New Legislation Would Require New Structures to Have Single-sex Restrooms in England
According to the government, all newly constructed establishments in England, including restaurants, public restrooms, retail centres, and offices, will be obligated to have gender-separate restrooms as a matter of law.
With the goal of "ending the rise" of gender-neutral restrooms, the law will impact newly constructed non-residential buildings, according to Equalities Minister, Kemi Badenoch.
In a consultation, the government heard from women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities who felt "unfairly disadvantaged" by the planned gender-neutral restrooms that would share cubicles and sinks.
However, advocates for transgender people's rights contend that gender-neutral restrooms can shield transgender persons from prejudice.
Rights organisations have voiced concerns that transgender people, like others who do not identify with a specific gender, may encounter discrimination when utilising restrooms designated for either men or women.
The government anticipates introducing the long-awaited legislation to Parliament within the coming weeks; should it be approved, it would be implemented later this year.
Contained, universal toilets will also be permitted by the new construction rules, either in place of or in addition to single-sex toilets in areas where there is sufficient room.
The government's definition of a universal toilet is a private room equipped with a washbasin and a toilet for each individual's use.
There would be less privacy and more people waiting in shared lines because of gender-neutral restrooms, according to the administration.
"These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called gender-neutral mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women," said Kemi Badenoch, the Equalities Minister. "Today’s announcement will also create better provision for women so that our particular biological, health and sanitary needs are met."
When asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain if gender-neutral toilets would persuade people to vote Conservative following poor local election results, Women's Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, insisted: "This is an important issue for women."
Particularly for structures undergoing extensive renovation, the new laws will be binding. Schools, cells in custody suites, and nursing facilities are exempt.
A survey with 17,000 replies indicated that 82% of people would be open to having universal toilets installed in areas where there is enough room, and 81% would be in favour of having separate facilities for men and women to use the lavatory.
"In order to ensure everyone is served fairly and that everyone can feel comfortable using public toilet facilities, not only are gender-specific facilities in which trans people can feel safe in using vital, but gender-neutral facilities are also greatly necessary to ensure non-binary people's experiences with toilet facilities are one of comfort," stated Mermaids, a transgender youth support charity, in response to the government proposals.
Additionally, this week the English government unveiled plans to guarantee transgender patients the ability to request treatment on single-sex wards, with private rooms assigned to them.
Additionally, patients will be able to ask for intimate care from someone of the same biological sex if they so want.