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Many Illinois Public Restrooms To Become Gender-Neutral In 2020

Gender-neutral restroom signage at Northern Illinois University
Chase Cavanaugh
Gender-neutral restroom signage at Northern Illinois University

Beginning in January, single-occupancy public restrooms in Illinois must be gender-neutral.  Signage should identify these places as "restrooms" and not specify any specific gender.  Northern Illinois University has already implemented this in several areas of campus. Assistant Professor Katy Jaekel said this helped foster inclusivity for students and staff.

Dr. Kathryn Jaekel is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Northern Illinois University
Credit Northern Illinois University
Dr. Kathryn Jaekel is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Northern Illinois University

“This was something that a lot of very dedicated people on our campus were working towards and it makes me feel like I belong and that I matter,” she said. 

Molly Holmes is Director of NIU's Gender and Sexuality Resource Center at Northern Illinois University. She said it's also a matter of access. 

Molly Holmes is the Director of NIU's Gender and Sexuality Resource Center.
Credit Northern
Molly Holmes is the Director of NIU's Gender and Sexuality Resource Center.

"It gives everyone the opportunity to choose a restroom to use based on how they identify, what they're most comfortable with," she said.  "So at NIU, there will be gender-inclusive restrooms as well as gendered restrooms, and people should use the restroom of which they best identify with and feel comfortable."

Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, “places of public accommodation” refers to many different locations. Among them are stores, restaurants, hotels, and schools.

Copyright 2019 WNIJ Northern Public Radio

Chase started in radio while earning his Master's in diplomacy and international commerce at the University of Kentucky. He was bitten by the radio bug while volunteering at Radio Eye (a local equivalent to NIRIS) and soon became a reporter at WUKY. After four years of reporting in Kentucky's Bluegrass, Chase traveled north to join WNIJ as Morning Edition producer. He organizes our morning broadcast, making sure the host is well-supplied with interesting, fresh content. In addition to his pre-dawn duties, Chase reports on a variety of developments in our broadcast area but is particularly drawn to anything with a political or international connection. He is also an avid board gamer.
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