Portland State University
IN-25: Innovation B

On August 11, 2015 the Capital Advisory Committee (CAC) approved the creation of an all-gender (also sometimes referred to as gender-neutral, unisex, or universal) restroom policy at Portland State University. The all-gender restroom policy was developed by the Standards Committee (a subcommittee of the Capital Advisory Committee) and the Campus Planning Office in collaboration with the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion and the Queer Resource Center. Purpose: Portland State University promotes access, inclusion and equity as pillars of excellence and believes that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. Many people may experience difficulty and inconvenience when required to use gender-specific restrooms. The all-gender restrooms policy is intended to address several issues that are associated with gender specific restrooms: ● Individuals who don’t conform to stereotypical notion of gender often struggle when faced with two restroom doors ● Parents and caregivers with different gender children ● Community members with disabilities who need assistance from a different gender caregiver ● Some individuals are territorial about policing gender in public restrooms, creating situations that may lead to harassment towards trans and gender nonconforming people, different gender caregivers, and people with disabilities. Policy: At least one multi-stall and/or single occupancy all-gender restroom will be created in renovated or newly constructed buildings. Occupancy loads will be the determining factor in the creation of a multi-stall all-gender restroom. A multi-stall all-gender restroom will be created if the following occupancy loads will exist in a building: a) 50+ FTE employees and 200+ students, or b) 100+FTE, or c) 400 students If the above occupancy loads will not exist in a newly constructed or renovated building, then the construction of at least one single-occupancy all-gender restroom will be created. Additionally, all buildings that currently have single-occupancy gender-specific restroom will be converted to all-gender restrooms. The conversion of these restroom will be dependent on funding and will be converted as funding becomes available.