Re-THINKING BATHROOMS

I posted this comment in support of a series of excellent responses to a disturbing editorial on the subject of gender-neutral bathrooms that appeared in the Harvard Crimson on February 11, 2011

Re-THINKING BATHROOMS

The Crimson editorial of February 11th, “Rethinking Privacy” saddened and concerned me with its surprising level of ignorance and misinformation.

I was especially disturbed to see talking points of the Massachusetts Family Alliance parroted by the writers of the editorial. The MFA is a small bunch of anti-LGBT zealots, certainly not a data-driven organization!

For this reason, I found today’s series of letters especially affirming. I am one gender-conforming woman who believes strongly that everyone deserves the right to pee. And I am a strong supporter of single-stall gender neutral bathrooms, and not just for transgender or gender-nonconforming people either. Sometimes people just want a little bit of privacy!

I’m hoping that the Crimson’s editorial staff will issue a a new editorial on this issue that shows that it has listened carefully, researched this issue thoroughly, and learned.

Robyn Ochs, EdM ’89 and Harvard retiree, among other things