Yale says all-gender bathroom project ‘is about public signaling’
Yale University opened more than 300 gender-neutral bathrooms just days ahead of its annual commencement ceremony as part of a radical new "all-gender bathroom project."
The school’s LGBT resource center published an interactive map detailing the locations of the 300+ “all-gender” bathrooms for its visitors, leaving questions about how many traditional gender bathrooms remain on campus.
“For the convenience of our students and guests, all gender restrooms are available across campus, including on the Old Campus where commencement takes place,” the school announced last week, even marking several of the gender-neutral bathrooms “on the back of the commencement programs.”
Tamar Gendlerm, the Dean of Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, told the Associated Press that the timing of the announcement was largely chosen to highlight Yale’s commitment to supporting transgender students.
“Yale aims to be a leader on this front,” he explained. “Part of what is important about the all-gender bathroom project and about putting it at the top of our commencement site, is this is about public signaling.”
One Yale senior, Isaac Amend, was enthusiastic that the “all-gender” program will be promoted during commencement since he himself is in the process of transitioning genders.
“That’s music to me ears,” he remarked. “And what’s the greatest harm that can be done? An old white guy makes a snide remark? Who cares?”
Additionally, the AP reports that Yale has changed a long-standing tradition requiring graduates to be referred to by their birth names on their diplomas, and starting this year will allow students to graduate under a name of their choice. Professors are already using preferred pronouns when addressing students, and transgender students may go by their preferred names on school I.D. cards and in the school’s web server.
Under Yale’s current health plan, transgender students also are covered for sex-change operations and hormone suppression therapy.
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