Student Talks Gender-Neutral Restrooms With Northbrook Village Board

NORTHBROOK, IL — Paul Wallace is pleased that Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South high schools, as well as Northbrook Village Hall, have gender-neutral restrooms, but believes the local community and beyond can go even further.

The GBN senior, who identifies as non-binary, spoke at Tuesday night's Northbrook Village Board meeting.

"Gendered restrooms force non-binary youth like myself and others back into a binary gender with which we feel uncomfortable," Wallace said. "Gendered restrooms force transgender youth into a similarly uncomfortable position."

Wallace said gender presentation adds another layer of anxiety, especially for those that may be transitioning.

"When transgender people choose to transition, but don't 'pass' as their gender, many report feeling trapped between two restrooms," Wallace said.

Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla described Wallace as "brave" for addressing the board and has their full support.

"We completely respect you and we want to make sure Northbrook is a place for all people to feel welcome," said Ciesla, who pulled out an all-gender restroom sign she carries in a folder.

Wallace believes the end solution is the complete elimination of gendered restrooms and added that when they exist, exclusively using the gender-neutral restrooms "effectively outs all non-binary youth." According to Wallace, when gender-neutral restrooms are harder to find, transgender and non-binary people must travel farther than cisgender people to use the same amenity.

"Only this goal recognizes non-binary identity and allows binary transgender youth to use the restroom even if they choose not to transition or do not pass while transitioning," Wallace said.

Wallace said the cost of retro-fitting a gendered restroom, a factor opponents will often point to, shouldn't be a deterrent. Wallace cited a school in Oregon that converted six restrooms into gender-neutral restrooms for $500.

"In the end, many could squabble over bathroom technicalities, costs all day, but ultimately, opponents of gender-neutral restrooms must ask themselves why their fears are more important than the lives and well-being of transgender and non-binary youth, including myself," Wallace said.

Ciesla said the Village has all-gender restroom signs available and noted that in Cook County, any business that has a single-stall restroom must have the sign. She added that they are given out to Northbrook businesses that don't have them.