to both men and women, Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch said
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More