Ateneo de Davao designates ‘all-gender’ restrooms
As part of its initiative to promote gender sensitivity in the academe, the Ateneo de Davao University has designated single comfort rooms in its main campus as toilets for all genders.
ADDU President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. made the announcement on Thursday through a memo on a dialogue with the university’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“The dialogue, I pray, shall foster greater insight into and understanding of the LGBT community and the needs of others who interact with it, even as I already initiate certain changes in the management of our physical plant. All single CRs in the Jacinto Campus will now be designated as ‘all gender,’” the memo read.
Tabora said a dialogue between the ADDU LGBT community and other members of the university was necessary to “increase understanding and respect for the human needs and sensitivities of all.”
“This is not only because Davao City has special legislation proscribing discrimination against the LGBT community, but moreso because ADDU is itself positively committed to cultural sensitivity, intercultural dialogue and cultural transformation in favor of a society that is more accepting of diversity, including gender diversity, based on a fundamental recognition of the dignity of all,” he added.
READ: Davao council bans discrimination vs gays, minority, differently abled
Tabora said the dialogue would involve administrators, teachers, students and staff in all levels, and would begin among the members of the tertiary-level faculty. JE
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