For Mikayla Schultz, home is a place of comfort and security. Sitting on her couch, she can be herself without anyone casting judgement. It is a comfort level she hopes to someday reach outside.
“A lot of the issue is a fear of how people will react,” Schultz explained.
When ‘nature calls’, however, is the worst.
“Definitely there’s some anxiety about entering washrooms for transgendered people,” she said.
“You’re being in a washroom they perceive you should not be.”
UR Pride, the University of Regina’s Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity knows all about the stigma.
“There are some people that will go into one or the other and get harassed,” Executive Director Lisa Smith said.
“If you go into the washroom and look like a man, people in that washroom are going to be upset or afraid or ask why you’re there, which is degrading.”
Smith says washrooms are the only public spaces separated into men and women. She would like to see gender neutral options in every building on campus, and plans to bring the idea forward to the university.
Vice-President of External Relations Barb Pollock says the U of R is willing to consider a way to make entering a washroom more comfortable for everyone.
“We’re very concerned for the comfort of our students and staff, and if any are uncomfortable using any of our facilities, not withstanding washrooms, we would be looking into it,” Pollock explained.
UR Pride’s suggestion is to add a third washroom option to the system – one where a man, woman or transgendered person could use. Similar systems are used on campuses in Victoria and Montreal.
“In our homes, we don’t have male and female washrooms,” Smith said. “As long as we can get past whatever we have in our society that says we need to use the washroom designated to a woman, or a washroom designated to a man, it should work.”
The move is one Mikayla Schultz is proud to witness, so everyone can feel more comfortable.
“This is one of many issues that need to be addressed and it’s great it’s being addressed,” she said.
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