We, the undersigned, wish to pledge our support for the inclusion of gender neutral (and accessible) washrooms in the new Fine and Performing Arts Centre at Mount Allison University. Of 75 washrooms on campus there is only one accessible and gender neutral washroom on campus, and it has been out of order for months. Though there are some single stall washrooms at Mt.A, they are either gendered unnecessarily, reserved for staff, or are largely inaccessible due to location. Gender neutral washrooms are a pressing issue which Mt.A needs to address. Accessible and non-gendered washrooms are important for: - individuals who might not feel safe or comfortable using gendered facilities - individuals who do not identify within the prescribed gender binary - individuals who might require assistance or more physically accessible facilities - for preserving privacy and dignity Mount Allison prides itself on being a welcoming, inclusive, and progressive space. Many universities across Canada have already addressed this issue, and now have the appropriate facilities, including McGill, CBU, Victoria, Western, Dalhousie, STU, Queens, and more. In 2010, Mount Allison expressed that “with future renovations, gender neutral bathrooms will become more common throughout the campus buildings.” Let’s make sure that the Fine and Performing Arts Centre is the first of many steps towards an inclusive and accessible campus for all. We request that Mount Allison ensure that the Fine and Performing Arts Centre have multiple washrooms that are private, accessible, and sensitive to the needs of all populations.

Contact: acthorpegosley@mta.ca

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