High school creates gender-inclusive bathroom
A high school bathroom in Colorado Springs is allowing students of both genders inside at the same time.
It’s called a gender-inclusive bathroom.
Students at Palmer High School say it’s a first for high schools in southern Colorado.
“Trans kids go through so much. There are people telling them, ‘you’re a freak, you don’t belong, you’re going to hell.’ These kids have done nothing wrong, they’re being who they are,” said Doe Schall, a senior at Palmer High School.
After a year of working through red tape, Schall says she and her team have successfully created a safe space for transgender students.
“This space I like because a lot of the times I don’t represent a traditional female. I have short hair and glasses. When I got to the women’s bathroom, people tend to look at me like, ‘what is that?'” said Schall.
“I’m transgender, I identify as a gender queer boy. I don’t feel comfortable in either the men’s or the women’s bathroom,” said high school senior Park Long.
Since students opened the bathroom, they say they have heard some backlash.
“Even though you may not understand, it doesn’t mean that these kids aren’t facing harassment and feel like they don’t belong,” said Schall.
