New offices, shopping centres, and other public buildings will have to provide separate toilets for males and females under plans unveiled by women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.
Ms. Badenoch said new legislation would be brought forward that would end the rise of so-called gender-neutral toilets.
Under the plans, unveiled on Monday, public buildings such as office blocks, shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, and leisure centres must install separate toilet facilities for men and women.
The government has already said what it means by men and women is those who are biologically male or female.
Alternatively, buildings will be able to provide self-contained universal toilet cubicles if they contain sinks and hand dryers.
In a statement, Ms. Badenoch said, “These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called ‘gender-neutral’ mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women.”
“Today’s announcement will also create better provision for women so that our particular biological, health and sanitary needs are met,” she added.
Last week Ms. Badenoch said gender-neutral toilets could lead to girls acquiring urinary tract infections.
‘Ensuring Single-Sex Spaces Are Protected’
On Monday, Ms. Badenoch said the toilets announcement demonstrated the government’s commitment to “ensuring single-sex spaces are protected for all.”A consultation was carried out last year and found 81 percent agreed with the proposal for separate single-sex lavatories.
The proposals also apply to any large public building or venue which is undertaking “major refurbishment.”
Schools, residential homes, and children’s centres will be exempted.
Currently all schools in England and Wales must provide separate toilets for boys and girls over the age of 8.
Housing minister Lee Rowley said, “We know all members of society value safety, privacy and dignity, and this new legislation will help ensure the right facilities are in place for everyone.”
“It is vital that new buildings, particularly in public spaces, are serving the community with right toilet provision,” he added.
Last year, when the policy was first mooted, the government said, “This proposed policy will have a positive impact for many people.”
Policy Criticised by Mermaids Charity
Mermaids, an LGBT charity, criticised the government’s plans and said, “In order to ensure ‘everyone is served fairly,' and that everyone can feel comfortable using public toilet facilities, not only are gender-specific facilities in which trans people can feel safe in using vital, but gender-neutral facilities are also greatly necessary to ensure non-binary people’s experiences with toilet facilities are one of comfort.”
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins recently announced plans to amend the NHS Constitution to ensure hospital patients in England have the right to request to be treated on single-sex wards, away from transgender people.
Dr. Hilary Cass made 32 recommendations in total and found evidence for so-called “gender care”—which includes health care professionals simply affirming a child’s chosen gender and allowing young children to take puberty blockers—was “remarkably weak.”
While the government welcomed the Cass Review, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary Wes Streeting also committed to working constructively on implementing the recommendations and putting “children’s health and well-being above the political fray.”
