Gender-neutral washrooms in the library

Q. I've been having some access issues lately at the Bennett Library - there is currently only one gender-neutral washroom available to students in the whole library due to construction on the fourth floor. It feels humiliating to have to wait in front of the bathroom on the 7th floor several times a week, often for ten minutes or more, simply because the library does not have any other options available for trans and non-binary students. I often lose fifteen to twenty minutes of work-time just to quickly use the washroom.

This was okay for a few weeks, but it's now been three or four months, and it doesn't look like renovations on the fourth floor washrooms has progressed at all since December. If this is going to go on significantly longer, I'd like to suggest some changes be made to accommodate trans and non-binary students in the library:

1) Explicit permission for us to actually use the gender-neutral washroom on the first floor in the staff area (I was told by one staff member that I can use it, but that it's in a staff area and technically students aren't supposed to be there).

2) Signage on gendered washrooms in the library stating "Trans People Welcome Here", similar to changes made by Vancouver Public Library locations and the Vancouver Parks Board in 2017: https://guides.vpl.ca/c.php?g=698666&p=4959784.

3) Maybe a sign on the 7th floor washroom requesting that folks leave it for folks who need it? I realize this one is tricky because it might make some trans and disabled people more anxious about using it, but as I said, I'm kind of at wit's end about this whole thing otherwise. It's a high-traffic washroom, and the toilet is a bit finicky and breaks down every now and then.

Those are my thoughts. If renovations are paused on the 4th floor washrooms I would request they be resumed soon. If this goes on for a lot longer, or if the renovation plans happen to include getting rid of the gender-neutral washroom that was there (which I'm still in the dark about), I will consider bringing this issue to the SFU Human Rights Office.

A. I am so sorry that you are having difficulty finding a gender-neutral washroom. You are absolutely entitled to access the gender-neutral washroom on the first floor. It should be much less busy than the one on 7, as few people are on floor 1.