A trans-inclusive initiative that would allow students who identify differently than their assigned gender to use their respective bathrooms was presented in the Undergraduate Student Government meeting Monday.
The initiative was presented by Paige Reinhart-Anez, the Multicultural Greek Council senator and was sponsored by Diversity Affairs senator Laura Franciso and the Kriescher-Compton Senator Frankie Pinckard.
The initiative states that if passed the “University (would) formally support trans students being able to utilize the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity not only in residence halls, but across Bowling Green State University.”
Reinhart-Anez said the initiative, if passed, would have to be matched with an educational aspect beginning with the University’s Residence Life.
“The RA’s need a lot more diversity training,” she said. “(They need to) be able to speak intelligently on topics of gender and sex.”
During the meeting, Diversity Affairs senator Luke Savot brought to the senate’s attention that moving this intitative to pass would not hinder the daily life of students around on campus.
“Trans people use the bathroom that does not align with their gender assignment if they feel comfortable doing so day to day,” he said.
Reinhart-Anez echoed his statement by saying that “there’s no bar, there’s no test and there’s no detectors” to notify students when a trans student uses the bathroom.
“I am by no means encouraging (those options),” she said. “But this is a physical barrier and bar that the University has placed that prevents (trans students) from using the bathroom in their residence halls.”
Reinhart-Anez said that if the University wishes to uphold the idea of fostering a place of diversity and inclusion, the initiative must pass through the USG senate.
“This is a new concept because most the discussion is around gender-neutral bathrooms,” she said. “Committing to saying that we have a environment of diversity and inclusion is different than making the moves to do it.”
Vice-President Danielle Parker said that the presented initiative would be beneficial to the students on campus.
“I’m really thankful that this was brought to the floor,” she said. “I think it’s a good direction for the University to take, it’s pro-active and something that we really stress is student safety, and if this has to deal with student safety concern, the University should at least be hosting a discussion about it.”
The senate will vote on this initiative two weeks from Monday, Feb. 22.
