SM announces opening of gender-neutral toilets in November

MANILA, Philippines — SM Supermalls, one of the country’s biggest chain of malls has announced it would operate gender-neutral toilets in its malls in Metro Manila this November.

In a statement on Thursday, Oct. 10, the SM management said gender-neutral restrooms will be first put up in its premier malls.

“All-gender restrooms will be installed in our malls starting with our premier malls across Metro Manila starting November,” read the statement.

The gender-neutral restrooms will help “provide a safe space that advocates inclusivity, equality and respect for all,” the management said.

SM could be the first mall giant to open gender-neutral restrooms following a backlash on a Quezon City mall, not SM, which threw out of the women’s toilet a transgender woman recently./TSB