Transgender bathroom posters spark outrage

An LGBT university student group in England is hanging fliers in campus bathrooms telling students you shouldn’t worry if you see someone of the opposite sex entering the restroom because “they know better than you.”

“If you’re in a public bathroom and you think a stranger’s gender does not match the sign on the door, follow these steps: 1. Don’t worry about it, they know better than you,” reads the sign.

The University of Bristol’s (UB) LGBT + Society Twitter page advertised the fliers Saturday afternoon. According to The Telegraph, the flier received international attention with over 10,000 likes on Facebook, 100,000 notes on Tumblr, and thousands of Tweets, in just three days.

“We are by no means encouraging people to behave inappropriately in any bathroom,” Jamie Cross, president of LGBT + Society. “I think the message to take is that if you are uncertain of someone’s gender, be sympathetic to the fact that this might be a transgender person who may feel uncomfortable in either bathroom.”

The fliers have received mixed responses from UB students, who worry they may encourage male students to jokingly enter female bathrooms.

“Women have a right to safe spaces on campus: signs like these make it clear that priorities seem to lie with the small percentage of trans people rather than the larger female student body,” said a recent graduate from the UB.

“I can’t say its anti-feminist, because I’m sure people in the LGBT society identify themselves as feminists. But it seems anti-woman.”

According to its website, the group is affiliated with the UB Union and represent gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and plus, meaning any other variation of gender minority.

Last year the group won LGBT Society of the Year for its awareness and welfare services for trans-students.

The LGBT + Society group, nor UB responded to Campus Reform’s request for comment in time for publishing.

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