With changes officially being made in December, NC has switched one of the men’s faculty bathrooms to a gender neutral bathroom for students who identify with nontraditional gender norms, NC Associate Principal Kevin Brown said. 

The bathroom is located in the southwest corner of the basement. It includes two stalls, two sinks, a urinal, and a lock that communicates whether the bathroom is occupied or vacant. Plans for this bathroom have been in the works for almost a year now. 

“I hope that students who decide to use it feel more included,” Brown said. “That’s the whole goal, right? It’s about trying to offer students a chance to be the most comfortable that they can be.” 

There has never been an available bathroom at NC for non-gender conforming students and staff. While there are currently two at SC located right outside of the library, the lack of gender neutral bathrooms at the junior and senior campus has negatively impacted the confidence of many LT students, some have noted. 

“Using the bathroom is about as everyday and mundane as you can get,” Brown said. “So I think in all areas of society we see that this is what schools, businesses, and organizations are trying to do. This may be viewed as a small thing, but for some students it’s huge.” 

AP Computer Science, Keyboarding, and MobileMakers app development teacher Natalie Carlson has been an advocate for the installation of a gender neutral bathroom at LT. 

When asked by a student where the gender neutral bathroom was, Carlson realized the only option for non-gender conforming students was the Nurse’s Office. She was both surprised and embarrassed that this was all the school had to offer, she said. 

“I couldn’t even fathom not using the restroom from the time you leave home until the time you get home,” Carlson said. 

After this, Carlson went to Brown and Principal Jennifer Tyrrell, asking about the possibility of a gender neutral bathroom at NC. By the time the second semester came around, the plans were already in the works.

A student personally affected by the lack of gender neutral bathrooms is Blair Maria Gondos ‘22. 

“At first, I was really excited about this bathroom being open for students,” Gondos said. “However, the location of the bathroom is inconvenient for many student’s schedules.” 

There are hopes for the bathroom to be expanded to the second and third floors, in hopes of increasing inclusion and convenience for all. 

“I’m looking forward to being able to be comfortable in my own skin,” Gondos said. “I don’t want to have to put yet another mask over myself to fit into other people’s standards. I just hope that people don’t take advantage of it and take away from those using it for its sole purpose.”