U of A adds all-gender washrooms

Students at the University of Alberta now have more options when it come to washroom facilities on the campus.

The school has converted all single-toilet washrooms — such as those for the handicapped — into all-gender washrooms, available for use by anyone.

Melanie Alexander with the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project says the school’s decision will help students who do not identify with traditional gender roles.

"We see a lot of people on our campus who may be trans- or gender non-conforming who do have issues with the washrooms because they are forced to act on this binary," she said.

"So it’s this really vulnerable place to be when you don’t feel like you have places that reflect your gender expression."