Petition requests gender-neutral bathrooms at North High in Worcester

WORCESTER — Concerned about the mental and physical well-being of students at North High School, some educators are pushing the Worcester School Committee to create gender-neutral student bathrooms in the building.

Jonathan Hardy-Lavoie, a behavior specialist at the school, and Kirsten Frazier, an educator and faculty adviser to the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance student group, filed a public petition asking for the committee to consider the request. They spoke on the topic during the committee's meeting Thursday night.

“It had come to the attention of a number of staff members who meet weekly for a health and wellness meeting, that there’s a significant lack of bathrooms at North High that are not gender-specific,” Hardy-Lavoie said. “And we have a number of students who need that resource.”

He said having access to a “safe and comfortable” bathroom is important for students’ physical and mental health. He said the school's principal, Sam FanFan, supports the change.

Frazier said that, currently, the only bathroom in the school that is not gender-specific is the nurse’s office.

“That is problematic because of time considerations getting there,” she said. “And also, it can inadvertently out students who are not ready to be outed to their peers.”

Frazier said making bathrooms gender-neutral is a “relatively small fix that would make a huge difference.”

While the petition requests that "all student bathrooms" become gender-inclusive, district spokesperson Dan O'Brien said the administrators will work with North High administration to find a solution on creating additional, single-stall gender-neutral student bathrooms in the building.

He said there has been no consideration for making group bathrooms gender-neutral.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, students reported feeling safer after the schools moved to gender-neutral, single-occupancy restrooms, according to a Minnesota Public Radio story. School leaders there reported a decline in issues like smoking and vandalism.

In 2019, Worcester students led a push to have gender-neutral bathrooms included in all newly built schools in the city.

The new South High Community School building, which opened in 2021, has several gender neutral bathrooms, O'Brien said, and the new Doherty Memorial High School, which is slated to open next fall, will also have several.

O'Brien said creating gender-neutral bathrooms is a desired aspect of new school construction and ongoing facilities management.

"The Worcester Public Schools is committed to fostering safe, welcoming and affirming schools for students of all backgrounds, including transgender and gender non-binary students," O'Brien said.

Debate about whether schools should have gender-neutral bathrooms has grown throughout the country.

In Arkansas, according to USA TODAY, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in March signed a law prohibiting transgender people from using restrooms at public schools that align with their gender identities.

In California, USA TODAY also reported, Gov. Gavin Newsom in September signed a bill requiring that schools serving first through 12th grade have at least one gender-neutral bathroom available for students by 2026.

The petition presented to the Worcester School Committee on Thursday was sent by to the Finance and Operations standing committee, where a hearing will be held to discuss the topic further.

When asked about the petition, Mayor Joseph M. Petty, who serves as chair of the School Committee, said it was worth discussing how to move it forward.

“When you have two teachers come here, it’s an important issue,” he said. “I support it.”

Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez said that she would support whatever decision the committee ultimately makes.

She added that, if the committee does approve the change, it should happen at more schools than just North High.

“If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it for the whole district,” she said. “We have to find out how to make sure that it's safe for all — and when I say all, I mean all. But I wouldn't do it just for one school.”

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Gender-neutral bathrooms might be added at North High in Worcester