A BILL IN SUPPORT OF GENDER INCLUSIVE RESTROOMS

Authored By: Elizabeth Hennes, Senator Nolan Pack Sponsored by:Senator Nolan Pack,Gabriela Cano, Felipe Flores, Elizabeth Yu, SeanDrimmel, Jeff Li, JamesKealohi, Faye Pon, Megan Majd, Jason Bellet, Daley Vertiz, Sahana Rajasekar, George Kadifa, YoungQueers United for Empowerment! (YQUE!), Queer Alliance Resource Center (QARC), QueerStraightAlliance (QSA), Out 4 Business (O4B), Sigma Epsilon Omega (SEO), CalQueer & Asian WHEREAS, gender-specific restrooms are a source of anxiety, stress, alienation and violence for some people, including transgender, trans-questioning, transsexual, and genderqueer individuals; and, WHEREAS, as a result of gender identity discrimination, there have been numerous cases of assault, violence, and hate crimes in public restrooms across the state and the nation; and, WHEREAS, U.C. Berkeley contains several gender inclusive restrooms, but not enough to accommodate the campus community; and, WHEREAS, the implementation of gender inclusive restrooms within the University would reduce anxiety and intimidation associated with gender-specific restrooms and create a welcoming and safe environment for all students, faculty, and staff on campus; and, WHEREAS, all people have the right to be respected and affirmed in their own gender identities; and, WHEREAS, the Transgender Law and Policy Institute states that more than 150 colleges and universities have gender-neutral restrooms on-campus currently, and UC Berkeley needs to follow this example and also act as a model to other educational institutions 1; and, WHEREAS, gender neutral restrooms should be accessible throughout campus with at least one per building; and,

Kalfus, The Ethics of Gender-Segregated Bathrooms, http://www.brandeis.edu/ethics/ ethicalinquiry/2012/May.html (accessed October 22, 2012)

WHEREAS, in addition to building or converting one single-stall restroom per building, the University should work toward a more comprehensive model of implementing gender inclusive restrooms, which would better serve the needs of the campus community, especially in areas throughout the campus that consistently receive high amounts of student activity; and, WHEREAS, these restrooms would more adequately serve our diverse student body and faculty, and also would expose campus members to the issues that surround gender identity and foster respect for different identities. WHEREAS, The Lower Sproul project, including the new Eshleman building, is scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2015; and, WHEREAS, reports by ASUC executive officers to the Senate indicate that changes to the plans for new the Eshleman building have been attempted or made without student input; and, WHEREAS, the effect of these changes on the number of gender inclusive restrooms remains unclear; and, WHEREAS, these plans must be reviewed by the Association to verify the continued inclusion of gender inclusive restrooms in the final plans; and, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lower Sproul Communications Coordinator of the Associated Students of the University of California immediately procure the most recent version of the plans for the Lower Sproul Redevelopment Project, including the new Eshleman building; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lower Sproul Communications Coordinator of the Associated Students of the University of California verify the inclusion of gender inclusive restrooms in the Lower Sproul Redevelopment Project, as well as any changes to the number, location, dimensions, or other factors related to gender neutral restrooms; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lower Sproul Communications Coordinator of the Associated Students of the University of California report these findings to the ASUC Senate within two (2) meetings of the passage of this bill; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Associated Students of the University of California call upon the University to designate at least one restroom in every building as gender inclusive; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Associated Students of the University of California direct the ASUC Webmaster to provide a map of all gender inclusive restrooms in a visible and accessible location on the ASUC Website within two (2) meetings of the passage of this bill, so as to provide students with a user-friendly way of locating them; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Associated Students of the University of California call on the University to do the same with its website; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the President of the Associated Students of the University of California write a letter to Chancellor Birgeneau, on behalf of the Association, advocating the aforementioned changes and expressing the above sentiments within two (2) meetings of the passage of this bill.