To whom it may concern, 

I propose a unisex (gender neutral) bathroom on each floor of schools in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. I propose this idea because not all students identify as cisgender, nor male or female. These bathrooms will be open to all transgender students such as male to female, female to male, and non-binary spectrum students. This bathroom is especially important because there are many students and people in general who do not identify as cis and try to avoid public bathrooms. This bathroom would have enclosed stalls to make different genders feel comfortable and would have at least 2 or 3 stalls with an additional disabled-accessible one. This bathroom is made to be as comfortable as possible for trans students. It will be made this way, so students do not have a fear of being judged or harassed. According to a transgender survey taken among Marylanders in 2015, 78% of students k-12 who are out have experienced verbal harassment escalating to such levels as being sexually assaulted, as well as to other kinds of mistreatment…and all these things can happen in a bathroom. Having a unisex bathroom would make things so much safer and more comfortable when in one of your most vulnerable states. 

According to the same survey, 58% of respondents avoid using public bathrooms due to the fear of being harassed. If we get unisex bathrooms, then there will be less stress with the thought of doing something causing a spiral or long-term anxiety effects.   

Also, according to a Baltimore Sun article published February 22nd, 2019, schools drafted a guideline to help trans students from harassment and violence where they can use their proper name and pronouns, and teachers are encouraged to use these names and pronouns, but also trans students can use their own preferred bathrooms that align with their proper gender. However, non-binary people are also trans, and while most of this guideline helps us, shouldn’t we be allowed to use our own preferred bathroom, too? 

Therefore, I propose we get unisex bathrooms placed in schools on each floor. This would help many students now and, in the future, to be more comfortable with their identity and bathroom and overall, less stressed.