Editor,

Thank you for sharing the good news that South Whidbey middle and high schools, as well as Oak Harbor schools, will have gender-neutral restroom options with private floor-to-ceiling stalls and open hand washing areas that allow proper supervision! Safety and privacy in restrooms is important for us all, and I hope all students will feel safer with private stalls. Everyone should have access to a restroom that feels most appropriate to their gender identity. Transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people are part of our community and deserve a safe place to use the restroom, just like everyone else. And there are likely many more people who would just feel more comfortable in a private restroom space that is not segregated by gender.

It’s a bummer to hear that this modern, inclusive design feature caused “a stir.” Let’s focus our energies on the real issues in our community and let kids pee in peace.

Hannah Elnan

Freeland