Here's what a gender neutral locker room looks like

[gollygee]

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/03/private_accessible_gender-indi.html

It's been built in addition to traditional men's and women's locker rooms, that take up less space and are less expensive to build. But it is a wonderful addition to this YMCA and would be a wonderful addition anywhere.

Gender neutral locker rooms and restrooms can give complete privacy, and and helpful for a great number of people for many reasons, but are very expensive. They are usually built in addition to rather than instead of traditional locker rooms and restrooms, unless they're in someplace small where only one or two small restrooms are needed anyway.

I think places large enough to have more than just one or two individual stall restrooms should be required to have an appropriate number of gender neutral restrooms, for transgender people, for fathers with daughters and mothers with sons, for people who are caretakers to elderly and/or disabled people, etc. They're necessary in our society.

I do not think traditional bathrooms and locker rooms should be made gender neutral, and I am not a Puritan for feeling that way.

I also don't think anyone should be questioned by anyone for going into whatever restroom or locker room they deem appropriate. I don't think there actually is a problem with cis men pretending to be transgender women to gain access to women's rooms and I don't think we need to worry about a problem that doesn't exist.

[eShirl]

1. I just had a quick tour of our local YMCA yesterday

I signed up for the "LiveStrong at the Y" free 12-week program for cancer survivors. Yesterday was our first day. We got a walking tour of the facility at the end of our meeting, and I was delighted to find we have three locker rooms: Male, Female, and Family. The instructor made a point to let us know that the Family locker room was "for anyone," not just for people accompanied by a child.

[japple]

2. What a great design and a wonderful concept. I'm sure

someone will find something to complain about, but I think this is the best singles and families could hope for.

[greymattermom]

3. one of our local music venues has two single restrooms, both with both symbols

So everyone gets to wait in line!

[spinbaby]

4. My gym has one of those

It's called the family locker room and is in addition to the male and female locker rooms. I had no idea it was unusual.

[Grins]

7. Paris...

I was in a Paris night spot back in the 80's and went to use the facilities. There was one sign and one door. Inside was a common room with hand basins and mirrors, and a separate uni-sex area with toilets that had doors for privacy. (I can't remember if the men's urinals were in an open or other area. It was a long time ago.)

What I do recall is no one gave a damn about sharing the facility.

[Amimnoch]

5. Great article, and GREAT for the YMCA to take that proactive action.

Some extremely disgusting comments in the comments section though.

[gollygee]

6. MLive has a lot of trolls in their comments sections

It's really horrible.

[closeupready]

8. Watch one episode of "Girls" to understand why this could amount to assault.

No thank you. JMO.