A loo with a view for all: Wits making some lavatories gender-neutral

Gender-neutral lavatories are coming to a campus near you.

The University of the Witwatersrand is making some of the lavatories on its campuses "gender-neutral".

The university told students yesterday that it was responding to calls for bathrooms that were inclusive for people who defined themself as transgender, the non-conforming and those "not comfortable" with using gender-specific lavatories.

"We believe that gender-neutral bathrooms make a meaningful contribution to the university's transformation agenda and that shared facilities, inclusive of all members of the university community, are one of the ways in which we can embrace diversity across gender lines."

The university said the innovation was part of its efforts to become a "transformative and critically engaging space in line with the constitution and the guiding principles of our democracy".

Wits has already identified the lavatories to be opened up and the signs will be changed soon.

Pura Mgolombane, of the Wits transformation office, said anyone who felt comfortable with using the bathrooms could do so.

"It is meant to open up spaces at Wits and to promote diversity and access to ensure human dignity for all genders."