The U.K. government decided to start a major crackdown on neutral-gender toilets.
Officials will do this in all new non-residential buildings in order to protect single-sex spaces.
UK Gender-Neutral Toilet Crackdown
A waiter offers glasses of Champagne to VIP guests in a newly refurbished public toilet in Oxford Street on May 20, 2005 in London. Westminster City Council opened 'Britain's best' public toilet' under Oxford Circus today with a champagne reception for VIPs.
According to The Evening Standard, the gender-neutral toilet crackdown was proposed as a move to protect dignity and privacy when using public facilities.
The clampdown also includes buildings that are doing refurbishments. Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch explained that ensuring people's privacy and dignity in public areas is important.
She said that the movement to increase gender-neutral toilets makes it difficult to achieve this as they remove the fundamental right for girls and women.
The new regulations proposed by the U.K. government will require that non-residential establishments and buildings under major refurbishment make single-sex toilets default and minimum.
"These proposals will ensure every new building in England is required to provide separate male and female or unisex facilities and publish guidance to explain the difference," said Badenoch via Sky News.
She explained that this will ensure that the dignity, privacy, and safety of all people are protected.
What to Know About Gender-Neutral Toilet Crackdown
Britain's Business and Trade Secretary, and Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch speaks during 'The Framework for Lasting Recovery' session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference at InterContinental London 02 on June 21, 2023 in London, England.
The new gender-neutral crackdown will not affect all toilets in the United Kingdom.
The government clarified that restrooms for disabled people are not included in the proposed changes.
Aside from this, toilets that are used by only one person at a time are also an exception. The U.K. government said that the recent call for evidence on increasing the accessibility of restrooms for women and men acquired over 17,000 responses.
Officials said that these responses are commonly asking for greater consideration to preserve access, privacy, dignity, and equality in public toilets.
Baroness Scott, the Parliamentary undersecretary of state for faith and communities, explained how important it is for ladies to feel comfortable when using public facilities.
She added this is the reason why the government decided to start the major gender-neutral crackdown, with restoring dignity and privacy at the center of all future provisions.
"These proposals will mean separate toilets for men and women, as well as self-contained toilets for those that need them, become a requirement for every new building across England," further explained Baroness.
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