Bathrooms aren’t the only every day space going “gender-neutral.” The Student Government Senate passed a resolution with a 98 percent approval rating that urged and requested the Department of Residential Life to consider implementing gender-neutral housing on campus.
Bryce Bourgeois, a Senator for the College of Business, explains that the original idea for this proposal was brought up by the President of the Student Equality project last fall, but it wasn’t until this past semester that they were able to write the resolution and send it to the Senate (where it got passed).
“Gender-neutral housing is an opportunity for student to live among other genders, regardless of their gender, orientation, or how they classify themselves,” Bourgeois explains.
Steve Waller, Executive Director of Residential Life and Housing, explained that, “We [Residential Life] will basically look into the implementation [of gender-neutral housing],” but it will involve some research and discussions with many other parties on LSU’s campus.
Waller stated that Residential Life would have to look at how other University’s in the region and nation are addressing gender-neutral housing to determine the best way to implement it at LSU.
“It’s a way for students to live more comfortably,” expresses Bourgeois, but the implementation of gender-neutral housing can also help the LGBTQ community who may be uncomfortable in their current living situations that have led some to break their housing contracts to find a more comfortable place to live.
Waller clarifies stating that recently he was approached about transgender housing, but he feels that gender-neutral housing would all people to enter an environment without having to label themselves if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.
Typically Residential Life deals with such issues on a case by case basis, but gender-neutral housing, should it be implemented, would change the process.
Bourgeois believes that the implementation of gender-neutral housing will have a positive influence on the student body. He explains that in the Department of Residential Life’s handbook they discuss catering to students of different backgrounds, so this is their chance to show that to the students.
As of now, there are no definite plans as to how this would be implemented should Residential Life accept it. The legislation includes options that other schools have considered (such as dedicating a floor or a building to gender-neutral housing) to help guide their decision.
Waller explains that much more research will need to be done before Residential Life can make a decision.
There was no confirmation that the Student Government President has signed this resolution, but, if the resolution is signed by the President and the Department of Residential Life implements this request, LSU students could have the opportunity to live in a gender-neutral environment on campus as early as fall of 2015.