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Ong and Davis are members of the Gay and Lesbian Association.

By Erwin Ong and Masen Davis

In a statement heralding the arrival of the transgender liberation movement, the national chapter of the United States Students Association recommended that university bathrooms become gender neutral in order to accommodate the needs of the transgender community at UCLA.

First, a primer for those who are unfamiliar with the transgender community in general.

“Transgender” is used as an umbrella term to represent all people whose gender identity does not easily match the social expectations of their biological sex, including (but not restricted to) transsexuals, the intersex community, transvestites, androgynes and drag queens and kings. All these groups might use a variety of other terms to self-identify.

“Transgender” is the T in LGBT – which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The transgender community joins the gay rights and liberation movements because gender orientation (a transgender issue) and sexual orientation (seen more as an LGB issue) are intertwined issues. They both challenge the notions of gender that assign masculinity to males, femininity to females and heterosexuality to everyone.

While the LGBT community can unite in championing certain causes, the transgender community may have some needs that differ from those of the wider LGB community.

One difference stems from the outward appearance of some transgender people. Unlike many who are members of minorities related to sexual orientation, a transgender person’s physical appearance may automatically “out” them. They may not be able to choose who they come out to. Thus, special accommodations need to be made for these differences.

Generally, issues that the transgender community might face include systematic discrimination because they don’t identify as either male or female.

Since much of society is gendered – male/female antiperspirant, male/female sports – those who don’t easily fit into these categories are often targeted for harassment from very young ages. The discrimination spills over into incredibly high rates of unemployment, family rejection, hate crimes and domestic violence. Apart from these, there is the threat of economic instability due to the high cost related to hormones and surgery, as well as legal issues related to changing documents (passports, driver’s licenses and green cards); often a person may be female according to the state government but male according to the the federal government. Also, there are instances of denial of health coverage due to a person’s transsexual status.

Bathrooms and other sex-specific facilities represent one of the most visible institutional barriers for the transgender community. Transgender people often face verbal harassment, physical assault and threats of legal sanction merely for attempting to relieve themselves between classes. Often transgender people have found themselves turned away from the men’s and women’s rooms alike, told repeatedly that they don’t belong in either rest room. Thus transgender people may limit their time on campus, preferring to utilize private facilities where gender is not an issue.

The solution to this dilemma is the creation of single-person, gender-neutral bathrooms, which would allow transgender and gender variant people to enjoy a basic right – to relieve themselves as necessary without the threat of hate violence and harassment. Unisex bathrooms alone won’t suffice, as it is the presence of other people in the bathrooms, rather than the transgender’s ability to use either bathroom, that is the source of the problems they face.

Although the USSA recommendation was spurred by the needs of transgender students, faculty and staff, gender-neutral bathrooms promise to benefit more than the transgender people on campus. LGB people often face similar challenges regarding rest rooms and public facilities. This accessibility of bathrooms would allow all students, faculty and staff to focus on their scholarship and work rather than worrying about their bladder.

Currently, the university has been accommodating in dealing with the needs of the UCLA’s transgender community. The Ashe Center provides services that cover the medical needs specific to the transgender community, and Recreation is currently working to construct private showers and changing areas in the locker rooms.

Along with the single-person, gender-neutral bathrooms, the next step involves asking the University of California to add gender identity to their anti-discrimination policy, which already includes protected classes such as race and sex.

Other things can be done to help the transgender community. Don’t assume that your LGB friends are not members of the transgender community. Create an open space in which to discuss gender issues in your organizations.

Be a good ally – if you have a transgender friend who is afraid to use a public rest room, offer to accompany them. Realize that transgender people come from all cultures and all will have their own understandings of gender. Accept people for their character, not their body. Biology is not destiny.