The availability of (1) all-gender restrooms and (2) menstrual hygiene products in all public restrooms on our campuses are practices that comply with UH Executive Policy 1.205: Policy and Guidelines on Inclusive Facilities. UH Executive Policies 1.202 and 1.204 guarantee that all employees, students, and visitors at the University be free from harassment and discrimination, including harassment or discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. This means that everyone has the right to use the facilities that correspond with their gender identity, and that resources and opportunities not be denied to anyone as a result of their gender identity.
All-Gender Restrooms
Gender-diverse people (including transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, intersex, and māhū individuals) experience higher rates of bullying, harassment, and discrimination, as evidenced by the murder of Nex Benedict in February 2024. All-gender restrooms provide a safe option for gender-diverse individuals that allows them to use the restroom without fear of bullying, harassment, or violence. For individuals who prefer gender-specific restrooms, those facilities remain available for use.
Camaron Miyamoto, Director of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa LGBTQ+ Center, has noted that the availability of these restrooms has reduced reports of bullying and harassment of LGBTQ+ individuals. Furthermore, these restrooms also benefit individuals with disabilities (who sometimes need assistance from caretakers to use the restroom) as well as families, the latter of whom are the most frequent users of these restrooms.
Menstrual Hygiene Products
Menstrual hygiene products need to be available in all public restrooms on our campuses. Doing so:
- Combats stigma regarding menstruation
- Addresses period poverty (the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products during monthly periods)
- Ensures all people feel safe using the restroom consistent with their gender identity
For more information about the importance of this practice, listen to this podcast with Maʻi Movement.
We Mālama Everyone
UH seeks to mālama everyone, including women and those who are gender-diverse. All individuals on all UH campuses are entitled to use all-gender restrooms and/or gender-specific restrooms aligning with their gender identities. Individuals who menstruate are also entitled, by UH policy, to be provided with access to menstrual hygiene products in all public restrooms on UH campuses, regardless of their gender identities.
Personal, political, and/or religious objections are not evidence that these practices are harmful. Those who object are welcome to use gender-specific restrooms and/or refrain from using the available menstrual hygiene products. Please respect our facilities and all of our UH ʻohana and leave those restrooms and products for those who benefit from their availability and use. Interference with or vandalizing these restrooms or products is a violation of University policy and individuals found to have engaged in such behavior may be disciplined accordingly.
Tampering with or removal of these products is a violation of the following University policies:
