Moncton school washrooms accommodate transgender students

cole L'Odysse has put up signs outside two small private washrooms at the Moncton school toaccommodate transgender students andhelp promote inclusion.

The washrooms, which have been in the highschool since it was built, can be used by anyone, but nowhave new signs thatinclude an icon to represent transgender people.

The idea came from thestudent group INDIGO, the gay, lesbian, transgender alliance.

"It didn't come from necessarily from kids that were transgendered, but kids that felt that their friends or maybe other people would benefit from having gender neutral bathrooms,"saidFranceBreault, who is the staff advisor to INDIGO and the school's social worker.

"We felt the need to just identify bathrooms that would be for anyone that maybe felt uncomfortable or maybe not safe in public bathrooms. So this would bea place where they could be, feel just safe. It's just for anybody."

The initiativewas launched in May 12 to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia.

Students were shown videos in class at that time to promote the washrooms.

"What I got, is just a positive reactions or no reaction at alland that's the point," said Breault. "It's to get people just to it's part of life, it's just something that, it's there, so why not just make sure that we include them."

The school has introduced new initiatives over the last number of years to promote inclusion. Last year, the school alsoadded an inclusion flag.